• About
  • Contact
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Collaborate
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafting
  • Seasonal
  • Courses
  • Binder Kits
  • Media and Press
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Organized-ish

Organized-ish

Progress > Perfection

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafting
  • Seasonal
fireplace mantel styling white stone fireplace

Stone Fireplace Makeover Part 3: The Big Reveal

September 10, 2021 · In: Projects

Here’s how we updated our old, dirty 1970s stone fireplace using natural cleaning solutions and a faux whitewash to completely transform it into a bright statement feature for our living room.

I can’t even believe I’m typing these words. The fireplace is done. D.O.N.E. This was such a massive project, way bigger than I expected it to be, but the hard work paid off and I can’t possibly love it more. Since we did a lot throughout the process, I wanted to take a walk down memory lane of where we started versus how it looks now on Reveal Day. Ready for a serious before and after?

fireplace before whitewash makeover

Here’s the living room from the listing photo before we moved in. The real estate photographer did a great job making it look brighter and cleaner than it actually was. Good editing, huh? But up close, there was moss, lichen, and possibly a little mold growing on the stones. And the grout was dried up and flaking off all over the place.

cleaning a stone fireplace

We lived with the fireplace as-is for over a year, and I finally decided it was time to do something about it. I was concerned about the living organisms on the stone and knew they needed to come off. But I also knew that unless we put a sealer on the rocks, they may come back. That’s just part of having natural stone in a heated and cooled house.

cleaning and killing lichen from stone fireplace

I didn’t want to seal it because I was afraid it would look fake, and truthfully, I wasn’t a huge fan of how dark it was overall. The stone really made the room feel cavelike, even with the massive windows directly across from it. So after we cleaned the stones with diluted vinegar and buffed off all the scaly ickiness, my husband and I agreed to paint it.

faux whitewash floating stone fireplace

The original plan was to whitewash the fireplace, but we had to change course because the stone was so porous that it just soaked up the watery paint and looked gray. So instead, we did a “faux whitewash” to give it a natural look without looking too painted. I shared the full tutorial and why we did it this way in this blog post.

painting firebox Lela Burris

I also cleaned that super gross firebox that likely had never even been brushed off since it was built in the 70’s. Once I removed as much soot as I could, I painted the inside black. That instantly modernized the firebox and gave me the perfect backdrop for what I was planning to put inside. More on that in a sec.

lela burris cozy fireplace

That little trip from start to finish leads us to how it looks now. The photo above was the fireplace almost exactly one year ago. Are you ready to see how it looks now? You won’t believe how different it is! It’s almost like a different house!

whitewash fireplace makeover

Wow, wow, wow, right?! It totally brightens up the room and makes it feel so fresh and clean. I just can’t get over how different it looks. Instead of dark floating wall of stones straight out of a dungeon, it’s a sleek, textured, modern piece of art. And while it does look much more hip to the times, it still maintains that 1970’s feeling, which is exactly what we wanted.

white stone fireplace living room

The white fireplace next to the multi-colored rug with the wood and black accents all around is the perfect combo of brightness and warmth. It doesn’t feel stark at all, and it’s just the right amount of contrast.

fireplace mantel styling white stone fireplace

I kept the mantel in it’s original state for now. Later on, my MIL and I plan on sanding it down and redoing the stain, but that’s another project for another day. Right now, I’m totally fine with the mantel as-is. We definitely don’t want to replace it since it was built by the first and only other homeowners aside from us. It belongs in the house and will just get a mini facelift at most.

infinity wick flameless candles from lights.com in fireplace

Remember when I said I had plans for inside the firebox? Technically, the fireplace does work. It can be wood burning or powered by a propane tank. But we aren’t big fans of having raging fires inside a house, nor do we like the mess of logs and soot. So for the safety of our family and pets, we opted for flameless candles instead. These dreamy candles look so real and even flicker, and they all run on batteries and a single remote.

white stone fireplace makeover

And speaking of lights, doesn’t this chandy make the room?! It’s like the literal cherry on top of a cozy living room sundae. The brass two-tiered chandelier in front of the textured stone fireplace is like eye candy overload.

Kichler modern chandelier in living room makeover

This light fixture actually came with glass shades that go around each bulb, but I opted out of using them for a more traditional style. I’ve always loved the look of a candelabra chandelier and by leaving those shades off, I was a able to get a full-on Beauty and the Beast vibe. You better believe I’ll be moving the coffee table and twirling around with my cats underneath it with the movie on in the background.

white stone fireplace makeover

So there you have it, the completed fireplace makeover. I put this project off for over a year because I was nervous, afraid, and unsure of what it would look like and how to even pull it off. But now that it’s done and my arms have stopped throbbing from all the scrubbing and painting, I couldn’t be more in love. What do you think? Would you have whitewashed the stone or left it as is?

