The moment we’ve all been waiting for…well maybe just me. The moment I’ve been waiting for….I’ve been wanting to do a fireplace makeover since I completed my family room makeover a few years back. I am happy to say it is finished and I am loving it!!
We have to look at the before picture on this one!!
From day one, I have not been a fan of the tile going around the fireplace. It felt cold and contemporary….definitely not the style of the rest of our home. It pretty much stuck out like a sore thumb. When I would go into other homes in our neighborhood, I started to realize so many people had this same fireplace. A not-very-unique-look from the early 00’s. And then there was the mantle…just kinda boring. I wanted something with more character to it…
So, in Nicole-Fashion, I got up one cold winter morning and started tearing apart the mantle. That sucker was not easy to take off…
But with a few nifty tools…
I finally shimmied it off of there…
And so began the fireplace makeover…
Step one was building the mantel…
Then came the hearth…
I love this stuff!!
And all of the trim work…
‘Til it was finally time to cover up that awful tile…
Using MDF board, I added some dimension to the tile…
After taping it all off and a little bit of primer, I painted the exposed tile Peppercorn (dark gray) and stained the mantle with Jacobean stain…
And a lot of white paint and decor later–here you have it! The final reveal…
It is mind-blowing how different it looks now….
I just have to throw in one more before fireplace makeover, because the transformation is night and day…
After fireplace makeover…
As you can see, this fits the style of our home so much better…
Be sure to check back soon for the full tutorial on how to get the look of this fireplace makeover. It’s coming soon!!
Designer Tip: When It Might Be Time to Bring in Help
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If you’d like a little guidance with your space, you can learn more about our interior design services below.
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Until next time,
Happy Building, Friend!!
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Love your post on DYI fireplace mantle makeover. We are in the process of remodeling a Brady Bunch home and will use your post for much needed help. I have a question about the Shiplap surrounding your fireplace, could you tell me if you used “real” shiplap or 1X 6 pieces?
Love your home..
Hi Lori, Thank you for your kind words. I’m so glad the fireplace mantle makeover was helpful to you. For the shiplap surrounding my fireplace, I used underlayment, cut into 6″ strips. I use this for a lot of my “shiplap” projects. Here’s a post on how I do it… https://designtobuildblog.com/how-to-shiplap-using-underlayment-the-easy-way/ Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck with the project!
I have this EXACT fireplace from the ‘90s and have been looking to update it without breaking the bank. Thank you!!
Awesome! You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful. Best of luck with the project. :)
What did you use to attach the MDF board to the tile?
Hi Leah,
I used Liquid Nails Glue to attach the mdf to the tiles. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you,
Nicole
Love your makeover! Has it been an issue having a wood surface for the top of your hearth…like if a piece of wood falls out, etc?
Hi Carol! Thank you! I’m glad you like it! That’s a great question…we have a gas fireplace and therefore don’t have this issue. Such a great point though! I will definitely add that to the post. I think for a wood burning fireplace, a tile, brick/stone, or concrete surface would be better. :)
Beautiful! What paint brand did you use to paint your tile and for it to be sustainable with high heat?
Thank you! I used Behr Marquee Pure Ultra White in Semi-gloss.
Hi Nicole,
What brand and paint name did you use for your dark shiplap? I’m IN LOVE WITH IT!!
Thank you!! It’s Sherwin Williams Peppercorn. My go-to, for sure! Love it!!
Hi! I love your makeover! I have a very similar fireplace with a marble slab for a hearth- in a carpeted room. How did you build and secure the hearth over the carpet? Thanks so much!
Thank you! I’m glad you like the makeover. Unfortunately, I am only sharing the mantel at this point, due to building codes, being different in some states. I’m hoping to revise that post eventually and re-publish it, but have not yet done that. Sorry for any inconvenience. I will say, in building the hearth, I built it straight on top of the carpet and did not attach it to the fireplace. It has held up great with no shifting whatsoever, having built it a year and a half ago. Again, sorry to be so vague. :(
Hello! love the mantle, what is the name of the stain you used or the wood?
Thank you! I believe I used Java Gel Stain for that from General Finishes.
:)
Yes!! Thank you! We’re in the process of moving to a new home and the fireplace looks exactly like this! I knew I wanted it updated and you have given me the exact plan I needed.
Thank you!! It’s beautiful
Thank you! I’m glad it was helpful! Congratulations on your new home!
~Nicole
I love your fireplace makeover! We are in the process of planning a shiplap fireplace with a gas insert. I like the idea of a wood hearth but am wondering how well the painted surface is holding up.
Hi Linda, Our painted surface has held up great. However, I do recommend using an electric insert rather than a gas insert. Thank you for your question!
~Nicole