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| above is the "before" shot of my fireplace. i have been dying to change the brown stone on my dated 1970's fireplace...we have lived in our house for over 11 years ...the longest i have ever lived in one home... last week i mentioned to mr. dan that i would like to try painting over the stone and he immediately said "go for it, i have never liked the brown anyway"!! what? huh? say no more...i was on it! |
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| and here is the "after" shot. love, love, LOVE it!! |
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| i started by simply washing on a very diluted mixture of annie sloan chalk paint in paris grey... in this shot you can see that i have painted about 2/3 of the stone (the grout too)..... already seeing a huge difference. |
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| here you can see one layer of the wash...but some brown tones were still showing through. |
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| so i added another layer of wash...at this point the brown tones were gone but the stones looked too flat. |
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| so i dry brushed lighter shades of the gray (just added some white house paint to the grey wash) until i liked the effect. |
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| so much better!! |
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| yay! this easy peasy project took just a few hours and very, very little paint. what a difference! what do you think? ♥ erin please click here for an updated post about my fireplace where i have answered some questions about this painting technique. |
75 comments:
This is absolutely fabulous and inspiring - I love it!!
Wow! An amazing difference, it's softer and blend better with the rest of the room. It looks warmer too. I love it.
I am always amazed at how we all live with things that "bother" us a bit and then "pop" we decide to tackle it, and we are thrilled at the results and astonished how little time and effort it really took after all.
Another "duh" moment for we humans.
SO many projects I wanted to do were put off because I was concerned with "resale" . After 20 years here you would think I would let that go... lol You would think....
The fireplace looks amazing and you've inspired me to review my to do list and see if there is a "fireplace project" in the near future for me.
great job, your magnificent artist's eye wins again <3
It looks terrific Erin! It is amazing how a simple change can totally affect the feel of the whole space.. I love it too!
Erin,
You have made a such an exquisite transformation.
Now sit back and enjoy!
blessings,
Penny
Looks great! Goes perfect with your decor in the room.
I put a lot of things off, because I am afraid to take that first step.
Enjoy your weekend.
what an amazing difference!!! it looks fabulous, Erin, I really love how you shaded it and kept it looking like stone, not just a solid coat of white!
Erin, it is fabulous. Brilliant in fact. I have a similar fireplace in Florida in my bedroom. I was thinking of over grouting it to make the stones less haphazard looking, but seeing this, I think I like this better. Much more suited to a summer house.
Great makeover and transformation. Looks wonderful Erin.
Cindy
Stunning! I like the grey wash so much better... Your artist's eye must give you lots of confidence to tackle projects like this...and your end results are inspirational!
I love the new look, Erin! Your fireplace looks like it's part of a Scandinavian home now that you've lightened it up. It was a bold move, but the right one! Your art on the mantel looks fabulous, too!
When I first read that you were going to paint the stone, I gasped! I like stone but I must say that I would have preferred it to be grey - and now it is! Greyish-white? Whatever you call it, it's fantastic! So pretty and it still looks natural! Wonderful job! Hugs, Leena
erin,
What a difference! I love the new look. I know it makes the room look bigger.
Hugs,
Donna
Wowzers...what a difference...beautiful
I love it. I wasn't sure I would because I did like the original but it now looks more like limestone. Being such a great artist helps:)
i think i'm in love. beautiful job, erin! it's got that timeless european feel now.
:)
michele
It is excellent, I never would have thought it could look so natural.You are a genius with this sort of transformation!
As always, your projects are gorgeous and inspiring, Erin. I love the change and it so suits your style. And I adore the painting of the birch trees. It's all fresh and serene winter beauty! xo
Gorgeous!
thanks ladies!! affirmation is so sweet, when it comes from people i admire so..
Brave woman! Looks great in your home but I could never do that. I love my natural stone fireplace.
Looks great, Erin!
You did it! It looks beautiful and fits perfectly with your decor! Well done, Erin.
