German Schmear Fire Place (room Makeover)

Sammy Pampani
by Sammy Pampani
4 Materials
$50
2 Days
Easy

Hello again..


Another fun project at the new house, I was so nervous about tackling this huge fireplace wall, it’s not something you can turn back from.. once you schmear it it’s forever.

This picture is from the house listing when, when we first settled for this house I said this room would be the first room I’d makeover.


Starting from the paneling walls that I painted white, then moving to the removal of old shelves from around the fireplace.

I used Thin Set, it comes pre mixed and in small buckets so you can use a grout bag and work it as if you were decorating cupcakes.

I filled in the grout gaps and then used my fingers to smear it on the bricks.


Repeat as necessary...

As always, toddler was there for moral support. Because he thinks everything I do is perfect. 😍

Let me side track for a second to show you some thrift store art I got for a few bucks..


NEXT, paint the fireplace frame

Prep is key right? Takes the longest but ensures a clean result. This murder-y room scene was worth it.

Here’s the black box frame, I left the gold/brass details on the doors as is.

Its already added so much more character to the whole fireplace.


But I still wasn’t done..

let’s keep going.

This room has pocket doors to the family room, they’re old style plain brown doors.

I found French doors for $20 on Facebook Marketplace. I painted the doors black.

TADAAAA!!!!!

😍


I’m so in love with the results. This entire room is so much brighter now.

We’ve been enjoying this space so much more now, before it was just a forgotten room in our house right there in the middle of everywhere.


I think I’m adding built ins to here to make it a small library/study room for us to read a good book and enjoy a fire.

I mean, this is an entire room makeover with two ingredients (lol) Paint and Thin Set

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3 of 5 questions
  • Joy Joy on Feb 21, 2023

    Did you use heat resistant paint on the brass surround? I have a brass surround and gas logs. The brass gets too hot to touch when the logs are on.

  • Luc87043237 Luc87043237 on Sep 04, 2023

    I have a small business in Arkansas I paint each stone or brick one at a time giving each stone is personalized , check put my business FB page @ Fine to Fabulous Fireplaces by Mj

  • Kristie Heilers Kristie Heilers on Feb 17, 2024

    What kind of paint did you use on the paneling and did you prep it any certain way?

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  • Luc87043237 Luc87043237 on Sep 04, 2023

    Check out before & after pictures on FB @ Fine to Fabulous Fireplaces by Mj

    Contact me with questions.

  • L**86443345 L**86443345 on Feb 18, 2024

    I love it. Even though I would never get rid of the look of real bricks but rather paint the walls around... your fire place is stunning. Painting the surrounding walls lightens the entire room up.

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