Modern Fireplace Makeover

Turn a dark dreary fireplace into a bright, modern fireplace with an easy step-by-step paint project.

Modern Fireplace Makeover

 

Modern Fireplace Before

Before:
Dark brown brick gives this fireplace a dreary, dated look.

Modern Fireplace After

After:
A simple paint technique plus new pendant lights (#274555) and WAGI Starburst artwork give this fireplace a bright, modern look. Turn a recessed light socket into a pendant light with a super-easy pendant light conversion kit (#266578). Screw the fixture into the socket (just like a light bulb) and adjust the cord.

 

Step 1: Before applying paint, make sure the brick is clean and free of dust, soot or dirt.

Step 2: Apply a base coat (we used Valspar Desert Fortress) using both a paint roller and brush. Let dry thoroughly.

Sponge on Bricks

Step 3: Cut the sponge so it is the same size as your bricks. Dampen the sponge in water, then wring it out so it is full and flexible but not drippy.

Step 4: Pour a small amount of accent paint (we used Valspar Smoked Oyster) into a paint tray. It's important to use a small, even amount of paint on the sponge. To do this, brush paint up onto the ribbed surface of the paint tray. Set the sponge on to the paint to absorb a small amount. Blot the sponge on the cardboard to make sure you have the right amount of paint. Lightly press the sponge against the brick. You'll soon get a feel for the right amount of paint to use.

Applying Paint to Brick

Each brick will have slight variations in color that give the overall surround a natural look. Don't worry about mistakes. You can wipe off a brick immediately after applying the paint using a wet rag.

Modern Fireplace Makeover

See More Fireplaces
Sort by:
Customer stories
Customer avatarBy:mrsteve
 
Please wait while more information about mrsteve is loaded.
Additional information about mrsteve could not be loaded.
Posted: January 3, 2012
Customer avatarBy:mrsteve
 
Please wait while more information about mrsteve is loaded.
Additional information about mrsteve could not be loaded.
just finished fireplace project and it turned out amazin..i painted it seashell grey for background and my ten yr old daughter used sponge with delta sandbar for accent color..i am very impressed how easy it was to do and for 30 dollars we transformed the entire room. highly suggest to use matt paint to keep it looking natural and not like painted brick
0points
0 Thumbs Up
Did you like this story?Yes0unhelpful0
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this story.
2345...19next>>
Filtering is in progress. Please wait until it completes.
Customer stories
2345...19next>>
Project Info


Total Votes: 22

These "social bookmarking" services make it easier to share and manage your favorite online content.

StumbleUpon, digg, and del.icio.us help you gather content from around the web, describe it how you see fit, and tag it for easy sorting. These sites also allow you to see what other people are gathering and tagging (if they've made it public), and find new content that may interest you.

Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace also allow you to share content that you find interesting, with people who visit or subscribe to your personal profile.

-->
Share
Email StumbleUpon digg del.icio.us Facebook MySpace
Project Details
Rough Estimated Cost: $47
Tools You'll Use:
  • Paint Roller and Roller Cover
  • Paint Brush
  • Paint tray
  • Cardboard
Lowe's List:
  • Large O-Cel-O sponge (#188431)
  • Valspar paint, Desert Fortress (#2008-10B)
  • Valspar paint, Smoked Oyster (#6005-1C)
Project Tags

Tags are keywords or terms that have been assigned to a piece of content.

A tag list is simply a list of all the tags used on all content and a count of their frequency.

A tag cloud is a visual representation of a tag's popularity based on how often it is used throughout the site.

Click on a category below to view other projects and articles. (What are these?)

Display as: cloud | list