Ideas for fireplace and surround

8 years ago

So my hubby and I are kind of at a loss on how to handle this fireplace and the surround. I feel like it's too dark for my very dark room and want to whitewash the stone. He likes the idea of removing the shelves and shiplap the walls on either side. I had the idea to whitewash and make a nicer mantle and then shiplap the FP from the new mantle up. As you can see we are kinda all over the place. This is a huge focal point in our entire home so it's a big decisions. Thanks for any advice.

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PRO

Belltown Design LLC

8 years ago

I am thinking that the stone should be cleaned of soot with masonry cleaner and wire brush. The mantle and book cases should be made of wood and stained and finished to pull out the tones in the stone. This woodwork should be chunkier than what is there now. The fireplace stone is a heavy material, and the woodwork should have the same weight. It’s a cool fireplace and I suggest making it better!

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Comments (8)

PRO
Milano Doors
8 years ago
Hello. You have a smart fireplace. I would not begin to delete regiments about a fireplace, and even left them in the same color. The only thing that I would change, is color of the fireplace, I would paint it white. In my opinion, it would look very well, and would make your room lighter.
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chickadee70
8 years ago
I love the rock architecture of your fireplace, love the asymmetry at the top too! I second Belltown and enhance it with more wood painted or stained natural in a color to coordinate with the stone.
PRO
HX Home Solutions and North Star Stone
8 years ago
You can easily install a stone veneer over the fireplace to lighten and update the stone. You can choose a custom color that has the lighter tones you're looking for, and can go directly over the existing fireplace for an easy and fast update. Here's a few similar fireplaces that we have done for some design inspiration. Good luck!
PRO
Belltown Design LLC
8 years ago
I don’t agree with North Star’s veneer but I do like his photos of similar fireplaces without attached book shelves and just a simple mantle. This should be shown off, not muddled.
Irene Morresey
8 years ago
I would leave it as is, I think it looks great, I would be more inclined to paint shelves etc white with maybe a more solid mantel. Hang a big art canvas. Have a look online at Etsy, amazing art at beaut prices
PRO
Bayberry Cottage
8 years ago
Right now it seems that the paint doesn't goes with the stone (on the walls or shelves) and it seems like if you actually had the lower part as cabinets it might work better. Look to our designs below for some ideas:
ilesliemy
8 years ago
I had a similar fireplace once and had it stuccoed and painted white. The Stone still looked like stone but better. Is that mantel part of the book cases and probably not part of the original installation? They might look better gone. That fireplace looks a little less majestic bisected the way it is. Nine fireplace.