Upgrade a tired mantel and dated red brick fireplace with an affordable and easy project. All you need is paint!
When Behr asked me to take part in their Designer Stories project, my mind started racing with all of the projects I still need and want to tackle around my home. I moved into my 1940s Cape Cod style house just over a year ago.
There’s still so much to be done to turn it into the cute, coastal home I know it can be, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Projects CAN be fun and easy; it just takes time, patience, and hard work. Oh, and paint. Lots and lots of paint! Our living room has been 80% done for a while now and it’s about time I call it finished.
By Jessica Kreger
| Project House to Home
PPU7-23
I really wanted to give the fireplace some contrast
One of the things that has been bugging me is our fireplace. I gave the mantel a fresh coat of white paint, but it was still just kind of blah and the red brick was also dirty and dated.
I really wanted to give the fireplace some contrast and the room gets enough light so I thought I could go with a darker color on the mantel. I’m pretty obsessed with taupe right now and I’ve used it as an accent color throughout my house.
If yourbrick isn’t as disgusting as mine, you can skip this step. I pulled out the vacuum and gave the inside of the fireplace a quick clean and washed the brick and the hearth with a sponge and a mixture of dish soap and water (give the brick ample time to dry before painting over it). I also wiped down the mantel with a paper towel and some cleaning spray to remove any dust.
I decided to paint the mantel first to allow the brick ample time to dry so I taped off the walls and brick with painter’s tape.
Step back and admire the results of your first coat. Wait 2 hours then recoat. Once the brick and mantle are both dry, start painting the brick. Again, tape off the area around the brick before you begin.
When painting brick, use a roller with a big enough nap so the paint gets inside the cracks
I decided to use BEHR® Interior/Exterior Masonry, Stucco, & Brick Paint in White. The paint is specifically designed for brick so I thought it would provide the best coverage in minimal coats, and I was right. LOVE this stuff! It’s sold by the gallon so I have a lot left, but I have so many places that I can use it--even outside!.
You apply this paint with a roller. Be sure to use a roller with a big enough nap so the paint gets inside the cracks. I used a roller for semi-smooth to semi-rough surfaces and it did the trick. Allow 4 hours to dry before recoating.
Pour some paint into the bottom of your paint tray and cover your roller in paint, but not so much that it’s dripping. Roll any excess off in your tray. Use a 2” angled paint brush to touch up edges and any areas you can’t cover with the roller.
Once the mantel was repainted, I knew the red brick would definitely need an update, so I decided to give it a fresh coat of white paint.
If you have a brick hearth that needs some love too, you can use this paint for that too. My hearth is covered in a porous tile which has kind of a concrete feel to it. I decided to try the using the same paint on the tile and it worked really well!
Peel off the painter’s tape, allow everything to dry then enjoy your new and improved fireplace! I am always amazed at how just paint can transform something!
Find your color, pick your paint, and be inspired.
When you're ready, buy your paint online.
Author
Jessica has been obsessed with remodeling and decorating since she bought her first house in 2011. She completed an interior decorating and staging program and started an online decorating business, creating custom mood boards for clients across the country. Currently she spends her days working as a financial planner. In her free time, she can usually be found with a paintbrush or power tool in-hand, transforming a space in her home.
6 Gallons
OLD SUBTOTAL5 Gallon Bucket + 1 Gallon Can
NEW SUBTOTAL* Important Disclaimer: Coverage calculator results are to be used only as estimates. Behr Process LLC cannot guarantee that you will achieve proper results without verifying your measurements and assumptions.
Get the look you want and the protection you need for any room in your home.
A flat sheen has a non-reflective finish that touches up well and hides minor surface imperfections.
Low-traffic areas; interior walls and ceilings
Ceilings
Medium-Low
A matte sheen has a low-luster, reflective finish that is durable, easy to clean, touches up well and also hides minor surface imperfections.
Low-traffic areas; interior walls
Family rooms, living rooms, kids' rooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, ceilings
Medium
An eggshell enamel sheen has a soft, velvety appearance that resists dirt and grime, as well as mildew.
Moderate-traffic areas
Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kids' rooms, hallways, dining rooms
Medium
A satin enamel sheen has a pearl-like finish that's easy to clean.
All interior surfaces; moderate- to high-traffic areas
Family rooms, living rooms, bedrooms, kids' rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters, interior furniture
Medium-High
A semi-gloss enamel sheen is sleek and radiant resisting mildew, moisture and wear.
Cabinets and trim; high-traffic, high-moisture areas
Kids' rooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters
High
Hi-Gloss enamel sheens provide have a brilliant, shiny appearance and a durable, glass-like finish that allows dirt and grime to be wiped clean.
High-use surfaces
Kitchens, bathrooms, doors, windows, trim, cabinets, shutters, interior furniture
High
Set the right curb appeal with exterior painting efforts that last.
A flat sheen is non-reflective, and easy to apply and touch up. It will minimize the appearance of minor surface imperfections.
Wood and vinyl walls and siding; brick and other masonry; fences
Medium-Low
A satin enamel sheen creates a pearl-like finish that's durable and dirt-resistant. It will also resist moisture, fading and stains.
Virtually all exterior surfaces
Medium-High
A semi-gloss enamel sheen is sleek and radiant with a hard, durable finish. It is formulated to withstand wear, and will also resist moisture, fading and stains.
Doors, trim and shutters; Exterior furniture
High
Hi-Gloss enamel sheen have a brilliant, shiny appearance and a durable, glass-like finish that allows dirt and grime to be wiped clean.
High-use surfaces
High
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