skip to main content
SPRING OUTDOOR SALE
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
SPRING OUTDOOR SALE
Up to 55% Off
Outdoor Rugs 
Up to 60% Off
Outdoor Seating 
Free Shipping
Outdoor Dining Furniture 
Free Shipping
Outdoor Favorites 
Fireplaces
Fireplaces
12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing
Top Ideabooks
12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing7 Ways to Rock a TV and Fireplace ComboHouzz TV: Flickering Virtual Fireplaces to Warm Your HeartBefore and After: 6 Dramatic Fireplace Makeovers
Appears in
Design Details
Before and Afters
Before and Afters
Yard of the Week: Stylish Zoned Backyard With Ambiance
Top Ideabooks
Yard of the Week: Stylish Zoned Backyard With AmbianceKitchen of the Week: White and Wood for a Busy Family of 5Bathroom of the Week: Brighter With a Vintage VibeYard of the Week: New Pool, Grill Area and Stylish Lounge
Appears in
Remodeling Guides

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

Mitchell Parker
Mitchell ParkerAugust 19, 2016
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
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.
Before Photo
1. Custom Built-In Cabinetry

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.
Design Studio West
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
Before Photo
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.
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
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
Before Photo
CH Contracting
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.
CH Contracting
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

More
How to Remodel Your Fireplace
12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 32 comments
Explore Related Topics
FireplacesBefore and Afters
Read Related Stories
12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing
By Charmean Neithart·112
Decorating Guides
A Little Something Extra for Your FireplaceA Little Something Extra for Your Fireplace
By Tiffany Carboni·29
Living Rooms
New This Week: 3 Ways to Work Around a Living Room FireplaceNew This Week: 3 Ways to Work Around a Living Room Fireplace
By Mitchell Parker·20
Living Rooms
10 New Looks for Fireplaces in Older Homes10 New Looks for Fireplaces in Older Homes
By Heather Freeman·12
Decorating Guides
10 Ways to Create Mantelpiece Magic10 Ways to Create Mantelpiece Magic
By Michelle Gage·21
Decorating Guides
How to Decorate Your Fireplace MantelHow to Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel
By Yanic Simard·49
Decorating Guides
How to Remodel Your FireplaceHow to Remodel Your Fireplace
By Mitchell Parker·226
Great Home Projects
11 Popular Materials for Fireplace Surrounds11 Popular Materials for Fireplace Surrounds
By Shane Inman·25
Living Rooms
Fireplaces That Catch the EyeFireplaces That Catch the Eye
By Courtney Lake·17
Remodeling Guides
New This Week: 5 Living Rooms Designed Around the FireplaceNew This Week: 5 Living Rooms Designed Around the Fireplace
By Mitchell Parker·46
Living Rooms
Double-Sided Fireplaces Multiply Design OptionsDouble-Sided Fireplaces Multiply Design Options
By Shane Inman·19
Living Rooms
8 Ways to Frame Your Fireplace With Shelves8 Ways to Frame Your Fireplace With Shelves
By Joanna Tovia·40
Decorating Guides
Goodbye, TV — Hello, FireplaceGoodbye, TV — Hello, Fireplace
By Shane Inman·55
Living Rooms
10 Inspired Ways to Refresh Your Mantel Now10 Inspired Ways to Refresh Your Mantel Now
By Charmean Neithart·41
Decorating Guides
9 Inventive Materials for Memorable Fireplace Mantels9 Inventive Materials for Memorable Fireplace Mantels
By Shane Inman·20
Decorating Guides
Shop Related Categories
Fireplace Accessories
Fireplace Accessories
Fireplaces
Fireplaces
Fireplace Mantels
Fireplace Mantels
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood Flooring
Ladders & Step Stools
Ladders & Step Stools
Hand Tools & Tool Sets
Hand Tools & Tool Sets
People who liked this story also liked
12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace Facing
12 Hot Ideas for Fireplace FacingFull Story
A Little Something Extra for Your Fireplace
A Little Something Extra for Your FireplaceFull Story
New This Week: 3 Ways to Work Around a Living Room Fireplace
New This Week: 3 Ways to Work Around a Living Room FireplaceFull Story
10 New Looks for Fireplaces in Older Homes
10 New Looks for Fireplaces in Older HomesFull Story
10 Ways to Create Mantelpiece Magic
10 Ways to Create Mantelpiece MagicFull Story
How to Decorate Your Fireplace Mantel
How to Decorate Your Fireplace MantelFull Story
How to Remodel Your Fireplace
How to Remodel Your FireplaceFull Story
11 Popular Materials for Fireplace Surrounds
11 Popular Materials for Fireplace SurroundsFull Story
Fireplaces That Catch the Eye
Fireplaces That Catch the EyeFull Story
New This Week: 5 Living Rooms Designed Around the Fireplace
New This Week: 5 Living Rooms Designed Around the FireplaceFull Story
Sponsored Story
NOVA Design
Pro Spotlight: 3 Pro Tips for Painting Indoors
  • United States
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FOR BRANDS
  • SELL
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.