I love a good before/after and our painted fireplace is a great project to look back on. See below for details on painting the fireplace, as well as sources and tips.
A Look At The Before
Of course a before photo is needed before we dive into the after details! While I would have loved to keep the fireplace natural brick, it was very gray and beige.
Though it’s kind of odd, there’s a blue wood-burning stove located in front of the fire box. We may replace it one day but not any time soon! We wanted to make sure whatever color we picked wouldn’t compete with it, though.
We initially got the color ‘wrong’ by painting the fireplace a darker green (Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke.) It never felt as fun or happy as I was hoping, but we left it for over a year before repainting.
Once I was ready for round two, I used our home color palette to narrow down the color options. As you can see in the photo above, I painted samples of a pink color and a mustard yellow. There’s also another green to the left of the stove but it kind of blends in with the rest of the fireplace.
Painted Fireplace: After
As you can see, we decided to stay in the green family! We went with Farrow & Ball’s Card Room Green. Green and wood are such a natural combination, and the color we picked is just fun enough without being over the top.
Decor Sources
We brought in more color with the addition of artworks and accessories. Below you can find links and details.
Paint colors: The fireplace is Farrow & Ball Card Room Green, the walls are Farrow & Ball Off White and the trim is Farrow & Ball French Gray.
Rabbit Vase: This is from Anthropologie but it looks like it’s no longer available. I saw a few on eBay, though. It’s called a ‘Woodland Vase’ and they also sold a fox, mouse and owl in addition to the rabbit.
Rothenburg print: Artfully Walls // It’s the largest size available (28×20) and is so vibrant in person! I purchased the frame from Target. The plan was to paint it a happier color, but decided to leave it as-is once I saw it on the mantle.
Rabbit print: Darren Dunlap by Liz Wiesel // Liz is local to the Asheville, NC area. You can purchase her prints and originals in-person at Woolworth Walk downtown .
Candlesticks + holders: Most were purchased locally at There There. She has a great shop and offers shipping!
Woven plant basket: Purchased locally in Asheville at Nest Organics. I don’t see this exact one online, but this woven planter is really cute!
Floral embroidered art: Thrifted! I found it at ScreenDoor– it’s one of my favorite antique shops in Asheville.
Pink vase + faux flowers: These are both from Target, though I don’t see them available anymore.
Rug: Thrifted from Rebecca & Genevieve back in the day when she sold rugs!
How To Paint A Fireplace
As far as how to paint a fireplace goes, the first time we painted the fireplace we used a paint sprayer. We felt like it would result in the best finish possible. But it was time consuming to construct a paint booth around the fireplace, especially with the type of ceiling we have!
The second time we painted the fireplace we opted to use a brush and roller over the sprayer. It was a much quicker process because we didn’t have to cover every surface.
If you are planning to tackle a project like this, make sure to clean the brick you paint. We used a wire brush to loosen and remove debris. If it’s really dirty, consider using a cleaner or a mix of soap and water before priming it.
From there, use a brush to cover the mortar lines and a roller to spread the paint quickly along the bricks.