Hugs,
Karen
Erin - what a great project and finish. I love it. Have a great week.
Wow! I am impressed! That really looks great!
Looks amazing! Can I pay you to come do the same to my orange brick fireplace? Seriously! I've been wanting to give it a try, but I don't really have an artist's touch with a paintbrush. Would love to see mine have this grayish, whitewashed look!
Love it love it love it, Erin! It really looks so much better with the pretty pastels in your sweet home. :) I'm surprised that your hubby agreed to it. Usually it's the guys that are horrified at the mere suggestion of painting something! lol!
xoxo laurie
Everyone thinks to paint brick - but painting the stone is genius! Love the lighter look.
Kelly
At first when you said you were going to paint it...I was frightened....because I kind of liked it as is...But the way you painted it made all the difference...using the washes of grey and white. It still looks like natural stone just a different color. I see why you are so happy about it. I'd love it if you linked it up at my linky party that I have each week...Mod Mix Monday. I have a party going on now or you can wait till next week.
I love it!!!
Carolyn
I featured your fireplace today on Mod Mix Monday!
Love the transformation! Happy to have found your blog through Mod Vintage Life.
melinda
Ah... the power of paint is magical! It completely transformed the space!
Erin,
I have literally been looking for a tutorial on how to "grey wash/ white wash" our ugly brown 70's fireplace wall for MONTHS. I already loved your blog, and now I love it even more. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all you do. I am going to have to buy some of your art now too. You are an inspiration, and a beautiful person. Keep it up.
Erin, this is so perfect with the white look. Nice work!
I'm inspired. What percentage of paint to water did you use?
thanks diana...
about 1/4 cup paris grey + 3/4 cup water.
This is such a beautiful makeover. You did fabulous work cleaning, painting, and decorating your fireplace and mantel. It is so bright and fresh!
I LOVE IT! OMG, I have the same fireplace and I have been wanting to rip it out but the hubs loves it. After seeing what you've done maybe I can talk him into this and then I will love the fireplace like he does. THANKS so much for sharing!
Hi, you did a great job. My fireplace is almost identical to yours and I think painting it will completely change the room and make me happy. How can I share my before and after with you. Thanks
Did you happen to prime it first? I want to do this for my fireplace!
Did you happen to prime it first? I want to do this for my fireplace!
Abssolutely love what you have done!
Thanks to your linking with Confessions of a Plate Addict, I have found this super fireplace transformation! I, too, have hated my 70's stone fireplace! My art-ability is obviously not up to yours - but, I had wanted to paint the ugly blackish-grey-brown stones white but I could only imagine a disaster. You have inspired me and given me courage! I WILL do this transformation - Merci beaucoup, Erin~
Can you tell me what house white paint you used?
Hello, I'm reading this while staring at my huge 70's stone fire place. My question is, what did you dilute the paint with? Straight water? And is any kind of paint ok? Or does it need to be chaulk paint?
Thank you..
Laurie
lauriebrown078@gmail.com
Erin, I found this when googling "painting stone" and tried it on my fireplace, which was in desperate shape. I like it, but in my living room, the gray is a little too cool. Any suggestions for softening or warming it up? I'm guessing it is because my stone was not as brown as yours to begin with. I'm considering doing another thin layer with Old White (Annie Sloan) but don't want the stone detail to disappear. Ideas?
Thank you!! Have looked everywhere trying to find a technique to use on our very dated 70s stone fireplace (slightly darker than what you started with). I am so glad we didn't paint it (while it's really ugly, it felt sort of wrong to throw straight paint onto it). We can't wait to try this out - thanks again!!
