The Long Overdue Fireplace Makeover

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Why did I name this post “The Long Overdue Fireplace Makeover?”  Because that is exactly what it is!  This project is loong overdue.  

I had been thinking of doing this since last winter when I had shown you the wash tub that had been repurposed for wood storage.  I kept on looking at that awful fireplace and thinking maybe it was time to get rid of that dark ugly color. 

But I did nothing till November, when I lit the fireplace and remembered why I hated it.

After a whole winter’s worth of research and much procrastination I found inspiration from Melissa of Dancing Dog Cabin. I absolutely loved the look of her fireplace makeover and decided to recreate it. I started with 2 coats of chalk paint.  

And then set to work drawing the shapes to make it look like a stone fireplace. And not very well at that!

But there was no turning back. I used different colors of acrylic paint, mixing many together as I went along. 

I added highlights and shadows as best as I could.  

This actually took me a couple of days because I’m indecisive. 

And I’m done!  I’ll wait a week to let the paint cure and then I will seal it with varnish. This way if it gets dirty, which it will, I won’t have to worry about  rubbing off the color when I clean it.

I’ll upload pictures with the varnish a bit later, but I just couldn’t wait to share this with you!!  (Here is part two of the makeover.)

A quick look at the before:

The pictures do not do it justice, it has lots of depth and nuance.  I’ve got to work on those photography skills. 

There is a part two to this fireplace makeover here.

When I showed this photo to my son he said “you should have done this years ago!”  Well, better late than never for my long overdue fireplace makeover.  Do you ever have a project in mind and then just procrastinate forever, like I did?