White wash it or just paint it white?

10 years ago

See the fireplace back there? We'll be painting it shortly but flip flopping between white washing it or just painting it white. The brass looking metal piece will be spray painted black. But the top "step" or whatever you call it, at the base of the fireplace is not brick. There's a layer of marble or stone (not sure) on top of the brick. So now I'm wondering if I should use chalk paint. Also, Should the white used on the fireplace match the trim or ceiling or both?

Featured Answer

cfollowell

10 years ago

I would whitewash it (lots of help if you Google "how to whitewash brick"). It will be softer than an all-white painted fireplace. If you really hate it you can always paint. But it doesn't work the other way.

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Comments (8)

shirlpp
10 years ago
I can barely see the fireplace - back there. You need to take a closer picture.
rdeschain19
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

note the marble or stone or whatever that is on the top of the brick, down at the foot of the fireplace. Brick goes all the way up to the ceiling.
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rdeschain19
Original Author
10 years ago
good call cfollowell! One minor problem is that marble/stone slab though. Wonder who that will take to just white washing now that I think about it.
MarleneM
10 years ago
I think it depends on how you envision the finished look. To me a whitewashed FP gives a more casual rustic look, while painted solid white is more of a refined look. If you white washed it would it fit in with what's in rest of house or with furnishing?
The last picture is too dark to see the hearth stone clearly.
rdeschain19 thanked MarleneM
rdeschain19
Original Author
10 years ago
hmm....another good point Marlene. Thanks!! The house has actually transformed from rustic to more modern'ish.
shirlpp
10 years ago
It is still hard to see the picture, but with the work that was going on, I would have changed it out from the red brick to a faux stone.
Karin Bruckner
10 years ago
I had my brick fireplace in my rental house white washed professionally. It looks absolutely beautiful. The atmosphere of the living room there is now much more cozy and friendly. Just painting the fireplace white would not have been a good idea. I have firsthand experience, since the bricks of the fireplace in our family room in the house my husband and I bought together, have been painted white by the previous owner. Good Luck, Karin Bruckner