For some time now, I’ve been admiring white fireplaces and wondering whether or not I should paint ours the same color. It dawned on me that once I made the decision, there was no turning back. However, I jumped in with both feet and succeeded in the end. I love our white stone, and I regret not painting it sooner. Take a look at my before and after images to help you decide whether or not to take on a similar job.
We used to be in this situation. The stone didn’t bother me at first when we moved in. However, as my personal style matured, I realized that it was making me stand out in a negative way. We had just upgraded our entertainment center, so I wanted to make the space brighter. The final result is superb! Don’t be concerned about the dust in the fireplace.
It was a tremendous success because my spouse and I both enjoy it so much. The mantelpiece had a fresh coat of paint applied as well. Kelly Moore Acoustic White is the trim color I chose for our entire house.
The first step is to prime the masonry. Bulletin of the Day by Zinsser Primer No. 1-2-3 was used. It’s water-based, so you can use it inside or outside, and it works well on a variety of surfaces. This is what happened when I decided not to tape the edges. Normally, I would, but the metal fireplace electric inserts stone and grout had uneven edges and surfaces. In addition, I had run out of painter’s tape and didn’t feel like making an extra trip. Despite my impatience to begin, I was incredibly meticulous.
After my primer had dried, I used this DryDex putty to fill in the cracks and holes left by the primer. There were some noticeable gaps between the stone and grout, so this helped to balance things up. Then, sand away the putty that was left over after drying.
Here’s what it looked like after primer and putty, for reference. To remove any residual caulk from the edges, just wipe them with a damp washcloth. Prime the insert first, then do this. It was a little more difficult. While grouting, I took care to fill up any gaps where it came into contact with either the metal or the wall or both. There are some apparent holes around the bottom of the mantel, as seen above. To close them up, I used putty. After priming, caulking, and caulking the brick or stone, it’s time to paint!
When I went “outside the lines,” I used a little brush and our wall color, which I keep on hand for touch-ups. There are a lot of curved parts to our mantel molding. It would have been a nightmare to try to get that on tape!
That’s it for now. I couldn’t wait to re-decorate our newly refurbished fireplace with my old pieces. We brought home a gorgeous teal Mexican blanket from Beaumont, and I couldn’t resist sharing it with you all. On the white stone, it’s stunning!
It’s amazing what a difference a little paint makes. When our friends and family saw it, they remarked on how open and airy it made our living room feel. That is exactly how I feel about it; I can’t bear to look at it!
A fresh coat of paint on our mantel was long overdue, and the results are astounding. This place has gotten so filthy in the last eight years, I was shocked! I can’t wait to decorate this room and see how it changes over the years. Our next project is to install hardwood flooring in place of the carpeting we now have. We’re taking it one step at a time!
So there you have it: such a dramatic shift with minimal effort. I sincerely hope that this article has inspired you to do the same action! Those of you who are anything like me will be ecstatic about this decision.