I couldn’t take it anymore. The pinks and oranges and darkness were making me sad. Here is my DIY Rock Fireplace Makeover so far. More to come when I eventually tackle the insert and possibly more.
I completed this project back in May before embarking on a roadtrip that was 20 hours one way with another mom and our combined 5 children. You can read what I learned on that trip here:
I have been playing catchup on projects, writing, and life since returning from that trip. This post, among a million other things, just kept getting pushed to the backburner.
However, I am getting tired of seeing the draft and thinking, ‘I really need to get that done.’ Also, this is one more checkmark off that list that is getting a little tiny bit shorter.
(Short YouTube video tutorial here on my Lovensthelife Channel.)
Ok…..Let’s breathe new life into this orange fireplace!
Supplies List
- Paint in desired color (I used Rust-oleum Chalked in Linen White – Quart was more than enough for our project)
- Paint Brush
- Mixing container
- Water
- Vacuum with brush attachment
- Painter’s Plastic
- Painter’s Tape
Instructions
The Deciding Factor
Exhibit A
I was tired of looking at the oranges and pinks. I can appreciate these natural stones beauty but not in this living room. It is low light and small and the colors in the rock just darkened it that much more. I don’t have the determination to tackle building a new house but a paint job I was motivated for.
Exhibit B
Part of my rush to get this done was the nearly month long trip home that was coming up. My husband would join us via plane for 10 days but would also have time to kill without the wife and kids home. While we were away, he intended to get the floors finished…..finally.
We had been living with 70’s linoleum type stuff (that was made to look like wood) on our floors for FAR to long. It was painted, full of holes, and otherwise a huge eyesore. Remodeling, while moving in, while parenting, wasn’t our wisest move.
So the push was whitewashing the fireplace before getting new flooring so I didn’t have to Dexterize (cover in plastic) the whole living room first. I am the messiest painter ever!!
One night a day before trip co-mom arrived I decided to just do it. I stayed up until wee hours of the night working on it but am so glad to have it done.
Ok, the how-to is why you are here. Let’s go!
The Cleaning
First up in the fireplace makeover was cleaning the entire fireplace. This rock is really porous so I dry vacuumed it with a brush attachment. Depending on your surface it may be easier to wash with soap and water. The goal is simply to remove dust so that the paint sticks better.
Test an Area First
When I initially planned to do a fireplace makeover I had intended to gray wash it so at paint purchase time (which was way before I actually painted it) we picked up two quarts of the gray for the fireplace and one of the white for another project.
Over in the dark hardly seen side of the fireplace, I tested the gray in varying water to paint ratios and liked NONE of them. It was just to dark in our small not well lit living room for gray. Also, the natural colors didn’t show through well as the darkness level was to similar.
I am so glad I tested it first and am so glad I had the white on hand when I decided late one night to tackle it. Now what to do with two cans of gray paint? I am sure I will think of something.
Mixing the Paint
I chose a matte chalk finish as I liked the dull chalky finish of the rock and wanted to mimic that the best I could in the paint.
How much you mix the paint will depend on your desired look. I didn’t want it to be thick stark white as the walls behind are also white. So I mixed about 3/4 paint to 1/4 water which mostly coated it in white but with a little of the darker colors peeking through.
I reused a grapefruit container for my paint to water mixture. They are a good size for a larger project and seal up well to keep the paint fresh during the project time.
Prepping
I didn’t have much prep work at all on this project which is my favorite type. The wall behind is white so a dab here and there didn’t matter, the floor was getting covered, the insert is eventually going away (ideally) or at least getting painted.
I did cover the hearth area with some garbage sacks as I considered leaving it the natural rock. Of course I changed my mind after getting the rest done and seeing it. I would really love to build a seating area over the hearth eventually but decided having it all the same in the interim was the best idea. Hopefully a dark stained wooden mantle at the same time.
I also added a little painters tape around the insert but it didn’t cover well in areas so I got paint all over it anyhow. Eh, I attempted.
I got to be my normal messy self on this project. Something I enjoy.
Painting
Next up was painting.
I tried a sponge brush first thinking it would soak into the rock the best. In theory fine, in reality not so much. It just kept getting ripped on the rough exterior of the rock.
I ended up using a natural bristle brush. It worked best for two reasons, the brush got the paint into the porous rock the best and it could stand up to the rough texture of the rock. It took some time and patience as it didn’t just glide on easily at all. I had to dab in areas pretty aggressively.
The majority is only one coat. There were a few areas I discovered the next day, in daylight, that needed a touch more mostly because I just missed an area.
All Done
Although time consuming I love the way it turned out. It actually looks better than I imagined even. Can’t wait to get the insert gone or painted. Then someday a mantle and possibly a hearth bench. Those are unfortunately way down on the to-do list though.
Your Turn
I would love to hear if you gain inspiration from this post and complete your very own DIY Rock Fireplace Makeover
