Sunday, August 17, 2014

The Fireplace Surround

Hi everybody!
We are getting some much needed rain!
We've been dealing with a little bit of a health crisis with Bill's mom. Nothing serious but we've got to get her up and moving again. Prayerfully, she will be on her way to rehab soon. 

I'm not here to show anything off today. 
???
I know. Hard to believe. I need to ask you a question.
This is how our fireplace looks today.


This is how it looked three years ago. This was about a month after I started blogging.  



I don't know if you were around then but in a random moment, Bill said I could paint the mantel. 
He doesn't believe in painting good wood so it was very out of the ordinary. 
So the very next day on August 10, 2012 I painted the mantel. 

Let me stop for a minute. 
To the best of my understanding, fireplace mantel is spelled MANTEL
A covering or mantle is spelled MANTLE, 
"The snow provided a mantle of white upon the ground."
However, I've seen them flip flopped quite a bit. 
What do you think? Is it a regional thing? Feel free to weigh in below. 

Now back to our riveting story...



Painting the mantel wasn't enough for me so I rooted around in the garage and found some scrap wood to make a surround. 



I absolutely had no plan. I just started cutting and hammering. 



I was completely in love. 


Last September I made this piece of wall art to bring in more white. 


Here is my question. 
Should I white wash the brick?
or
I thought about making a permanent white paneled top for above the mantel.
What do you think?
Should we leave it as is? It is enough white?
You can see my Cozy Fireplaces board on Pinterest. 

There is a lot of brick surrounding this fireplace.

Now onto a different subject. 
Months and months ago, I asked you what you thought I should do with the piano.  
I decided to leave it until I find the perfect piece. it is staying for now.  


I hope you all are having a great Sunday!
Final question.
What do you say? Y'all or You Guys?
Katie 

13 comments :

  1. Love what you have done, it looks great! I'm thinking it would also look good if you painted the brick a very light gray and the walls a soft white. Don't get me wrong, it looks really good already. Since you asked, I only mentioned it as a change when you get tired of this.

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    1. I probably will go lighter with the walls and thought I might get to it this summer but scraping the popcorn off of the ceiling wore me out! Thanks, Robyn.

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  2. I had no idea that you built the mantel surround. That looks amazing! I think painting the bricks around it would be nice too. However, I like the contrast that it has now though as well. But I am a huge fan of painted brick, so I guess that's why I lean that way. I hope your MIL gets better. Oh, and I say "y'all", but I don't always write it that way.

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    1. Thanks, Kelly. MIL should be headed to rehab today. I have a great color of brick so I don't know what I'll do. I like entertaining different ideas though.

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  3. I love the fireplace surround the way it is now. If you had just painted the existing mantle and not done anything else, it wouldn't have worked.

    But as for white-washing the brick, I say no. I think it will be too much white. The brick is already a great color brick. A gray-ish brown brick, as opposed to a harsh, bright red brick. It breaks up all of the white accents already in the room, and also brings contrast to the light-colored, neutral painted walls. Which, by the way, I don't think needed changed either.

    Just some thoughts! But I love everything you do anyway.

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer. I'm always looking for something to do around here. The walls need some paint just because it has been 8 or 9 years and they are looking a little dinged up.

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  4. the bricks to me look like the have been spot painted. i would paint them white and if you do paint the wall i would paint them in soft yellow like a shade or two from what you have on the wall now.

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    1. Actually that is the way the bricks came. They haven't been painted at all. The spots are part of the brick.

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  5. Hi Katie,
    I think painting the bricks would look pretty wonderful. It would give a lighter feel to your room. Love the brick how it is now but I really think you will see a big difference if you paint them. Good luck with what you decide to do.
    Kris

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  6. I am a wood and brick painting advocate. That said (so you know my bias) I would paint the brick in a minute. The first thing I said to myself when I saw the room was... wonder why she didn't paint the brick? Please come over to my last post and weigh in on my question regarding what to do with the ends of my island. I would appreciate it.
    http://theothermeissane.blogspot.com

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    1. My husband has to okay something like that. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to broach the subject with him. :) Thanks for stopping by and I'll go take a look at your island.

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  7. OK, my two cents: I think the fireplace looks great as is, but t yes, I think that the white paneled top would look even more fabulous, and I would whitewash the brick, too! Best wishes to you MIL.

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