Help with a brick fireplace wall.

last year

last modified: last year

Hello everyone. I am looking for help with a family room which is open space with a kitchen. The family room has a brick wall with a fake fireplace. The wall was painted twice in white color in the past. Our original plan was to return the wall it's original red color and make a real fireplace. The problem is we are not sure what to do. Should we return the red color or just paint it over with a new different color... What color would work the best for the room and how to make the best out of the room in general.I am afraid to make a mistake.The photos are below in the comments.Please ignore the remaining furniture.
Also guys what do you think about putting stone over the brick ?

Featured Answer

littlebug Zone 5 Missouri

last year

@jck910 has a great idea for a large rug. I find the floor pretty distracting, especially when compared to the adjoining floor.

Were you thinking of adding a real fireplace CENTERED on the brick wall? I think a centered fireplace would look much better.

The room seems pretty small - measured from side-to-side - so be sure to take that into consideration when buying furniture.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

Anastasiya Cappelletty
Original Author
last year
ShadyWillowFarm
last year
The fireplace is fake? How? I would paint the fireplace the same white as the trim, and use a thick nap roller to get the grout too. There is a lot going on in that space.
Anastasiya Cappelletty thanked ShadyWillowFarm
Related Professionals
Carbondale Interior Designers & Decorators · Chillicothe Interior Designers & Decorators · Williamsburg Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · South Bend Furniture & Accessories · Flagstaff Interior Designers & Decorators · Salt Lake City Interior Designers & Decorators · Pensacola Interior Designers & Decorators · Albany Interior Designers & Decorators · San Angelo Interior Designers & Decorators · Willmar Interior Designers & Decorators · Natchitoches Architects & Building Designers · Toms River Architects & Building Designers · College Station Architects & Building Designers · Binghamton Architects & Building Designers · Trenton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
jck910
last year
How will you return it to its original red color? I don't think you'll have much luck stripping the brick. I would paint the entire room white as mentioned above. Then get a very large rug to cover the busy distracting floor.
Anastasiya Cappelletty
Original Author
last year
To Shady: There's a faux electric fireplace on the right. We're thinking of making a real one. Thanks so much for your comment, fluffy roller is great advice.
Anastasiya Cappelletty
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
JCK910: it's a lot of work and requires strong chemicals. Extremely expensive to professional . Brick is a porous material, so I would still have to tint the brick. I'm trying to understand the options. Thank you very much for your help!
nelliebean
last year
I agree with the others that it'll be easier to repaint the bricks. My parents stripped bricks back to their natural colour and it involved tinting the brick as noted above. It was an insane amount of work and their's was a small fireplace. White would look nice, but also maybe a dusty blue or sage green colour would work. I would not paint it a dark colour. You have a cute place and I'm looking forward to see what you come up with.
Anastasiya Cappelletty
Original Author
last year
NellieBean, Thank you very much for your input! I appreciate it!
Anastasiya Cappelletty
Original Author
last year
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri, thank you very much for your help! You are so right about the furniture. I already have big couch which dont fit right cuz its size. I will definitely add the rug.

We probably can't make the fireplace in the middke as there are two deep arches on the sides. That would require remodeling.
tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
How does one convert an electric fireplace? Where will the smoke go? There must be an old flue from the original fireplace. Have you looked into what is involved with something like this? It's not even allowed in California.

I would paint the brick white including the mortar. It's a very nice looking fireplace. I like it.
partim
last year
I would drywall over all the brick.
tracefloyd
last year
Yes, drywall if anything and no to stone.
Anastasiya Cappelletty
Original Author
last year
tracefloyd, thank you so much for your input! It's allowed in here in Ohio. There is a chimney, but need some work.