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Easy ways to freshen up a fireplace Painting, cladding both work
Build around the chimney
JEFFREY FISHER POSTMEDIA NEWS
Q My husband and I moved into a great new home last year. It’s a charming threebedroom bungalow built in the 1960s. This fall, we want to freshen up the living room and change out the patio doors that lead off it. The living room has a large red brick fireplace (floor to ceiling), which I dislike, though it doesn’t bother my husband. I realize if we decide to paint it there’s no going back, so I waver over what to do. My husband will live with whatever I choose to do. Do you have an opinion one way or the other? A This is indeed a tough decision and I completely understand you vacillating. And without knowing your decor style, I’m not sure I want the responsibil-
PHOTOS: CASEY DUNN PHOTOGRAPHY/Alter Studio Architecture
A fireplace can be updated by painting the brick dark taupe, left, or installing tongue-and-groove cladding, right. ity resting on my shoulders either. Having made my disclaimer, I’m going to throw out a few ideas and see if one resonates more than another with you and your husband.
Leave the brick as is Hang a large piece of art (but not an expensive one if you’re burning wood in your fireplace). Sometimes something as simple as a distraction can make you dislike a flaw less. The key to leaving the brick unpainted is mak-
ing sure your wall colour is painted a fresh, complementary tone. If you have mid-century furniture (or touches of) you may want to keep your walls a crisp white, hang interesting art and embrace the retro feel of your home. If that’s not the case, consider a light- or mid-grey colour to complement the brick. I would avoid golden tones because, even though it may complement the brick, it’s going to date the room.
Paint the brick But don’t get tricky or fancy with the colour. The fireplace is undoubtedly the largest object in your living room so it shouldn’t be painted an experimental novelty colour. Keep to medium or dark grey, taupe or white. I would not paint your fireplace the same colour as your walls unless you go with white. I f yo u r f u r n i s h i n g s are shabby chic, cottagey,
loft-like or even transitional then white walls and a white fireplace should work well. The room pictured here by Alter Studio (alterstudio. net) features, with great success, a fireplace painted dark taupe. The rug holds the only pattern in the room and from that the accent colours of the room are derived. This room is contemporary but comfortable and could definitely provide inspiration for you.
Cover the red brick you dislike and simultaneously create a hearty mantel that is in scale with the room and the fireplace. Crisp Architects (crisparchitects.com) created a magnificent fireplace, also seen here, by cladding the chimney above the mantel in painted tongueand-groove. The mantel is detailed without being overdone, and the scale fits the size of the room (this gorgeous fireplace and seating area is in the kitchen!) perfectly. The exposed brick surround creates a more relaxed feel — but if your bricks are still a distraction to you, then paint them. Because I don’t know your design style or budget it’s hard for me (and not fair to you) to give you a definitive path to follow, but I feel that among my three suggestions there will be one (or a combination) that resonates with you.
Send your decor question to askjeffreyfisher@gmail.com.
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