Fireplaces are a huge focal point of any room and attention should be given to them to make them look updated and attractive. This fireplace had the random bricks sticking out the front, which is any interior designer’s nightmare! To fix it, we decided to add a substantial mantle that would cover up these bricks by building up the left bricks with wood that would provide an even platform for a new mantle.
Before adding the mantle, we decided to “German Schmear” the fireplace to give it a softer look. There are lots of blogs and YouTube videos on how to do this, so I won’t go into detail here, but we basically filled the grout lines with white mortar and then randomly spread it onto the bricks. We used a wet sponge to soften the edges and take off mortar where we wanted more of the brick to show through.
Lastly, this fireplace was non-functioning because of an abandoned chimney liner, so we added a gas insert. A gorgeous mirror and some beautiful accessories finished off the look. |
