Update fireplace - dislike brick

Anne Peck
by Anne Peck
We would like to update our living room fireplace. We have a small brick rancher and this It is the focal point of the room when you enter. Not sure what to do - suggestions? Paint? or Cover up?
  18 answers
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Oct 27, 2014
    The least problematic and least expensive route to take would be to paint it. Since there is a nice portion of moulding above it, you might add some nice side pieces and compliment it with a mantle that would give it a little more character. Change the screen, perhaps something with some brass detail. To me, the color of the fireplace seems to fight with the color of the wood flooring. Painting the brick would eliminate that. If you do paint it, I would recommend white or the same as your walls so that it won't be quite so "there." Although, I'm not sure how your chimney draws because I see some smoke residue just above the fireplace opening. This could be a future problem if you paint it or enclose it in a lighter color. Just the first things that came to me.
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    • Donna Donna on Oct 28, 2014
      @Anne Peck all you need is brick sealer tinted the color you want. its very easy to paint brick. big thick roller and a brush for the grout. lay your drop cloth first then go to it! You'll be so happy with the final product you'll want to paint everything. I would place a huge mirror above it to reflect light. and add some more moldings that are chunky to make it really stand out in the room. I miss my fireplace enjoy!
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Oct 27, 2014
    I wouldn't be concerned about paint absorption on brick because you would be changing such a relatively small area. You need to be certain the brick is as clean as you can get it and free of dust and any sandy debris before you begin the process. An initial sealer will probably have to be applied before the paint goes on. Check with your area home center for advice on products that will seal brick/concrete, then go from there. It looks as though you will be working with about 50 square feet of brick on the wall, along with a small amount on the hearth below. Since you've converted to gas logs, the hearth could be changed by facing it with some nice tiles or stone. Yes, it will more than likely be messy during the process, but the end result will probably be more than worth it.
  • First thing you need to address is the poor drafting of the fireplace. Any changes to the brick be it paint or covering with new tiles for a more modern look will soon be spoiled by the soot escaping out the front. I suggest a professional chimney sweep first. This can be caused by missing damper which is common, to incorrectly designed fireplace opening. If its to large for the chimney flue not enough air gets pulled into the opening which draws the smoke into the chimney. It may require making the front smaller or some other type of structural change which can be incorporated into the new look your trying to achieve.
  • Donna Donna on Oct 28, 2014
    http://www.thepainteddrawer.com/ is a website of a blogger in Bethesda, MD who just painted her fireplace - the transformation is amazing.
    • Lisa Lisa on Nov 01, 2014
      @Karyn Workman That is beautiful - love the whitewash!
  • Karen Cederquist Karen Cederquist on Oct 28, 2014
    First I would remove the brick above a normal mantel height. Then clean and paint the remaining brick whatever color suits your palette. Cover over where you removed the brick with fireproof wallboard and paint. Attach a mantle . Voila! You have a great look. Make sure that you have a licensed chimney service clean and check for any defects in the unit.
  • Anna Erishkigal Anna Erishkigal on Oct 28, 2014
    It's almost impossible to remove paint from brick once painted, and painted brick also looks tacky, so if you ever go to sell your house or have it appraised for a home equity loan, the fact it was painted will DRASTICALLY reduce its value. Okay, that being said ... that is one big honking ugly brick wall! I suggest you build yourself a false mantle using cabinet-grade plywood or mdf and fancy molding so that it looks like one of those fancy designer fireplaces from the show-homes. If you can borrow a decently accurate saw, it's not that difficult. Some people put tile around the exposed ring of the brick, but I left my own red-brick and it looks nice and is a lot easier to keep clean-looking than tile. Here's an image of an example of what I built: http://www.wallpaepers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/great-fireplaces-designs-4.jpg
  • Jane Butler Jane Butler on Oct 28, 2014
    Paint it black.
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    • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Nov 02, 2014
      @Anne Peck Depends how much light you want reflected in the room. This shade is pretty dark and would keep the room pretty dim. I prefer bright rooms, but then that is me - lights on at night and shades up during the day, my sister is the opposite of me and when she visits she keeps turning the lights off LOL but I just turn them back on again.
  • Wglindner Wglindner on Oct 28, 2014
    I live in a mother-in-law apartment in basement of my son home and I have the same fire place. I painted my white and I bought a antique fire place mantle it is very old and paint was coming off. But I clean it up and attach to the fire place and everyone loves it . I don't know how to attach picture.
  • Kay Kay on Oct 28, 2014
    Any ideas out there how to cover a huge fireplace It has California drift rock?
  • Jane R. Jane R. on Oct 28, 2014
    Definitely paint it! Also move the furniture farther away on each side. It has a crowded look.
  • Before painting the brick I would paint the walls a deeper and richer color. Does not have to be a dark color but a richer color and then get a more substantial mantle. You also need to decorate the wall and fireplace with some sort of balance and the furniture should be in similar sizes and styles and then put some artwork, décor up on the walls-grouping. Use some wrought iron scroll work or some family photos in a gallery wall type on each side. this will make a dramatic improvement!
  • Love tiny spaces! Love tiny spaces! on Oct 28, 2014
    I painted my old homes fireplace and loved it, but it was a faux one so I didn't deal with soot issues and that would be bad on new paint. Maybe good chimney consultant first.
  • Love tiny spaces! Love tiny spaces! on Oct 28, 2014
    Oh yes if you happen to like the whitewash look, take a look at Houzz whitewash pics!
  • Kim Brooks Kim Brooks on Oct 31, 2014
    When you wax a piece after chalk painting how good is that for a protector for like glasses if water were to condense from them even using a coaster. Will it damage the finish like other furniture. I also have an old nightstand that I don't think it's laminate but it has that shiny appearance to it, not sure what it is, I know it's not a poly, but it doesn't look like laminiate, Do i need to rough up the glossy surface for the chalk paint to adhear?
  • Indy Prates Indy Prates on Oct 07, 2015
    If you don't want to paint it, you can also install tile on it (white small rectangular ones would look great). Also, you can add a shelf in the middle to separate the TV and the bottom part of the fireplace.