Ideas on how to update my fireplace?

Cko32818489
by Cko32818489
Heavy texture has been done around the fire place. I could paint over it. Really would like to update the look. Any ideas?
Heavy texture
  8 answers
  • Becca Becca on Mar 25, 2018

    Try light weight stacking stone. Depending on thickness of the texture you may be able to mortar over it and apply the stone. Not into stone? Build a new frame around the fireplace front and sides with 1x2 wood strips then resurface with Hardi backer board and tile it.

  • Carol Thomas Carol Thomas on Mar 25, 2018

    I think the texture is cool. It doesn't look like everyone else's fireplace. I believe it would look really different it the textured portion was painted lighter. It would make the other details stand out more too. Can you open your picture of it in the computer program called Paint? You could experiment with different shades that way. Please let us see what you comeuppance with!

    • Cko32818489 Cko32818489 on Mar 25, 2018

      Thank you Carol. I will try the paint program and see what I come up with. I will post a pic when complete.

  • Jcraw Jcraw on Mar 25, 2018

    I’m sorry, but I think it’S stunning. Is the decorative front granite or some other stone? OMG. The design is spectacular. I want it. Id design my room around it.


    Enough gushing. I personally think the finish on the fireplace itself is a perfect complement to the almost-Deco surround. At most I might paint it black, leaving that front and the top of the mantle as they are, matching.


    I would take the “smalls” off the top and get a interesting large-ish painting that brings the room together, or a black framed mirror. Or ”stack” three or five art prints as Joanna Gaines does. Obviously, also, a smaller all-black rectangular firescreen that doesn’t detract from that front. Your present fireplace accessories are Colonial, so they fight and overwhelm the eye. Since you have a firedog (log cradle) you don’t need andirons, let alone brass. Get a pillow or two or a throw in that Amber color. Perhaps an area rug with your beige, white, black and amber, which you my note is almost the color of your floors.


    My Point is, play that fireplace for all it’s worth. It is remarkable, and no one else has that treasure which it took a true craftsman and artist to make.


    • Cko32818489 Cko32818489 on Mar 25, 2018

      Thank you for your kind words. Our house was built in 1929 and I am assuming the fireplace in original. Deco would have been a thing at the time. The paint is flaking off in places and I have absolutely no idea how to match. Good idea on the fire screen. I live in an area of Utah where we get frequent inversions which lead to a red burn day (no burning). So we don't get to use it as frequently as we would like to. I have also thought of converting it to gas.

  • Beth W Beth W on Mar 25, 2018

    I agree -go lighter. I would go with a chalk based paint in the same white as your trim. Try dry brushing it on. I use to sell Vintage Market and Design paint products and all their products are designed to work together, so good results and no guesswork. You can find them online. I would us a matte finish as well. This is so beautiful, you may find changing the stucco color is all you need to do!

  • Lisa S. Lisa S. on Mar 25, 2018

    You need to use heat safe paint, if you choose to paint at all. I would leave as is. Update your decorations and tools. Chalk pain tis big no on a fireplace. You would need heat safe paint, that can be scrubbed.

  • Shore grandmom Shore grandmom on Mar 25, 2018

    I love the look of the fireplace but an not a fan of the heavy texture either. I do agree with Jcraw on most things though. A nice picture or mirror framed in black would look good over the fireplace. I think I would find another color to paint the textured part that would minimize it. It looks very glossy, so you may need to sand it a little to get paint to stick. Doing that will take some of the texture down a notch. The arched opening of the fireplace is beautiful. I would have a screen made to fit it so the arch can be seen. Black would look better so that it doesn't clash with the stone work around it. Get rid of all that brass and go with simple black tools that you need.


  • Sharon Sharon on Mar 25, 2018

    I like the tiles but the texture NOT, I would use structo lite plaster and just make the textured area plain plaster....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ikshIi7zm4

    then you can veneer plaster if you want a fine finish.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyKhcoB4UNA

  • 17335038 17335038 on Mar 28, 2018

    Agree with Jcraw's comments about the screen and the fireplace tools in front of the fireplace being unnecessary. They definitely take away from the art-deco design of the fireplace, and are the wrong era.