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You are here: Home / DIY / A Much-Needed Fireplace Makeover

A Much-Needed Fireplace Makeover

March 13, 2017 By Karen Cooper 6 Comments

This week on The DIY Bungalow is all about fireplaces! Today, I’m going to show you my living room fireplace makeover! I’ll show you the awful before (seriously, hello 1980s!) and awesome after. Then, later this week, I’ll share how to clean and paint a fireplace firebox. And Thursday, I’ll show you how to make the fireplace screen for this month’s Power Tool Challenge!

First, though, here’s our living room fireplace before this fireplace makeover!

Living room fireplace before fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

“Hello? It’s the 1980s … We’d like our brass fireplace insert back!”

It totally didn’t fit in our 1929 bungalow.

I opened the glass doors and saw that (a) there was a stack of wood and a rusted grate in the fireplace, even though the fireplace hadn’t been used in eons and could no longer be used because it was so dilapidated; (b) it was dirty. Seriously, it probably hadn’t been cleaned since 1929! I laid down a drop cloth and got to work.

First, I removed the brass insert. This was not as easy as it sounds!

Sooty fireplace in need of fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

After I removed the insert.

I don’t have any pictures of removing the insert because (a) it was so dark inside the chimney/firebox that you couldn’t really see what I was doing and (b) my hands – even with rubber gloves on – got so dirty that I didn’t want to touch anything!

The fireplace insert is held onto the fireplace brick with screws that fit into the backside of the firebox edges. For this fireplace insert, three of the screws came out super-easily and I was feeling great about this whole project.

But there’s always one troublemaker, right? One screw would not come out. It was rusted/sooted/burned stuck.

I tried every pair of pliers and every wrench I had…I tried spraying the screw with cleaner…nothing worked.

As it turns out, there is a metal plate attached to this screw which is used to adjust the insert to the depth of the firebox. THAT screw moved! So, I unscrewed that screw, which released that metal plate, which then allowed the insert to be removed, and I just pulled the screw out of the brick. (Does that make sense?)

The dropcloth here is key – because the insert is filthy, sooty, dirty and you do not want it touching anything! I got the insert off the fireplace and laid it on the dropcloth. Then wrapped the dropcloth around it and hauled it outside to the curb.

Would you believe someone picked it up the next day? You know what they say about trash being another person’s treasure.

I gave the firebox and fireplace a good cleaning.

Slurry to clean fireplace firebox for fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

I’m not going to lie. This is not a fun process. It was three days’ worth of scrubbing – part of which had to do with finding the right cleaning solution! Lucky for you, I’m going to share my secret on how to clean the fireplace firebox with you later this week!

Once it was as clean as I could get it, it looked like this:

Cleaned fireplace firebox for fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

Next, I had to decide whether to paint the firebox or leave it as is. I was torn – I liked the patina of the old brick, but – let’s face it – it’s not that pretty to look at!

Dear Husband, who almost never states his opinion on my home decorating ideas and projects, said he thought it looked unfinished as is, without paint.

So, I decided to paint it. I used (affiliate link) Rust-Oleum’s High Heat black paint, not because this fireplace is usable (it’s not), but (1) I liked the jet black color and (2) in case anyone ever did want to fix it and use it in the future, it would withstand a fire in there. I’ll show you how I painted the firebox when I show you the cleaning process (it’s really easy!).

Inside of firebox painted black for fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

Even with the firebox painted, it still didn’t look right or finished to me. I guess because I’m used to the insert or a screen there, I felt like it needed a fireplace screen.

So, I built one!

Fireplace screen on clean fireplace after fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

This is my Power Tool Challenge Home Decor project this month, and I’ll be sharing this easy and fun repurposing project on Thursday! Can you guess what I made the fireplace screen out of?

You can tell Hank the Dog likes the fireplace makeover!

Hank Dog likes the fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

Speaking of the Power Tool Challenge, this month is a Reader Challenge! Woo hoo! Here are the details:

  • The project can be made from anything as long as at least one power tool was used to build it.
  • The Home Decor Power Tool Project Challenge is open for entries from 3/16 through 3/30 via a link-up. I will have the link-up instructions in Thursday’s post.
  • Submit an old or new project as long as it’s a home decor item.
  • Each participant can enter up to three (3) projects.
  • Winners must be 18 or older and live in the U.S.
  • Void where prohibited.

The Power Tool Challenge Team and HomeRight, our fabulous sponsor, will vote on the best project and one winner will be selected. The winner will receive a HomeRight DIY Paint Package, which includes a Finish Max Pro Paint Sprayer, Large Paint Shelter and Small Paint Shelter, and a Rapid Clean cleaning tool for the Finish Max.

Power Tool Challenge Home Decor Event - thediybungalow.com

So get those projects ready to link up!

In the meantime, I’m off to finish a long but informative post on how to clean and paint the inside of a fireplace firebox!

Fireplace makeover - thediybungalow.com

You might also like:

  • Lighten Up Decor for Spring
    Lighten Up Decor for Spring
  • How to Clean a Fireplace Firebox (Friday Five)
    How to Clean a Fireplace Firebox (Friday Five)
  • DIY Fireplace Screen | Repurposed Window Screen
    DIY Fireplace Screen | Repurposed Window Screen

Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Tagged With: Living/Family Rooms 6 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

« Lesson Learned: Test Your Alarm System
DIY Fireplace Screen | Repurposed Window Screen »




Comments

  1. Paula says

    March 16, 2017 at 10:06 am

    What an improvement! I have a very similar fireplace screen that needs removing. Not a task that I’m looking forward to doing.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      March 16, 2017 at 10:44 am

      Thank you, Paula! My best advice: wear gloves and use lots of drop cloths! It’s a mess. On Friday, I’m going to go over the best way I found to clean the firebox!

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    March 17, 2017 at 11:36 pm

    Yes, there is ALWAYS one screw that hangs on for dear life! The DIY’s Murphy’s law! What did you use…..picture frame and window screen???? It looks great, so fresh and springy with the forsythias front and center! I have debated with myself before making my next comment, but through your blog and your sharing about dogs & sick kids & family deaths, you’ve made me feel I can say it to you. I would say this to a friend or my sister. The fireplace’s fresh look and new screen now makes the hearth look tired. Its dark color and darker grout up against the painted white brick and grout and further, your crisp white woodwork and creamy walls. Even the lightness of your great rug. There’s not that much tile…It is another messy job…sledge hammer and dust! Even if you have never laid tile before, you never let a little thing like that stop you! Maybe it could be painted! A darker than white, neutral color? Coffee? Taupe? Sand? I hope I haven’t overstepped or offended. It was not my intention. Please don’t “unblog” me!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      March 18, 2017 at 1:22 pm

      Karen – I would never “unblog” you! 🙂 No, I appreciate that suggestion! I have thought about that project, but there are some others that have to take priority first. Also, the tile matches the tile on the front porch, so it’s not so out of place when viewed with the adjacent porch. I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions and always welcome them – and someday, I might take that on!! But I’m glad that my fireplace looks fresh now, even if it dates the hearth.

      Reply
  3. Casi says

    July 26, 2019 at 9:29 am

    I was wondering what you used to clean the firebox?
    Thanks- Casi

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      July 27, 2019 at 9:02 pm

      Hi Casi,
      I wrote a whole post about what I did to clean the firebox; you can find it here: https://www.dogsdonteatpizza.com/how-to-clean-fireplace-firebox/
      Hope that helps!
      kbc

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




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About Karen

A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

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