Looking for ideas for my old fireplace

Question

I have this old red brick fire place and I am Not sure what to do with it. At first I was thinking to paint the brick with white paint. Now I'm thinking to put the mosaic tile over the brick. Do you think this is doable or should I remove all the bricks? Maybe someone has better ideas. Thank you!

Sandra · Answer

Either just paint it white or for a much more modern look try cement rendering the brick for a really nice sharp look.

Judy Handy · Answer

I covered mine with Marble tile.  A friend covered his with mosaic tile.  Both are beautiful.

Anne B · Answer

Judy, did you remove the brick first or go right over? I have almost the exact fireplace :)

Jerri McClennen · Answer

I whitewashed mine & painted the mantel. I was surprised at what a difference made!  It's a cheaper alternative to tile. There are lots of tutorials on the Internet. Very easy! You could try it first then if you're not satisfied change it to tile.

Lisa B. · Answer

I'd add some stock moulding to make the mantel more prominent and bring some wood and moulding all the way down to and around the sides of the hearth. Leaving however much width of exposed brick that your fire ordinance requires. I did this to mine and now it looks more traditional and custom. I found the plans for mine in an old issue of Southern Living Magazine

Charmagne · Answer

You can cover the brick by just putting mastic up and tiling right over it. But if there are any irregularities a, it will mess with the end product. I want to do the same with mine and a contractor told me the best way would be to adhere backer-board then tile on to the backer-board. Check out stacked Quartz stone products.

Alice · Answer

I whitewashed the brick on mine also. I used watered down paint (same color as walls) then painted the ugly dark book cases and mantel a chartreuse...Big improvement!

Christine Jess Danbrook · Answer

Whitewash, it looks amazing when done. There are several on this site you can check out...

Lrd351996 · Answer

I took mine out with an air hammer and stuffed insulation inside, then put drywall over the opening. No more fireplace!

Pat Nolan · Answer

Roughly, the choices add up to: 1.) cover it up, or 2.) rip it out. Give us more details?

Buster Evans · Answer

I could see the bricks covered in a smoke or charcoal color tile to match the insert ... But that mantle and the inset above is absolutely gorgeous A mirror in that inset would draw you into a depth of the room... just a thought.

Olena Beloous · Answer

I think I am trying to come up with more contemporary looking fp. To rip it out means more mess and extended remodeling project, plus I like how hearth gives more depth to it.
I would be getting contemporary furniture near the fp.

Olena Beloous · Answer

Can brick fp be contemporary?

Marcia Mason · Answer

I put mosaic tile over mine and love the results.  I used E6000 to adhere then filled in with grout.

Monique feldman · Answer

This is what I did with my brick fireplace

Mary · Answer

Our home sustained quite a bit of damage during the 2011 Oklahoma 5.7 earthquake. We had to move to a mobile home for six months while repairs were being done. Our family room had paneling and a large red brick fireplace. We had the workers take off all the paneling (which was damaged anyway), paint the entire room 'Interactive white', including the fireplace brick. Then we had them put a brown glaze over the brick and wipe it off (had the same technique done to the new kitchen cabinets as well). Love, love, love the look and how much brighter the room appears. Good luck with whatever you do with it; it will be great! Merry Christmas!

Christine Willson · Answer

I have painted several fireplaces and they all turned out great!  I'd like to look into whitewashing and see how that looks.  I am also looking into covering my brick with riverrock for a warm cozy feel.  It depends sometimes o the rooms style your fireplace is in.  I have also covered mantel if they are cement with a traditional wood mantel, very nice.  You don't need to take off brick whatever yoou decide.  Good luck and send pics when done.

Pamela Langone · Answer

cover it with plaster board and put pennies on it then grout. Look at mine I did the whole fireplace wall

Sharon · Answer

Hi Olena, I thought contemporary when I saw the top. The bricks don't match that style.  You could paint them the same as the wall color to blend them in or white, black, charcoal gray.  I also like Marcia's suggestion of mosaic tile. Once the brick is covered with Sheetrock, u have many options. Google 3D wall panels for another modern option.  I would consider putting art in the inset & surrounding with mirror tiles. Or use wallpaper on the whole wall. There are many removeable options now. Also check out Houzz and search contemporary, modern or minimalist fireplaces. Consider a visit to a tile store for inspiration. To really set the vibe, consider closing off the fireplace & using a hang up fp. If you're keeping it to use it then at least paint the brass and doors with high heat black paint (like for gas grills.) I would plan the whole style of the room first, even if will be done over time, to avoid costly mistakes. Paint is the cheapest biggest bang for the buck. Why not try that first? Just paint floor to ceiling in a stunning modern color. Think bright bold colors. Teal is in right now but also think energetic colors like lime green, or pink.  But if u want a more calm, relaxing space, go with a charcoal color in a matte finish. Then use white accessories on the mantel.  Good luck & please post it when ur done.

Maggie · Answer

My daughter had the same color brick that you have. They was redoing their hard wood floors in there. She knew she didn't want to paint the brick, so she took some of the stain from the floors and stained the brick darker. Turned out beautiful I think.

Ba coe · Answer

Paint it white after the paint dries, paint it with a dark stain and wipe it off. The grooves in the brick keeps the stain, it looks antiquing. I did it to mine probably 35 years ago, still looks great.

Nancy Jenkins · Answer

As I did with a faux brick fireplace. Wash down with TSP,rinse off well, let dry then paint on primer usually it is white. Get all the nooks and crannies. Start from top to prime and catch any drips running down as you go. I used BullsEye Zinnser 1 2 3 . Have damp cloth ready to wipe off any splatters on floor , wall, mantle, hearth. White looks good as final coat.

Pamela Golden · Answer

I would paint the fireplace, mantle, and insert a dove gray paint. Then after the fireplace has dried, 'antique it with an eggshell colored paint and whip off as to go. A beautiful beveled mirror in the insert would be the icing on the cake.

Pat · Answer

We had faux stone applied and it turned out great!

Vicki Martin Straw · Answer

I covered my fireplace with drywall and used granite around it and for the hearth.  See picture below.

Sheri McBride · Answer

Paint, Paint, Paint. Grey, beige, off White. Then paint in inside of your recess the same color. I am sending a recent picture that we did with a white enamel FP. Changed the whole look of the room

Hooked On Pinterest · Answer

We put mosaic tiles on ours and it turned out great. We used tiles that were already on a grid, this made it really easy.

Pat · Answer

Your rest of your decor and your budget all factor into this decision.   What is the look your are going for and how thrifty do you want to be?

Zuz345178 · Answer

It would be extremely easy to put cultured stone directly over the old brick. There are many styles and colors to choose from. Yes, you do have to mortar them, but its very easy especially if you use pre-mix mortar. Use application without joints, especially if you haven't worked with the stone before. You don't need much material to clad your fireplace, look for leftovers from larger projects to cut cost. Don't paint, you'll regret it.

Ellen Knox · Answer

We had stacked stone veneer installed over our painted white brick.  The installers had to  sand off all the paint before I
Installing the veneer.  It looks beautiful now.  Stone veneer comes in a wide variety of stone and a wide variety of colors.

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