Your Home: Fireplace Makeovers

Often, the fireplace is the focal point of a room. But what if your focal point turns out to be a big dud? Renovating, updating, and modernizing fireplaces are a big trend in home design today. Even better, with a relatively inexpensive makeover, your unattractive fireplace can easily become the star of the show.

Updating Bricks
Seems surrounding the fireplace with traditional red brick was all the rage a several decades ago. If you’re stuck with such a look, it’s simple to bring that old relic back to the future. One of the easiest ways to transform? Paint those bricks. There’s always the modern, clean look of white bricks, a bold and sexy pop of color (think rich navy or charcoal gray), or even the rustic, farmhouse style of whitewashed or antiqued bricks.

If you’re able to take it beyond a simple paint job, you may even consider covering the bricks with a sleek, luxurious marble, cultured stone, or even richly painted wood. Another way to add drama? Take the material all the way up to the ceiling.

Mantle Woes
Some mantles are plain and unimaginative. Some fireplaces don’t have a mantle at all. Consider the minimalist look of a single piece of antique, reclaimed wood or even the more elaborate and traditional look of a complete wooden wrap-around mantle.

Uninspired Hearth
Dark, boring, and dated hearths can be brought to life with fresh, new materials. Often, building a raised hearth from one at floor level can be a game-changer.

Tuscan Overload
Perhaps your fireplace is the last piece of the Tuscan décor that you’ve been transitioning away from. While tumbled travertine and elaborate Cantera stone were all the rage, if you’re modernizing your room, then you’ll no doubt want to update the fireplace too. Consider eye-catching and contemporary patterned tile or the sleek look of a poured concrete surround.

It’s All in the Sparkle
Consider one last revamp. If it works with the rest of your décor, switching out the faux wooden logs in a gas fireplace to colorful and luminescent glass rocks can truly be the finishing touch on your modern-day makeover.