Funky Fireplace Possibilities

While I love fireplaces, mantels and everything that goes with it, I’m not in love with our current fireplace.  It feels more imposing than it does welcoming, cold vs. warm.  Not to mention that it has a funky niche as well that is just … funky. 

See how unlike me tall and skinny it is?  We have quite a few of these niches in our house, and the tall and skinny ones are definitely the most problematic.  We currently have a tall picture in the niche, but I really just don’t love the fireplace space.

So, since we’re doing a lot of waiting here in St. Louis, we stopped by a local landscaping business and scoped out their stone options.  We’re thinking about adding stone veneer to the existing fireplace in the hopes of coming up with something like this:

Or this:

Stoneyard.com

This also gives us an opportunity to reevaluate our fireplace mantel options as well. Right now, it’s not so a mantel, but more of a shelf, and it just all blends together.  It does not make for the kind of mantel linky parties I want to join!

There are some great products out there that are budget friendly and also appealing to the DIYer.  We’re thinking that we should mirror some of the stonework that we have on the outside of our home.  Can you see it out the window?

  Another view of the house from the back – notice the stonework on the pillars.

So, I’m adding this project to my ever-growing list.  The upside to this is that my hubby was with me looking at all of these great options and is digging it as much as I am.  Hearing words like, “I just need to get a mason blade” and “It won’t be that bad”, are music to my ears…

9 Comments

  • Reply
    Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
    April 4, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    Love the stacked stone look in your inspiration pictures, Jenny! Why do builders put those niches in? I understand some of them do niches specifically for flat screen televisions, but at least there seems to be a reason for that. I think you'd do well to do a stone facade and it will bring the eye to your stone outside the window. Plus filling in that niche will give you more decorating options.

  • Reply
    A Vintage Vine
    April 4, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    OH YEAH! I like his attitude, you have some wonderful ideas for making some changes to the fireplace! Niches are hard for me too! Some people love them and I have seem some that look wonderful…But, they always make me pause trying to figure them out!

  • Reply
    marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
    April 4, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Love the idea of the stone to match the outside. A real mantel would be fabulous also. Can't wait to see what you do. Gorgeous house. Hugs, Marty

  • Reply
    Jen
    April 4, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    Your house is beautiful! I like the idea of adding stone, though the tile isn't awful in my opinion. Good luck!

  • Reply
    Andrea
    April 4, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    That is going to look fabulous. I can't wait to see it all finsihed. Wow, your house is enormous!

  • Reply
    Pam
    April 4, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    My husband is the same way. He'll do any project if it means he gets a new tool! 🙂
    I like the idea of matching your outside stone and covering up the niche.

    Good luck!
    Pam

  • Reply
    Lisa
    April 5, 2011 at 6:43 am

    You are seriously my twin. I love the images you posted and my brother and I just redesigned my fireplace on paper this weekend and he gave me a big pep talk that it wouldn't be that big of a deal to execute. Apparently putting a stone facade over an existing fireplace is not that difficult. Oh I hope you do this so I can live vicariously through you….our fireplace is wAAAAy down on the list!

  • Reply
    Cathy
    January 2, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    A house with fireplace will always be warm, don’t you agree? Anyway, stone fireplaces are very stylish! The photos of fireplaces you’ve posted are very inspiring and made me think of renovating our 25 year old fireplace!

    Cathy Newman

  • Reply
    Angelina Garcia
    January 15, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Instead of renovating your fireplace, why don’t you just think of something creative to do with that funky niche? You can hang a portrait, a painting, or how about a mirror? Play with your imagination and don’t stress yourself too much about that one.

    Angelina Garcia

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