More On The Fireplace Remodel:
Part 1: Planning And Cleaning The Fireplace
Part 2: Faux Whitewashing The Fireplace

Shop The Room

By: Lela Burris · In: Projects · Tagged: fireplace, living room

more posts you'll love

fireplace holiday decor minimal and unclutteredDecorating An Uncluttered Cozy Fireplace For The Holidays
stone fireplace with faux whitewashStone Fireplace Makeover Part 2: Faux Whitewash
cleaning stone fireplace with drill brushStone Fireplace Makeover Part 1: Plans & Prep

Get Blog Posts In Your Inbox

Every Saturday morning I send out a weekly recap of all the new blog posts. Want in?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen Garafano says

    May 7, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    what type of white pain did your use?

    Reply
    • Brad Gandy says

      May 9, 2022 at 9:50 am

      Hi Karen! We used Sherwin-Williams Alabaster in exterior masonry latex paint, but only because that fireplace is non-functional. If yours is a working fireplace, ask the paint counter what they recommend.

      Reply
  2. Kim Ellenwood says

    September 11, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    Nice job!

    The room looks so cozy and beautiful with just the right amount of decor.

    Reply
    • Brad Gandy says

      September 13, 2021 at 8:08 am

      Thank you so much, Kim! That’s exactly the vibe we wanted. More light than before, but not too much of it, and a way to combine old and new with our contemporary furniture in a ’70s house. We’re glad you love it as much as we do.

      Reply
  3. Sandra gandy says

    September 11, 2021 at 5:19 pm

    beautiful

    Reply
    • Brad Gandy says

      September 13, 2021 at 8:04 am

      We’re glad you think so, Sandra!

      Reply

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Next Post >

An Honest Review Of Havenly Design Services

Primary Sidebar

Meet Lela Burris

Meet Lela Burris
hey-o!

My name is Lela, (say it like LEE-luh) and I'm so glad you stopped by my blog! Whether you're into organizing, home improvement, crafts, or you just think my pets are cute, you'll find all kinds of inspo here.

Tell Me More!

Connect

Get VIP Emails

Search

Shop My Planners

printable planners for home organization

Organize Your Craft Room

lela burris organiziedish

Hang With Me

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Follow Along

@lelaburris

Wait for the last one… 🤩 Sherry @younghousel Wait for the last one… 🤩
Sherry @younghouselove downsized quite a bit a few years ago and it proving that you CAN be organized in a small home with kids and pets. Didn’t she do an amazing job with all these spaces?
Pretty sure she was being modest with her grade prediction because I’d give her a definite A!
Which organized space of hers is your favorite? I’m in LOVE with her laundry closet! 🥰
She buys most of her organizers from Amazon and Ikea and you can tour her whole house on her blog, YouTube, and IG Story highlights. Sherry is one of my BFFs so if you aren’t already following her, do it now! Her Story content is the most entertaining part of my day. 🙌🏼
Do you pack minimally or overpack when you travel? Do you pack minimally or overpack when you travel?
I used to be that person that packed WAY more than I needed and was always overwhelmed with a messy suitcase halfway through my trip. When I started downsizing the clothes I packed to just what I needed, I spent less time picking out what to wear and cleaning up messy piles, and more time enjoying my trips.
But I’ll admit, if I could bring my whole sneaker collection with me so I’d have all the options, I totally would. 😂😂
#packwithme #packingtips #vacationplanning #monostravelcompanion #minimalistpacking
Have you tried this yet? I did not expect it to wo Have you tried this yet? I did not expect it to work this well the first time I did it but now I’ll never dust baseboards any other way.
It also works well on door panels, picture frame moulding, chair rails, and even gets those hairs off back of the toilet that tend to stick and slide around when cleaning. 🙌🏼
#cleaningmotivation #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips
Do you have a command center in your house? If you Do you have a command center in your house? If you’ve been planning on adding one, here are three tips for customizing it so it works for you:
1. Add a calendar so the whole family is on the same page about what’s going on that month.
2. Decide what needs to be stored in your command center and add storage based on those needs. Don’t worry about what other people use or keep in their own command center because we all live different lives and need different things.
3. Don’t try to make your family change their habits. If they’re used to dropping keys on the counter, a hook may not work for them. Instead, give them a bowl or tray to drop keys in. And if they’re used to sticking reminders on the fridge, add a bulletin or magnet board so they can put them there. Work *with* your family’s habits, not against them.
See the full project and get more command center setup tips in my newest YouTube video. All the product sources I used here are saved in the description of that video too. 🙌🏼
#commandcenter #organizationideas #homeorganization

Footer

Browse By Category

  • Organize
  • Projects
  • Lifestyle
  • Crafting
  • Seasonal

Get Organized-ish

  • Courses
  • Printable Planners
  • Shop My House
  • Amazon Faves

Blog Info

  • Contact
  • Media and Press
  • Disclosures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Organized-ish LLC © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue