{Home Tour} Fireplace Update

 This fireplace is one of the features we loved most about our home when we moved in 6.5 years ago. But with the off-center opening, massive amount of brick, and just a slab of wood on top acting as a mantel, it was leaving me with a desire to spice things up a bit.  With the help of Pinterest and first-hand inspiration from a friend's home, I think I finally found something that works.

    

It adds a crazy amount of depth to the room, as well as add height to the wall between the mantel and the ceiling.  I'm very pleased with the look... all for about $45 dollars.

I chose to paint the mantel and planks white to create a more cohesive look for this room and our kitchen -- they are right next to each other.  Plus, the white helps brighten the area which tends to be little darker.

Now, just to update the brass fireplace bi-fold doors with something a little more modern.  We do use this fireplace, so it needs to be something that little boys won't be interested in... at least until they are a little older.

I have heard about some spray paint you can use on fireplace doors and I'm half tempted to give it a whirl.  Especially since I also recently found a way to spruce up the handles too.

But for now, I think we'll just sit back... relax... and enjoy our newly improved fireplace this weekend.  It has been a cold one in our neck of the woods this past week.  Stay warm over the weekend, friends!

DIY: 5 Minute Mantel Makeover

I found THIS picture a few weeks ago thanks to some pinterest browsing and instantly decided it was time for our fireplace to have a mini-makeover.  I have been wanting to spruce up this area of our home for awhile now but was not sure what I wanted to do.  I have all sorts of ideas... and have even been thinking about possibly painting it all white (brick included).  But, that seems like such a big move.

So, with some leftover milk paint and a slab-of-wood-posed-as-a-mantel that needed repainted badly, I made one small and subtle move in the right direction.
The beige/tan tone of this milk paint color really seems to make a difference.  I think it helps make this space feel a little warmer, homier.  I am always impressed what five minutes and a little paint can do.

Our next step will be to construct a mantel similar to the one I found on pinterest... which looks to be on the project list for next summer... or at least my list, anyway.  The hubs will get the memo soon.