Fireplace: to paint or not to paint

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I will start by saying that typically I am very against painting brick or wood. BUT... there is currently so much paint in my house (a 1910 arts & crafts bungalow) that I will be resigned to leaving it as-is for now. We have a great stone fireplace in our living room, but I just can't seem to get the room tied together. Should I (1) paint it to match the built in (so, paint it white)? A previous owner already painted the top layer of the mantle white. Or, (2) should I repaint the whole thing, including the built-in, to be more of a charcoal. Actual photo attached. Idea photos follow. Or (3) - clean it and leave it as-is.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Gillian
Original Author
8 years ago
Commenting to say that (obviously) the second photo is my fireplace (something funny with posting the photos)
PRO
HMH Development Inc
8 years ago
I kind of like it as is. Can you pull back and take a bigger picture view. One of my issues is all the little things on the mangler and small photos beside make the whole picture very busy.
Related Professionals
Emporia Interior Designers & Decorators · Elizabeth City Interior Designers & Decorators · Harrisonburg Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Petersburg Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Mesquite Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lawrenceburg Interior Designers & Decorators · Aberdeen Interior Designers & Decorators · Durango Interior Designers & Decorators · Albany Architects & Building Designers · New York City Architects & Building Designers · Bronx Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lincoln Furniture & Accessories · Georgetown Flooring Contractors · El Paso Flooring Contractors · Bronx Flooring Contractors
cpartist
8 years ago
Please do not paint the fireplace. With the woodwork you can go back if you decide you want, but once a fireplace like that is painted, it's ruined forever. Clean it up and love it. It's a stunner. Hopefully someday in the near future you'll be able to start removing the paint at least on the built ins on the fireplace.
Gillian
Original Author
8 years ago
@cpartist - that is my issue. I really really wish this person had resisted painting EVERYTHING in the house (and outside, for that matter). I just need to figure out how to fix that top layer of painted stone -- perhaps a wood cap. I cleared it off, and cleared next to it since @blue booby shamed me ;)
smitrovich
8 years ago
That fireplace is GORGEOUS. It would be a massive mistake to paint it.
Milly Rey
8 years ago
Strip the builtins and stain them instead.
smit2380
8 years ago
I agree with Milly. I would leave the fireplace and strip the woodwork around it. I am currently in love with my heat gun for stripping woodwork.