After years of living with it we are fed up and HAVE to do something with our fireplace.
This is a 1922 bunalow style house. The PO put up this horrendous paneling over the top of the fireplace. We are cosidering a couple different options:
1) Stone veneer from floor to ceiling; probably a flagtone material.
2) Slate over the bottom portion of the brick with a nice simple oak or mahogany board for mantle followed by GWB (over the masonry).
3) Slate or stone veneer on bottom, minimalist mantle with bead board paneling above.
Any opinions/feedback would be most appreciated.
This will be a DIY project for myself who has little carpentry or construction experience.
Thanks
Here is a link to show the existing condition:
http://home.comcast.net/~taylorjohn541/Fireplace.jpg
Replies
How about tile?--lots of Craftsman style bungalows had tile (usually hand made, but I think there are less costly reproductions available--there are repro's of Stickley tile (though still pretty expensive) available). Some also used copper--sort of "hand wrought". Oak would be in keeping with the style too. Maybe include lights or light sconses on either side or built in?
Danno,
I originally thought of tile, but I thought that for a first time DIY project that might require more precision. The roughness of the stone would be more forgiving in that regard. I still have to come up with something for the upper portion. The sconces sound like a good idea, but not sure where I would run electrical unless a new panel system on furring was installed?
Thanks
I have several thoughts and I'll try to sort them out:
1) Since you haven't received a lot of replies here, may also want to post your question on the "Breaktime" forum which is frequented by contartors who know tile, masonry, electrical, etc..
2) While stone may be rough and seems to be forgiving for a beginner, unless you are talking the artificial veneer, it can be heavy and tricky to keep in place while the mortar sets. Also there's an art to putting the stone up in an aesthetically pleasing way--balance of composotion, nice mortar lines, etc..
3) There are little cross-shaped spacers for tile now, so the spacing can be held consistent. Tile is not that difficult (but somewhat difficult) to do. (Remove spacers before grouting.)
4) Looks like a TV is next to fireplace, so maybe there's an outlet from which you could run wire for sconses?
5) What is "GWB"?
6) Perhaps a nice panel of oak plywood with a nice decorative edge treatment would work above the mantle.
7) You should probably ask the "Breaktime" folks the best way to cover the brick before you put stone or tile over it.
That's al I can think of for now. Hope you get some other replies that make it easier for you.
First I'd strip the brick and see what's under that paint. You might find that you like the original. You'll need to strip the paint anyway to get good adhesion for stone, slate, or tile. Then I'd take off the overmantle and see what's under it before planning what to do. Simple panelling is consistent with the bungalow style, but so is natural brick, or natural stone, or tile. Of these, stone is the hardest to do. Slate comes in different thicknesses, so while easier than stone it still needs practice. Tile really is not that hard comparitively speaking.
A picture of your house would help in coming up with suggestions. If your house is a small Sears house, then the stone might seem a little pretensious and overbearing, but if it is more of a Greene and Greene bungalow then stone would fit right in.
Wow, I love wood, but that IS ugly. I'll second aimless's request for more information on the house to get an idea of what would be appropriate. My guess is your idea of slate(small, 4x4 or so) with white oak or mahogany would look great. With relatively low ceilings you don't want to draw attention upward; it accentuates the lowness of the ceiling. It's best to keep the exciting stuff down at or below eye level.
Danno, GWB is gypsum wallboard, generic term for sheetrock.
Mike
<Danno, GWB is gypsum wallboard, generic term for sheetrock.>Thanks. Tried all sorts of combinations, but couldn't come up with anything that made much sense! Took me quite a while to figure out "PITA". And I used to work for the government, so I should be adept at understanding abbreviations! Now if I could just tell "Dear Wife" from "Dry Wall".
You're right, it is hideous.
Sandblasting will take the paint off the brick, but it is a messy job. How about some handmade craftsman style tile only in the recessed area above the firebox? It is such a small area it would be easy to do and even expensive tiles would not bust the budget in such a small area.
Above the brick it depends on the rest of the room. If it has, for example, the high oak paneled wainscot, you could panel the top to match. Or cultured stone, or drywall a tapered trapezoidal sort-of-hood-shaped box with rounded edges and plaster it.
Have you looked at pictures in Arts & Crafts architecture books?
Waynel5,
The rest of the room has plaster walls, original oak flooring. The adjacent dining room has shaker style paneling that has been painted white.
I like your idea of the tile in the recess. There is also some old brown tile at the floor in front that needs to be replaced also. I don't mind so much the painted brick right now, just the paneling above. Maybe a paneling similar to what's in the dining room. That same pattern is repeated throughout the doors in the house.
I'll check more of the A&C books.Thanks
If you don't mind the brick staying painted, how about painting it a different color.
Check out this site.. I have painted brick too that I will have to strip... then the mortar will stick...
http://www.eldoradostone.com/
Before you spend any money on your fireplace please have a cerified chimney sweep come out and inspect your system for fireworthyness. If you are not planning on using the fireplace for wood or gas heat then disregard. I wish I had a penny for everytime I went to a customers home to sweep and inspect their system AFTER they invested hundreds of dollars, and had to tell them I would reccomend not to use it due to the fire hazards I uncovered. I would be rich by now, you can find a certified chimney sweep in your area at http://www.chimneys.com.
I have been building and reworking fireplaces for 30 years. I would start by stripping down the complete face and start fresh. This will give you the chance to see what lies behind and the ability to correct any flaws, such as open mortar joints which could create a fire hazzard. As far as a new face goes the sky is the limit, but that needs to be worked out with your spouse.You could use a small brick or stone trim around the firebox with a matching hearth, then add a wood surround up to mantle height. this will give you a nice look without being too bulky. All brick will be where you are now size wise and stone will be even bigger. If you face over the existing brickwork you will run into a problem with the door jamb on the right. I would not try to do real stone work unless you are sure of your abilities to keep it straight with nice tight mortar joints.You can glue stone pieces or tile around the firebox and hearth then add wood which will pretty much eliminate any finished masonry on your part. The wood surround can be done with basic wood working skills and trim from a local lumber yard.Hope this helps.