The Long Overdue Fireplace Makeover
After much procrastination I finally tackled the updating of my ugly old fireplace. I hope you love this fireplace makeover as much as I do!
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?
You are brave to undertake such a huge project! You have created a beautiful fireplace. You are talented and resourceful too! So enjoy your blog.
Thank you so much Ellen for your kind words. When I looked at that ugly thing I knew I had to do something, anything. But I had no idea how it would turn out in the end… still don’t. But we will see in the next few weeks.
More hidden talent. It looks fabulous. You understated how great it turned out. Your house must be beautiful.
Thank you Krista. The huge unexpected benefit of being a diy blogger is that you get to redo your whole house one project at a time. This is something I did not anticipate when I started the blog, but I see now that the house is slowly filling up with one of a kind pieces.
Mary, that looks incredible! Love the color choices, they bring the fireplace into a focal point. I bet it’ll be a great conversation piece. You are so talented!
Jas, I find myslef walking into the room and staring at it! Lol! I still have not gotten used to having it there. It is so bright and full of… anything but what it was before. Thanks for your sweet comment.
Funny we are doing our fire place up too. Yours is awesome. Thanks for sharing on #overthemoon
Thank you so much Jennifer. I guess it’s the season for fireplace makeovers now that we are coming out of the winter frost.
This. Is. Amazing!
You did all that chimney yourself?!
I love the difference it made but I love even more the detail of the “stones”. Great choice of colors and wow, this is one fantastic paint job Mary!
I pin this of course.
Yes all by myself!! If you want something done you have to do it yourself. I had help from family members in the form of “holding the ladder so I don’ topple over!” But it was my idea hence it had to be done by me. But now I’m not happy – I want to add depth… so we’ll see where this goes.
Wow! Now that’s a makeover! Great job Mary! Your son was right!
It looks like a Greek fireplace now! The towns are full of stone houses and that is the look I was going for. I even see them in my dreams..lol!
WOW! When you said you were working on your fireplace I had no idea what was coming! Although I knew it was going to turn out great,but THIS! It looks so bright and so so nice Mary! What a project you took on, hey? It looks like real stones, so natural & fresh! Please come and do this to my ugly fireplace!!!
I kept on staring at that awful brown for over 2 years. What was I thinking Katrin? When I had painted it brown it looked nice in contrast to the walls but it made the whole room look so gloomy. You are absolutely right this really does brighten the whole place up.
it looks fantastic Mary and I think it will look even better when you varnish it. You are so talented! It looks quite realistic and so much better than the original brown!
Leanne, before I varnish I’ll try to add some more detail to the stones and see how that looks. Let’s hope I don’t mess it up.
What a total transformation and labor of love! Great job, Mary!
Laabor of love indeed Larissa. I was praying I wouldn’t topple over when I was reaching up high to paint the top of that chimney.
WOW! This is amazing, and I can’t imagine doing it in even a couple of days! Awesome job! You’re very creative, and have the talent to pull of an idea…I’m impressed! 🙂
Thank you Martie. I was festering in me for over a year so I had to finally get it done. But now I think before I add the varnish I may just tweak it a bit more.
This is absolutely beautiful, Mary! The colors you selected blend in so well with your décor. And the “stones” look so real! Great job! I know you’re very proud of yourself – and we are, too!
Gail that is such a great compliment coming from someone as talented as you are. Thank you so much.
Mary, this fireplace makeover is awesome sauce!! You did an amazing job on making the stone shapes and tying in the different colors!! I like that you took the time to apply your artist’s eye to it. It looks fantastic my friend!! And yes, I have procrastinated projects, a whole house full, in fact. 😉
Awesome sauce is the best compliment! 😉 Speaking of procrastination I’m gonna wait before applying the varnish and see if I can add a bit more detail to it. Thanks Keri!!
Oh wow!! This is an amazing transformation Mary! And such a great idea, I never would have thought of using paint to get that look. It lifts the space so much, I bet it will be amazing with the fire lit, a really traditional feel.
And I hear you about projects taking a long time…I have so many on my to-do list they tend to only get done when I realise I need to get the bits of wood or materials or whatever I have been hoarding for it out of the way at last! 🙂
Anna, that is one way to look at it. You become so exasperated with the mess and the hoarding that you decide to do it. A lot of my projects also come about because I have something and I don’t want to throw it out but I am sick of stepping on it.
I saw it on Facebook earlier and I was so impressed! You should be really proud, it looks way better than before! It really is amazing!
Thank you so much Ntina! It is one of my favorite projects. Everytime I walk into the room I stare at it because it is a big change.. for the better.
Καταπληκτικη αλλαγή! Το καλο πραγμα αργεί να γίνει, ετσι λέει ο λαος μας και η περίσταση το επιβεβαιωνει. Το μόνο έξτρα που θα έκανα είναι να βΨω και το κάτω μέρος λευκό.
Ευχαριστω Μάχη. Η ιδέα σου ειναι πολυ τολμηρή! Σκεφτομαι την βρόμα από τον καπνό, αλλιώς θα το έκανα! Ευχαριστω για την επίσκεψή σου!!
That must have taken you ages! I admire your perseverance and dedication. The varnish will deepen the nuance even more. Can’t wait to see more pictures. 🙂
Kathryn, after thinking it through and with some help from bloggy friends I’m going to try and add some more detail to the stones and then seal it. So yes, there will be a part 2.
This looks amazing, Mary! It totally transforms the whole fireplace and room! I can’t believe you did this all by hand. It must have taken a while, but the results are so worth it!
I didn’t just want to paint it and have it be bland. And when I saw that fireplace from Dancing Dog, I knew that was what I wanted. That feel. So I just went for it. It couldn’t have gotten any worst than it was before. 😉
Holy Mackerel! That was quite an undertaking Mary…but what a difference it makes! Honestly, I thought it looked great before, but it is so much brighter and fresher now. Fantastic. Did you enjoy the process? Do you catch yourself just standing and admiring your handiwork/? You should!
Well done my friend.
Hugs, LYnn
Lynn, it looked awful before. The room is long and narrow and the fireplace made it look smaller than it is. Spring is here and it was time for a refresh. Yes I did my research, studied rocks even bought some home as a sample. lol. I walk into the room and stop and stare at it now. I am looking for ways to enhance the stone make it look more realistic. I’m going to do a bit of tweaking and then seal it. So you’ll be hearing from my fireplace soon.
Wow! What a huge difference. You did a terrific job. It looks wonderful.
Thanks Debra. The fireplace was really looking drab and bringing the rest of the room into misery with it. Now it is ready to take on Spring and even Summer!
What a difference Mary and looking forward to seeing how the colors and detail will come out even more once varnished. Looks like a huge undertaking so kudos to you for taking the job on!
Marie you know when you get a vision in your head and it just won’t go away. Well that’s what happened to me with this fireplace. I keep on seeing white fireplaces all over the blogshere, but it would have been too bland for my room. I’m going to add some more detail to the stones and then seal it. Stay tuned!