Does anyone have any ideas what to do with this fireplace?
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Country Design Home on Mar 01, 2015Hi Linda! You don't say whether you want to paint the brick or not, but I am assuming you want to leave it alone. That being said, you need something on either side of it to fill in those large empty squares. Since it appears from the pics that the depth is only 1 brick wide, then bookcases would not work. I might suggest some barn board on those sides, hung vertically (to contrast with the horizontal brick) and painted a light color that co-ordinates with the mauve and the brick. Then add some crown molding all the way across to bridge the sections together. You can hang some paintings or mirrors on the barn board. I am thinking that the black hole and squares on the brick are the fixtures for the stove and pipe, so you really cannot do anything with that middle brick section?Helpful Reply
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Sally on Mar 01, 2015Sue, what wonderful advice. I hope I can build on your creativity. I could see bookcases, allowing for the depth of the brick. The finish could be tailored to fit your decor. Lots od precious storage. If you would keep the height of the brick, you would have the opportunity to display itemsHelpful Reply
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Sally on Mar 01, 2015Sue, you have inspired me. I love your idea for vertical boards! You have so many choices. Again, depending upon your decor, (I would think more country with your inset stove) boards of different widths and finishes would be rustic. Also, I have seen boards with distressed colors to take the look of the fireplace to both walls.Helpful Reply
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Cindy Hagemann on Mar 01, 2015Here is an example of a house we redid the fireplace in - we painted the brick (primer first) and added built-ins on the side. You could do something similar but with shelving in all of that blank space.Helpful Reply
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Lucy Nunn on Mar 01, 2015What about covering the brick with air stone? I am actually about to do that to a house we just bought. I love the barnwood idea.Helpful Reply
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Tracy on Mar 01, 2015My neighbor had a multicolored brick fireplace and she used concrete stain in a dark mocha to "paint" the bricks but not the mortar in between the bricks. I loved how it turned out. It is a great alternative to paint if you like the brick look but not quite so busy of a look. I agree a mantle would look great going across and I think a big tall wood box one side would look great, hide some of the brick, and be functional too. Not sure what your hobbies are but an old pair of wooden snow shoes on the other side would be interesting also. I like the idea of keeping it more rustic since it is on the lakeHelpful Reply
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Linda Davis Cmt on Mar 10, 2015Love the ideas so far Ladies! Thank you!Helpful Reply
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Lynda Entzion on Mar 13, 2015LINDA: I heard many good ideas. I lived on a lake in MN. The look of the lake is important to the look of the home. If you are not willing to paint the brick, I would want to bring more shabby to the wall. by using pallets and or barn wood, but have them done in different colors, as they are placed the width of the wall. a variety of colors that pull from your furniture in the room. then you could do shelves off of that. If you place other tile over the brick, I think it takes from the rustic look and makes it tooo modern. good luck and have fun.Helpful Reply
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Kayo Frazier on Mar 17, 2015If you decide to keep the brick as it is...Then I would get a chunky, thick wide mantel for both sides of the mantel part. Add 2 smaller parts to either side when you get the wood burning stove back in. Stain it a dark color so that it pops off the white walls & the brick. On those 2 wide parts add artwork, you can do a mix of artwork & mirrors. If you decide to paint the brick, I would go w/ a cream or white. Again, add a chunky, thick wide mantel instead of dark stain, paint it black. The 2 wide sections of walls on each side, you can paint them a dark grey Benjamin Moore has a paint called Peppercorn. Again, add artwork or mirrors on either side.Hope this helps.Helpful Reply
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Linda Davis Cmt on May 01, 2015Thank you everyone for your ideas :)Helpful Reply
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Dee on May 26, 2015I think you might need a more substantial mantle-maybe made of the barn siding that Sue@CountryDesignHome suggested, or a nice hefty beam.Helpful Reply
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Carlene Czarnik on Jun 21, 2015Sorry I don't have any photos, but my mom had a very similar brick (covering almost one entire wall). She painted the brick, but not the mortar. The paint went on unevenly because the brick were very "rustic" to begin with. It looks fabulous. Very shabby chic.Helpful Reply
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