SFGate

cajun2 A broader view

mfleck74 I've been doing some research on brick fireplaces myself as I have a bright red one that is really distracting. Seems like lots of people are whitewashing the fireplaces and even walls. You should google it and check it out. I'm attaching some pics I found.

shmeglyn Paint it!! We did that with ours and it was gorgeous. An off white color with an expanded mantle would make this beautiful

cajun2 Yes that is one thing my husband and I said we should do, is whitewash the brick.

mfleck74 One other thing change the brass surround to black. Got that idea from this blog
http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2012/09/how-to-paint-a-brick-fireplace.html

cajun2 I also would like to replace the gold fireplace screen. I guess what really bothers me is the long bench hearth.

Interiors International, Inc. I would not paint it there is no going back once that is done. I would embrace the brick and use it as a design inspiration for the room. It would look great with contemporary furniture and accessories.

cajun2 Or painting the screen. Thank you mfleck74.

cajun2 That is the one thing that scares me about painting the brick, the fact that we cannot go back once it's done.

cypress Personally, I don't find this fireplace a nightmare. As is, you could update it by removing the brass fire screen and updating the mantle. If you bring in more color in artwork above mantle and incorporate a colorful rug in front would improve the space. If you want to go with a lighter look, paint the entire wall and fireplace.

LizaJane What I would suggest is drywalling over the one wall of brick that leads to the other room. I would have the hearth removed on that wall as well so that it is an actual drywall wall. You state that you will be removing the wall on the other side too. That will leave just the brick fireplace. I also like the other posters idea of whitewashing the brick. Just depends upon the look you are going for.

Fedor Construction Specialties, Inc Brick isn't as hard to remove as you may imagine. The fireplace itself may be brick tied into concrete and fire block, but the other brick areas could be removed and replaced with sheetrock. If you don't like the seat hearth, a demo saw and a sledgehammer will make short work of it, but once you're done, you will have to consider what you are going to do for a finish along what you removed. I used sheetrock, paint, granite, and wood to create a new look for our 70's nightmare fireplace. Unfortunately I don't have any before pictures, but believe me it was white brick hideous!

Kitchen Gallery That is a great space! I love the architectural details and brick. Are you open to painting the brick, or do you want it all gone? If yes, then I would suggest, painting out the brick in a neutral colour, then you need to beef up that mantle - you could build out the entire facade with woodwork painted white or grey or something neutral if that's your aestetic. I think the Hearth would look great built-out in a great stone and then with some cushions on each side to make it look like additional seating. Good Luck!

hparks74


You might consider a plywood overlay since your doing midcentury.

Natural Stone Veneers International, Inc. Stone over the top of the brick with natural thin veneer stone from NSVI. Here are some examples of angled solutions.

Natural Stone Veneers International, Inc. In this fireplace photo, though not in a corner, the beams worked really nice with the stone type and color:

cajun2 I am open to painting. How would I arrange cushions on the hearth? I was trying to think of ways to decorate the hearth. Also I was thinking of putting a cypress beam, or some type of wood in place of that mantel. My husband and I like a rustic country kind of look.

Sweetlake Interior Design You can remove the hearth and replace the flooring. I would use a stone veneer on the center of the fire place all the way up with no mantel. Take the brick out from the angles and sheetrock it in. You can update the box by reducing the size to a more rectangular look with fire rated brick. The photo attached has had the same application done in a remodel that we recently completed.

Natural Stone Veneers International, Inc. It could also be modernized by applying a dimensional ledgestone over all areas of brick.

mcr426 I have to laugh because we had this exact same fireplace in our house! We painted it HC 26, which is a Benjamin Moore color that's the same as our walls. Spray paint the inside a solid black (make sure you get a high-heat resistant spray paint. Home Depot has it.) We also took out the very dated brass fireplace screen and set up a pretty iron firescreen that I found at a flea market and spray-painted black. If you paint the fireplace to match the walls, it will disappear, I promise!

cooney124 You can sheetrock over the brick that is bothering you and update the mantle and cover.
I like the whitewash idea too!

Sweetlake Interior Design Any progress on the firewall ?

CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. I agree. Paint it.

Natural Stone Veneers International, Inc. Here's an example of a newer product we call Bronze Drystack Ledgestone. It is on a flat wall, but because of it's squared off ends, and sawn heights, it installs very fast, and is much easier to work with for angle cuts. I can provide a close-up image if anyone's interested in seeing the texture and relative flatness compared to many natural stone products.