I knew from the first time we walked through the house that painting the brick living room fireplace would be one of my first projects. I’ve always liked the look of painted brick, and this particular room gets little natural light, which made the dark brick seem ever darker.
(Pre-move and pre-popcorn ceiling removal. . . )
Frog Tape sent me several different products for this project. I used the yellow tape (made for delicate surfaces) to tape off the freshly painted walls. And, I used a new-to-me tape for textured surfaces to tape off the firebox. (It comes with a special sealer, and then you wipe it down with a damp rag. It worked perfectly on the brick.)
A few of you asked me about my process when I posted this “in progress” shot on Instagram. There’s not much of a process, though. Anyone can paint a brick fireplace. If you tape everything off well, you need little-to-no precision. I rolled a coat (with a 3/4” nap roller) and then “globbed” paint in the crevices with an angled paint brush. I rolled two coats and globbed three. :) (You only get highly technical terms on this blog!)
As far as the paint I used, I had this white semi-gloss left over from another project, and it worked great. I like that the fireplace has a slight sheen to it now.
We haven’t changed any overhead lighting—and have only added one lamp, but the white paint makes a major difference in lightening up the room. Now on to accessorizing. . .
Thanks to Frog Tape for sponsoring this post.
Emily, the fireplace looks so good – what a difference. Love your wall color too! Great job! I had no idea there were different type tapes to use when painting other than walls! Loved seeing your “helpers” too!
Kathleen Tweed
It feels like you’re seeing my to-do list and then blogging about whatever project I’m putting off! We need to repaint our fireplace since it’s one of the last antique white spaces in the house. I’ve been putting off even looking up how to do it but now I have no excuse.
Your fireplace looks night and day better!
Katy
OK……you have finally convinced me that I MUST do this ASAP! I love it!!! Your fireplace is almost identical to mine and I have been putting off painting it because….well…..there is no going back. Now I have to convince my husband that we must also go through the mess of having the popcorn ceiling scraped. ha! I can’t wait to see how you accessorize your new fireplace.
Hi Emily! I was wondering if you could tell me where the blue pillow on your couch is from. I have been looking for something similar. Thanks!
Hi, I had them made, but the link to the fabric is here:
https://emilyaclark.com/2015/05/how-i-choose-pillow-fabrics.html
Hi there! I have been a blog stalker for a couple years now… love it! I also love the wall color. What did you use?
Hi, It’s Palace Pearl by Benjamin Moore.
Hi there! First, I have a confession to make: I’m the daughter responsible for the mauve carpet, haha. It seemed like a good idea to my 12 year old self. But I can’t believe the difference painting the fireplace has made, it looks wonderful! I love it and even the corner in the kitchen that you did looks great. It’s great being able to see everything you are doing with our old house.
Ha! Hi Kristi. My 10-year-old son thanks you :) I would’ve totally gone with mauve carpet when I was 12, too, btw…
I hope you all like the changes. It must be fun/strange to see your childhood home online. We are loving the yard and house, although we still feel far from being settled in!
We are loving the changes! Everything looks wonderful, love the paint colors and all. And yes, it is fun/strange all at the same time to see our old house online, but more fun than strange! It’s actually pretty cool.
We recently discovered Frog Tape and there is no going back to the other brand. Far superior!
SO GOOD! Lighter, brighter and way better!
Wow!! Looks awesome! Love the power of paint!!
Wow – what a huge difference! Love the wall color too.
I love the white fireplace! It really does up the space up quite a bit. I can’t wait to see everything you do in the new house.
Teresa
Hi Emily, you have inspired me to paint mine but I do have a question. Did you clean the brick first and if so with what and did you use a separate primer? Love following along with all the changes. You are really making this house a home.
Love it! The room looks so much brighter with the lighter paint and white brick. I’m looking forward to more… :)
Looks so fresh and pretty!!
It is incredible how much lighter the room feels with a white fireplace.
I would love to know about the animal print pillows (fabric, source).
Our fireplace was already painted when we moved in, but I didn’t like the sheen. So, recently, I purchased Annie Sloan chalk paint to redo and I LOVE the texture. One person called it velvet-ly almost and I agree.
Quick sidenote though. When I was buying the paint and talking to the Annie Sloan girl, she mentioned that in a workshop someone had said that if there is a fire in your house from the fireplace and the bricks are painted, there might be problems getting insurance to cover it. Not sure, but if someone is thinking of doing this on a fireplace they use often, it might not hurt to check your policy first!
Could you tell me the name of the wall color you used? Thank you!!!!!
Oh yes, I would like to know this too.
The change is awesome. I also feel your design style will be a little different for this house. Am I right?
So fresh and lovely. I can’t wait to see your mantel when you have it decorated!
We did exactly the same thing to both ceiling and fireplace when ee moved it. What a difference! ( well that AND taking down the red wallpaper :-))
It looks great Emily!!
The white makes such a difference and really brightens the room! We have a red brick inlaid on our fireplace and I can’t wait to paint it.
Corbin
http://www.bluedoorlivingblog.com
Beautiful transformation!! I pinned the frog tape for texture, Thanks that is a very good thing to know!!
I kinda like the brick fireplace the way it was. I would have just painted the mantel a soft white. That’s just me though.
This transformation is the perfect example of the power of paint! Looks so awesome! Light, airy, and fresh.
Also, noticed the blue and white throw pillow in the last picture. Would you mind sharing its source if you know it?
This was just what I needed to convince my husband that painted brick is a good thing! I love your wall color too. Can you tell me what it is, please?
Love the fireplace transformation! Would you mind sharing the new color on your walls! I love this color! Thank you ever so much.
Emily, that is so fantastic! My eyes actually bulged when I scrolled down from the first to the second photo. The room looks 100% better!
I am so excited about your new wall color! We painted our family room/kitchen virtually the same color – via lightening a different paint (can’t remember the name). Just ordered a new custom couch, love seat and chair from Ethan Allen to lighten and refresh our space. BUT I’ve been so unsure about the paint color. Even considering repainting. Looking forward to seeing your creative ideas in working with your new wall color!
What a difference – it looks great! I did the same thing at our house (that we’re totally remodeling like you!) and it made such a HUGE difference. Our fireplace was red brick with an oak mantel and surround. I never cease to be amazed at what a little paint can do!
Great job on fireplace. So far it looks like I have pretty much the same layout in my house as in yours right down to chair rail, fireplace, tile in kitchen, and even the same door entering the kitchen from outside. I even have popcorn ceilings but, hopefully, not for much longer. I cannot tell you how anxious I am to follow along as you decorate this house. I simply love your blog and this makes it twice as nice.
How funny! Do we live in the same house?? :)
This is beautiful! Can you share what color of white paint you used for the fireplace? I am trying to figure out how whit or off-white I want mine. ]Also, is it the same color as the while part of your walls? Thank you!!
It’s a white-white, and it is the same color as the wall. I believe it was just a pre-mixed interior white.
Hi Emil,
What type and what color of paint did you use on the fireplace?
What color are the walls?
My heart skipped a beat when I saw this post (link via Google). We have lived in the same house for 39 years and lived with the dark brick, but now I’m turning over a new leaf and doing it. I was going to leave the mantel stained as is since we have other stain molding in the house, but yours looks so pretty, maybe I’ll paint it too. We’re not young, but since this will probably be our only house, we might as well update it.
I hope you love it! It did wonders for lightening up our living room.
HI Emily. Wonderful job! Wondering about the little “awning” above the fireplace opening. Is it steel and was it there to begin with (hard to tell in photos). Thank you so much! Mary
Yes, it was there before and we just removed it while I painted.
Thanks, Jenifer :)