Hi everyone! My husband and I just bought a house that's from the 1920s, and we're doing some updates before we move in. One of the less appealing features is the fireplace, which was painted a whitish-gray during some renovations 15 years ago. We both really dislike it and wish they had kept the original brick. Unfortunately, sandblasting or stripping the paint is too expensive and messy, and we aren't confident it would give us the results we want anyway. So, we're considering a few options: 1) installing brick veneer, 2) tiling over it, or 3) painting it a different color. Since this will be our forever home, we want to get it right! We'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you might have!
3 Answers
Honestly, if it’s all fake with electric logs, I would just tear it out entirely and put in a modern gas fireplace. No matter how you refinish that gray brick, it’ll always look like a cheap imitation with a tiny firebox.
I think it would help to see how the fireplace fits into the entire room. Maybe hold off on a decision until you’ve moved in and can see how everything looks together.
Removing the old fireplace is no easy task, but I did it. I smoothed over the brick with concrete for a clean finish, and then I installed a wood-burning stove into the chimney for some real heat. It turned out great!
That's a great idea! I hadn't thought about waiting to see how everything flows once we're settled. Thanks for the suggestion!