Asked on Mar 01, 2015

Updating a stone fireplace wall

Maria
by Maria
Looking for ideas for this stone fireplace wall. The wall is 12' wide and 8' tall, the shelves above the fireplace opening have openings to let more heat from the fireplace into the room. The 2 protruding stones next to the fireplace have openings that let in cold air. Looking for ideas for the entire wall, fireplace doors, ledge that is a pinkish granite and is geometric in shape, wider on the left side of the picture than the right. Any and ALL ideas are extremely welcome! Note the wood ceiling! Thank you so much in advance! Oh yes and also would love to add a "chunky, rustic" mantle, again thank you!
picture of entire wall - there are also 3 stove shelve - which I have no problem removing...
Note the wood ceiling...
protrusion let's in cold air to the fireplace...."lovely" pinkish granite ledge
one of 2 protruding outlets for additional heat to the room
  20 answers
  • Danielle Danielle on Mar 01, 2015
    Would love to help but your picture that you reference isn't visible.
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 01, 2015
    Do you have a picture?
  • Kathleen Kathleen on Mar 01, 2015
    Can you pull off the protruding shelves? I would pull out the fireplace and replace it with either a natural gas insert that has a blower and is environmentally friendly or pellet stove insert. They really heat the house. It's difficult to see the hearth, I would replace it. Maybe you could put tile on the floor instead so the fireplace is raised.
  • Moxie Moxie on Mar 01, 2015
    Of course it a matter of preference but I like the wall. The fireplace insert/doors on the other hand looks outdated and is overwhelmed by the mass of the wall. I wonder if you have considered adding a large salvaged fireplace mantle section and you could stain/paint the hearth add amazing to scale artwork....could b amazing.
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 02, 2015
    I love that limestone wall! I think your idea of a heavy, earthy mantle, floating if possible would be beautiful! Then I'd paint the insert with either black, rubbed bronze, or to look like copper patina. I would not remove the shelves, but place one thing on each, including a soft plant like a sweet potato vine, and maybe an initial (don't know your last name), and whatever other treasure you have and want to show off. I don't think the clock is doing anything for that wall though....
    • Maria Maria on Mar 02, 2015
      @Lucy Nunn Thanks Lucy.....I usually do have items on the protruding shelves but am looking to change things up....I agree the clock doesn't fit there :o), so that will be getting replaced. What do you think about paint the wall? To me....this wall truly "dates" the house to when it was built in the late 50's early 60's.....One thought I have is painting the wall the color of the wall to the right...then getting a floating mantel and placing a large mirror on the mantle along with other items.....thoughts?
  • Maria Maria on Mar 02, 2015
    I'd paint it in a heartbeat!
  • Karen Karen on Mar 02, 2015
    I agree with Lucy, putting up a mantle & changing the insert. Some sort of art work above the mantle, might help soften the look of so much brick.
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 04, 2015
    I can't love painting that beautiful mid-century stonework, but it isn't as pretty as it photographs, I think going with a very pale color, in a matte would be the way to go. Maybe a chalk paint?
  • Carol Hougaboom Holman Carol Hougaboom Holman on Mar 04, 2015
    Getting rid of your "dead wood" decorations would do wonders. I like @Moxie's idea for a mantle. I would really clean the hearth, get rid of the brass doors.
  • Monica Monica on Mar 04, 2015
    Have you looked into airstone? Its fairly simple to install over the existing brick or use a ledgstone on the vertical and build a mantle and using quartzite to cover it.
  • Kathleen Jasper Kathleen Jasper on Mar 07, 2015
    what is airstone?
    • See 1 previous
    • Monica Monica on Apr 01, 2015
      @Kathleen Jasper
      comment photo
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 08, 2015
    It's manufactured stone, that is lighter than real stone and you basically tile with it. You can get it at Lowes. I feel like airstone looks a lot like what you already have, but more rustic. It is pretty. I am going to put it over a red brick fireplace in our new house.
  • Val Maine Val Maine on Mar 10, 2015
    I'd get rid of clock and all knick knacks no matter how you love them and put a large cane basket full of pine cones on the left, lay the pokers down so they don't intrude in the view . With a wooden ceiling the atmosphere should be rustic. Enjoy the stonework!
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Mar 13, 2015
    This may be ARIZONA SANDSTONE..I have it.. all beige, tan, pinkish and off white.. popular in the 50's..... ours was PAINTED prior to us moving in....BIG MISTAKE,, you can't ever remove the paint.. I would check with a stone company,,,, see if they can have someone remove the protruding pieces..Add your chunky mantle, that is a huge wall, anything should big in scale,,say a HUGE clock double the size of the one there now,, or maybe a wrought iron piece of salvage, big sconces or carriage lanterns..I'd use the ceiling color/stain as a guide for the mantle to tie it together. I'd change the color of the fireplace doors, those look dated, to a dark rustic brown finish...btw I love the big crock.....on the left..
  • Vic Vic on Mar 28, 2015
    Real stone is better than any flat chalk paint that will be out of style in just a few years. Talk to a concrete company about staining the stone a few shades darker or lighter, your choice. Adding a strong dark hand hewn mantel with the oversize accent mentioned above will unite the wall & give it the much needed impact it deserves.
  • Kathleen Jasper Kathleen Jasper on Apr 01, 2015
    Thanks on info on airstone
  • Roxie Kemler Roxie Kemler on Jul 06, 2015
    So striking as it is. The previously mentioned clock idea sounded do able. I would not cut ant stone off whether it protrudes or not. The design is built for the heating / cooling purposes you mentioned. I think I am going to follow the advice you got about staining my own fireplace a lighter color. Please show an after photo.
  • Maria Maria on Oct 13, 2015
    We've updated the fireplace.....
    comment photo
    • Betsy M. Betsy M. on Jul 26, 2016
      Thank you for posting your remodel, Maria. It looks so nice! I have the same stone fireplace wall as your original wall and would also like to add a mantel, maybe a reclaimed wood beam. How does your mantel attach? What type of contractor did you use? A stone mason? We've been stuck, not knowing the right type of person to call to do the work.
  • Robin Robin on Jan 15, 2020

    I just came across this (a few years after the original post) and I have the same stone on my fireplace. Wondering about the end result of this remodel? Would love to see pics. Thanks!

    • Maria Maria on Jan 15, 2020

      Hi Robin....never did change it...in fact sold the home