New This Week: 3 Fireplace Transformations, 3 Budgets
See how different approaches to tackling a focal-point fireplace can completely change the look of a living room
Fireplaces can be daunting for homeowners and designers. They provide lots of warmth and ambience but can often command so much attention that, if not done right, they can become an eyesore — a very large one too. There are many right answers to the problem, and the following three fireplaces show three different approaches on three different budgets.
AFTER: Built-in cabinetry frames a new TV and hides electronic equipment without distracting from the view of the Pacific Ocean. The white Shaker door style in a soft glaze complements organic-colored fabrics used elsewhere in the space to create a relaxed but stylish atmosphere. A Roche Bobois sectional and ottoman have a striped pattern for added spirit. “By keeping the hard surfaces neutral, we were able to really play with the soft materials while still keeping the space calm and relaxed,” Cordero says.
Cost
Cabinetry and installation: $17,000
Tile and installation: $1,700
Total: $18,700
Also on the team: Hallmark Cabinet (cabinets); Jim Brady of Brady Architectural Photography
Paint: Acadia White, Benjamin Moore; sofa and ottoman: Roche Bobois; window covering: Sivoia, Lutron; blue chairs: Milo Baughman recliner, Design Within Reach
Cost
Cabinetry and installation: $17,000
Tile and installation: $1,700
Total: $18,700
Also on the team: Hallmark Cabinet (cabinets); Jim Brady of Brady Architectural Photography
Paint: Acadia White, Benjamin Moore; sofa and ottoman: Roche Bobois; window covering: Sivoia, Lutron; blue chairs: Milo Baughman recliner, Design Within Reach
2. Patterned Wallpaper
Designer: Claire Jefford of Creating Contrast Designs
Location: Toronto
BEFORE: The homeowners liked the ceiling height and openness of the space, but they weren’t sure how to turn the fireplace into an attractive focal point without undergoing a major renovation. They also wanted to keep the antique wood mantel.
Designer: Claire Jefford of Creating Contrast Designs
Location: Toronto
BEFORE: The homeowners liked the ceiling height and openness of the space, but they weren’t sure how to turn the fireplace into an attractive focal point without undergoing a major renovation. They also wanted to keep the antique wood mantel.
AFTER: To freshen and update the look, the homeowners tapped designer Claire Jefford, who suggested that a patterned wallpaper on the fireplace wall would complement the fixed elements in the room, such as the terra-cotta floor, and turn this into a feature wall. “I felt that wallpapering the family room side of the fireplace wall would make the biggest impact, yet also be a very cost-effective option,” she says. “My goal was to find a soft, simple pattern that would accentuate the height of the room while complementing the current color palette.”
Special features: Antique wood mantel, high ceilings, window wall, open layout, reupholstered wing chairs
Special features: Antique wood mantel, high ceilings, window wall, open layout, reupholstered wing chairs
Designer secret: Jefford also suggested reupholstering a pair of wingback chairs to tie together with the color scheme. “I chose a solid blue fabric that worked beautifully with the blue accents in the ceramic floor tile,” she says.
Cost
Wallpaper: $320
Labor: $350
Two wing chairs: $1,600, including fabric and labor
Total: $2,270
Wallpaper: 5745-02, Ontario Wallcovering; chair fabric: Avant Garde
Cost
Wallpaper: $320
Labor: $350
Two wing chairs: $1,600, including fabric and labor
Total: $2,270
Wallpaper: 5745-02, Ontario Wallcovering; chair fabric: Avant Garde
3. Rustic Stone Wall
Designer: Krista Jadowski of Decorating Den Interiors
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Size: 220 square feet (20.4 square meters); 11 by 20 feet
BEFORE: The homeowners felt that the fireplace and its orange-colored granite surround and hearth looked tired and dated.
Designer: Krista Jadowski of Decorating Den Interiors
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Size: 220 square feet (20.4 square meters); 11 by 20 feet
BEFORE: The homeowners felt that the fireplace and its orange-colored granite surround and hearth looked tired and dated.
AFTER: A new stone surround with warm colors works better with the furnishings in the space. A slab of black pearl granite replaced the old hearth. Designer Krista Jadowski didn’t think that the scale of the fireplace fit the room, so she and contractor Chris Hone of CH Contracting bumped out the wall to expand the fireplace and have the stone wrap around the edges. A custom-made Douglas fir beam, distressed and stained to match the floor, forms the new mantel. “Before the fireplace was simply an element in the room,” Jadowski says. “Now it’s an amazing focal point.”
Cost
Total: $3,620
Stone: Shadowstone panels in Sierra, Realstone Systems
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Cost
Total: $3,620
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Designer: Audry Cordero of Design Studio West
Location: Solana Beach, California
Size: 325 square feet (30.2 square meters)
BEFORE: The fireplace didn’t quite have the classic beach house vibe the homeowners were looking for. They wanted to bring something more fun and lively with a “modern bohemian twist,” says designer Audry Cordero.