I have a fireplace in my living room,just like ur's & have been wanting to paint it for sometime now....I have looked @ many pic's,but I love ur look & how u did it...maybe while hubby is at work one day over holidays ,I will give it a try...do u think just using white will be ok,as I have no grey ?
just wanted to say thank you for posting this I did this on my flag stone fireplace today and it looks amazing I am thrilled with the results and it only cost me about 20 bucks
just wanted to say thank you for posting this I did this on my flag stone fireplace today and it looks amazing I am thrilled with the results and it only cost me about 20 bucks
What do you mean when you say dry brushed???
Why the chaulk paint? Do you think regular ol' interior flat would do or does the chaulk add something in particular that you were hoping for?
"dry brush" means....paint that is worked deep into the brush and then almost all removed by brushing onto newspaper or a rag....that is, most of the paint is removed so that the brush is almost dry....hope that helps.
i chose chalk paint because i had it on hand from another project and because with chalk paint there is no prepping....no sanding or priming.
Thank you so much for this! You have breathed new life into that fireplace, it looks stunning! I too have an incredibly dated stone fireplace that makes me a little insane every time I look at it. There is hope for it yet!
Erin, this is beautiful. I have two floor to ceiling stone wall fireplaces with black morter. I hate them and really want to try this. Can you please offer a suggestion on if/what I should do to the black morter first? Thanks!
Thanks for this, I have a few questions. What did you dilute the chalk paint with? Also, I believe you said you did this to the mortar too correct? Were your brush strokes in all different directions?
Like the previous 2 posts, I am researching how to do something similar to my ugly fire place. I wonder how this has help up to the heat of a fire and if you would suggest the diluted (with what) chalk paint on black grout? Thank you so much, yours looks beautiful! What a brave endeavor!
How do you dilute the chalk paint? Water or white house paint?
Did you paint the mortar to, or just the stone?
Did you add the mantel yourself? I have a fireplace with uneven stones. It seems quite difficult to add a mantel.
I love your style. I am making over my mantle and have looked all over for white vases similar to yours. WHERE did you find them please?
beautiful! A few questions - did you dry brush just the stones? and what type of brush did you use during the initial wash and the dry brush? Thanks so much for helping so many of us DIYers create something beautiful too!
Your articles are very well written and unique.hnninglek/
The written piece is truly fruitful for me personally; continue posting these types of articles. stanningleyfiresides.co.uk
hi Erin, I followed your tutorial and am pleased to report a great success. Here is a link to the stockist where I bought the pain and they posted pics on their Facebook page. Thank you very much for the easy peasy and gratifying transformation.
https://www.facebook.com/SecondBetty
(scroll down to July 24 post)
Hi Erin!
So perfect- I have the same super dated fireplace and working with light grays and whites in my room so I think this chalk paint will be perfect, tho do you know if Annie Sloan's paint is heat safe? Also- how much of the chalk paint did you need for the whole project for a fireplace this size? Thanks so much Erin!
Thank you Erin! So I did the same thing, but as I was brushing on the chalk paint it took me forever to paint one stone. So I decided to try using a roller, bad decision. It sprayed everywhere. Then I had one more thought, a spray bottle. The paint is so thin that it sprays easily. Knocked out the rest of the firplace in 10 minutes. I followed up with the dry brush technique and you want it lighter than you expect because it will dry darker.
I have read and re-read this. Have my paint and am going to try it today. I hope mine turns out as nicely as yours has. Thank you for the inspiration and every one else for tall the comments and other suggestions.
Looks amazing. Did you seal the fireplace with any product?
Thank you! thank you! thank you!
I have an old 1970s rock fireplace. After seeing your fireplace I knew that it exactly what I was looking for. It 8s done I wished I could send you the before and after. You are a great inspiration
Drbn8e
I am not sure where you are located but I just found this post on Pinterest. I have the same exact living room and fire place and dark brown trim. The left side though is french doors.
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Thank you for providing such a valuable information and thanks for sharing this matter.
Residential House Painting
Love your fireplace! We have the same stone and i will be redoing the granite around the fireplace and looking for a mantel. I have to ask, where did you find the white distressed mantel? It is similar to what i have been looking for.
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