Help with my 1970s fireplace makeover! (granite, paint, ceiling, tiles)
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After battling with DH for the past 15 years, he has finally agreed that our den would be nicer without all the bricks! We have two large brick walls with seating hearths. The bricks stick out 3" from the wall and the hearth is another 16" from that, then there's 23 ft. of wall space, to the ceiling, taken up by bricks. This not only dates the house, but it limits what I can do with the room. We've always had it one way, with a sofa and love seat forming an L facing the fireplace. Just recently I figured out the "dueling sofas" thing and I love it. If I remove the bricks, it would just open the space up so much more. And of course there's the option of just keeping the bricks but painting them. And lastly, we could just leave it all alone. Believe it or not, I have as many people tell me they like it like it is, but those people have always been used to seeing it, so I'd like to get your suggestions. I've included lots of photos below.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We dealt with this on one of our fireplaces. I used quick set mortar to fill in the gaps between the bricks and exposed aggregate hearth, then used 2" square slate tiles to cover it. Came out really nice and was an easy weekend job. I would not suggest that for the walls, however. Painting them will be alot easier and cheaper than removing them, which is a very messy job. I'd try paint first and see how you like it.
My wife also wants to get rid of the brick look. Our plan is to tile over it with a dark slate tile of some kind. Still in the research mode for this. Would love to see pictures though of what you have to work with now.
On a side note we are also going to stucko over the outside bricks of the fire place. Most of the homes here are stucko and the newer homes all have a stucko covered texture cote on the fireplaces that matches the homes stucko. Many include some brick accent though.
After battling with DH for the past 15 years, he has finally agreed that our den would be nicer without all the bricks! We have two large brick walls with seating hearths. The bricks stick out 3" from the wall and the hearth is another 16" from that, then there's 23 ft. of wall space, to the ceiling, taken up by bricks. This not only dates the house, but it limits what I can do with the room. We've always had it one way, with a sofa and love seat forming an L facing the fireplace. Just recently I figured out the "dueling sofas" thing and I love it. If I remove the bricks, it would just open the space up so much more. And of course there's the option of just keeping the bricks but painting them. And lastly, we could just leave it all alone. Believe it or not, I have as many people tell me they like it like it is, but those people have always been used to seeing it, so I'd like to get your suggestions. I've included lots of photos below.
I would love to see the pictures if you get around to trying to post them again.
My wife also wants to get rid of the brick look. Our plan is to tile over it with a dark slate tile of some kind. Still in the research mode for this. Would love to see pictures though of what you have to work with now.
We have a small brick fireplace tucked in a corner of our old split home. Now, I am usually not a fan of brick fireplaces and this one was buff brick, severely ugly. I painted it white to lessen the degree of ugliness while we saved the rest of the home from the 70's renovation.
We finally re-clad the brick with 12x24" dark slate coloured porcelain tiles and a slab of leather finished granite for the hearth.
Don't paint your brick. I love the brick look. Can't stand painted brick. Just seems like a cheap out. I rather have basic drywall than to paint brick
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