Paint a brick fireplace??

Paint a brick fireplace??

Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes

Hello! We are currently working on a flip with a red brick fireplace. My initial thoughts were to tile over the brick with a really cool rustic stone - and work up the wall behind the fireplace in order to create a unique focal point in the room.

As most flips go....we are at the end, have not bought the stone yet for the fireplace and need to cut costs somewhere. I am thinking of cutting the stone work out as this could save possibly ~$500/600, and just painting the fireplace.

I'm worried this would be attractive for modern/contemporary buyer, but not for everyone?? As anyone done this and had any positive/negative feedback they could share??

Thank you in advance!!

Shelby

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Real Estate Agent · Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
13y

I mixed my wall paint (a cream color) with some water, then washed it over the brick. Looked fantastic, more rustic and earthy than solid paint color, and this was a more traditional home.

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  • Real Estate Agent · Westminster, CO · Member since 2013 · 50 posts · 16 votes
    13y

    I just did a quick search on Houzz, these painted fireplaces don't look too bad:

    http://www.houzz.com/painted-fireplaces

    White seems to be the most popular, but I could image gray looking pretty cool as well.

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    13y

    Christine - I agree, I do like the look and think with the right color combo it looks very clean. Just curious how the respective buyers would think of it??? I plan on talking to my real estate agent just to try and get a feeler too... Thanks!! Gotta love Houzz!!

  • Real Estate Investor · Central, TX · Member since 2012 · 479 posts · 165 votes
    13y

    I have a fireplace in my master bedroom that was originally red brick . Somebody got the bright idea of painting it years ago. It looks fine, but I would love to have the original exposed brick look back.

  • Mansfield, TX · Member since 2013 · 207 posts · 26 votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Ryan Richard:
    I have a fireplace in my master bedroom that was originally red brick . Somebody got the bright idea of painting it years ago. It looks fine, but I would love to have the original exposed brick look back.

    Why not strip the paint :), disregarding the clean up mess it would create

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    13y

    Not sure what color it is - but could you distress it - to give it that whitewash look??

  • Real Estate Investor · Central, TX · Member since 2012 · 479 posts · 165 votes
    13y

    Here it is. I took this picture as I was finishing up a complete bedroom-bathroom rehab. I was going to paint it another color but my wife has been okay with it so far... Stripping it is an option but I've got too many other things to work on right now.

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    13y

    It complements the floor well!! I love the wall color.

  • Investor · Union, NJ · Member since 2011 · 838 posts · 295 votes
    13y

    I wouldn't go White, as I think it will give it a 70s or outdated feel to it...

    just my opinion :)

  • Real Estate Investor · Central, TX · Member since 2012 · 479 posts · 165 votes
    13y

    Ha!, Thanks @Shelby Reed . My wife was hesitant on the paint color but she's warmed up to it. Here is the wall color from HD.

    @Account Closed

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    13y

    Thank you!!

  • Real Estate Agent · Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    13y

    I mixed my wall paint (a cream color) with some water, then washed it over the brick. Looked fantastic, more rustic and earthy than solid paint color, and this was a more traditional home.

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    13y

    I like that idea Lynn - thank you. I just might try that. The home remodel has been more on the modern side - grey wall tones - white kitchen cabinets with white/grey granite. I think something more rustic would fit in nice with the light grey walls.

  • Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2013 · 99 posts · 30 votes
    13y
    It really depends on the style/feel I the house. 9 times out of 10 -- keep the brick. It's amazing how much you can change the room with painted walls/refreshed floor/etc. But once in awhile painted is best. Do you have a picture we can see? Maybe one of the fireplace and one showing the feel of the rest of the house?
  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    12y

    @Account Closed I just saw your post

    But our FP was really bad. So this is what I did in a weekend with the scrap backer board, tile & some wood shelving. (except for the decorative pieces). I also put in a gas insert as a WBFP is a major insurance issue here.

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    12y

    Pat - wow - what an improvement. You did a great job with the decorated trim around the fireplace.

    I ended up trying to take the route Lynn mentioned above - with a white washed look. I first painted with a white (trim color) and then came back over it with a wet rag to wash some of the color off. I think it pulls in the gray tones of the house and looks great. We still have to replace the tile on the floor - but it is a grey stone as well.

  • Contractor · Valparaiso , IN · Member since 2013 · 604 posts · 327 votes
    12y

    Here is a before and after from a vandalized house we did. The finished picture is a sponge paint my wife did. No one believes its painted when they are in the house. I know this is not contemporary liked you want, but this is what can be done.

    Here is a link to my fireplace gallery on our new construction website, maybe you can get some more ideas.

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    12y

    Here is a pic of the before - so either way I think it is an improvement:)

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    12y

    Chris - look great. Your right, not as contemporary - but still looks original - but updated and more of a clean look.

  • Lexington, KY · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    12y

    The only fireplace I have ever painted is in my own residence. It had a horrible color brick and we painted it white and it looks great. I agree @Account Closed, yours is much improved now.

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    12y

    Thanks James!

  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    12y

    @Chris Adams

    your link failed & I would be interested in seeing the gallery.

    @Account Closed

    I added the raised hearth (because I had the extra tile etc) & it's amazing how many people sit on it during a party. (This is the home I rehabbed for my 19 yr old daughter).

  • Contractor · Valparaiso , IN · Member since 2013 · 604 posts · 327 votes
    12y

    @Pat L. Hmm the link works for me, lets try the hard way.

    www.sierrahomebuilders.com click portfolio then fireplace gallery

  • Accountant · Kansas City, MO · Member since 2013 · 68 posts · 2 votes
    12y

    I am sure they do - I have seen them at other houses I have been in and they do offer a welcome seat in a crowded space:). Looks nice - your daughter is lucky to be able to have the room to host a party!:).

  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by Chris Adams:
    @Pat L. Hmm the link works for me, lets try the hard way.

    www.sierrahomebuilders.com click portfolio then fireplace gallery

    Thanks Chris

    looks impressive.....

    but I still get this diagnostic from the other link ??

    Server Error in '/' Application.

    Malformed GUID. in query expression 'glryID = {guid {}}'.

    Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    12y
    Originally posted by Shelby Reed:
    - your daughter is lucky to be able to have the room to host a party!:).

    Yes she is, the home is 2200 sq ft. It was a bankruptcy that our Title guy found out about & we literally stole it. Then when rehabbing her master bath I was able to add a 20x10 walk-in closet with hardwood flooring above the garage.

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