Ask A Designer™
Ask A Designer: Gillian Atkins’ Tips For Refreshing A Dated Fireplace
Updated on November 28, 2023
In this Ask A Designer column, Gillian Atkins’ shares advice for updating an existing fireplace.
Question: Our fireplace has a dark stone front that we’d like to get rid of. We could have the stones removed and the fireplace clad in drywall and painted the same color as the walls. What would you suggest? — A.B., Toronto
Do you have a design dilemma? Send your questions to [email protected].
Before you take a sledgehammer to your fieldstone fireplace, consider reigniting it with a facelift! I always favor real stone over drywall; it adds texture and warmth to your living room. The height of your gas insert is unusual: most traditional-looking inserts sit directly on the floor or over a raised hearth. Consider cutting out a 14-inch section of the hardwood floor in front of the fireplace and dropping in a black slate or honed granite slab to create a hearth.
Keep the fieldstone and give it an old world refresh with overgrout and a limestone wash. It’s the recessed mortar between the stones that makes the fireplace feel dated. Fill in the deep gaps with warm-toned grey grout, and be sure to softly grout over the edges of each stone.
When you’re satisfied with the results, thinly coat the surface in a limewash paint. Limewash is the new thing in paint, but it’s actually an old European tradition dating back centuries, and the matte effect is both classic and on trend. The wash will knock back the dark tones but still allow some of the color to come through. See the inspiration photo above for an example; it may take a little trial and error to get the right look.
Your mantel is too skimpy! Remove and replace it with a reclaimed rough timber beam (try rebarn.ca).
If rustic isn’t your style, choose a mantel with a chunkier profile and paint it a deep charcoal, like Benjamin Moore’s appropriately named Soot.
To complete the look, flank the fireplace with cabinets.
Fill them with books, photos and artisanal objets.
Consider a vintage-inspired vase in a darker finish.
For an earthy look, place a ceramic vase on the mantel or shelves.
Gillian Atkins is a senior designer at Lynda Reeves Design Studio.
House & Home October 2022