Brick Fireplace Makeover + DIY Mantle

When we were looking at buying our home in 2012, I fell in love with our living room (despite the beige carpet and yellow walls!). One of the most beautiful features was the large brick fireplace, along with the vaulted ceiling and wooden beams, I could really see the room in all its potential. Ever since that day, I have wanted to paint the brick white, and I was finally able to convince my husband to go through with it! I only wish we’d done it sooner!

For the interior (where the fires are built) we used black high-heat spray paint, and for the exterior brick we used white masonry paint.. We ended up doing two coats on the exterior to really cover all of the brick and the trim around the fireplace. My sister and our designer friend painted the entire thing and built out a barn wood mantle around the exiting mantle. Because the fireplace is so tall, the width of the mantle works well, and I love the small nuances in the wood.

Having the brick white has really opened up the room, making it feel even more spacious, and has highlighted the beams in the high ceilings (not pictured). My favorite part, though, is decorating for the holidays! Here are a few before pictures, and the mantle in all its lovely holiday goodness.

I wish I had a photo of the fireplace in its original form – a brass front over the opening, an orange oak mantle, and natural brick from floor to ceiling. Everything about it was garish to me, but I could see the vision even then! It just goes to show what a little paint, a little patience, and a few small changes can do!