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    Home » Misc. » DIY & Hints » DIY

    Fireplace renovation - from ugly to awesome!

    Published: Oct 19, 2014 · Modified: Feb 6, 2015 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

    Don't you love fireplace renovations?   Do you watch lots of HGTV too?  And watch how the fireplace is often the major focal piece.  And, watch the transition from just OK to something truly inspiring?   Well, I had a chance to watch a fireplace transition. Live!

    A fireplace transition.  From totally ugly, to totally awesome!

    A fireplace transition. From totally ugly, to totally awesome!

    The best part was that I didn't have to live through it.  Actually, that wasn't the best part.  The best part was that I met and got to know Gina.  She made me miss my Italian friends.  She's so awesome!  I wonder if Italians have a gene that includes the ability to cook great food?  And to be energetic, fun and just soooooo Italian!  This is where my kids would tell me I'm racist :).   Apparently, it's not OK to typecast people anymore.  But, it is OK to mess with Mom and make her paranoid about making any type of comment about anyone.   It took me a while to figure out they were messing with me.  Teenaged boy humor can be crazy and awfully funny sometimes!

    Sooooo, back to the fireplace.   Ummmm, ugly!  If I were to call it dated, that would be too kind.  My golf BFF called me one day to tell me her friend Gina was doing a fireplace reno. and it would be awesome for my blog.  And, the fireplace was UGLY.   It was big, and bold, and original to the house and just ugly.

    fireplace renovation

    One ugly fireplace!

    Hmmm, it really was hard to think of something good to say.   And, I'm one of those people who believes there is something good in everyone and everything.  Ummmm, I guess just the fact that it's a fireplace and we live in Wisconsin and we had the coldest winter EVER so just having a fireplace is a good thing?? {sigh}  I'm trying.   Oh well, Gina knew it was ugly and that's why it was getting a total overhaul.

    The original plan was that the rock removal would be a DIY.  But, the size and weight of these stones made this a HUGE project and a little professional help was in order.

    fireplace renovation

    The fireplace looked way better once the rocks were off!

    fireplace renovation

    You know, old homes are just built so solid!   Look at this fireplace built with all the cinder blocks.  I know in my present home, and the one I owned prior, we just had an insert and then a mantle was slapped up and it's done.

    Next, some drywall was added.  Just to totally change the look and totally clean it up!

    fireplace renovation

    I loved watching this come together.  And I especially loved that I could breeze in, take some pictures and not have to live through this!  There was a lot more renovating going on and I'll share more another day.

    But, here's the final product!

    fireplace renovation

    Isn't it just beautiful?  And clean, and fresh and just a wonderful feature and focal point to the room.  I love the mantle, and the stone and just how perfect this came together!   Just for the heck of it, here's a reminder of what this started as:

    a planter with colorful plants
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    fireplace renovation

    Ewwwwww!

    fireplace renovation

    Ahhhhhhh!

    Thanks so much Gina, for letting me breeze into your home, take pictures and then leave you behind in the mess.   Actually, I don't think I ever breezed in and out :).    What should have taken a few minutes of picture taking always took over an hour.   It just seemed everything I admired was a Gina DIY!    Loved my visits and appreciate being given the opportunity to document this fireplace reno..  Thanks Gina!  What awesome choices you made with your renovation.  I'm sure you look at this every day and love it!

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    1. Jenna

      February 02, 2020 at 11:19 am

      I also am more of a fan of the original than what it had been replaced with

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        February 11, 2020 at 7:20 pm

        Thanks for commenting! Yes, some people do like the original more. We all have different tastes and that's what makes home decor so interesting!

        Reply
    2. Andrea

      March 29, 2019 at 3:21 am

      Hello — I realize this post is a few years old - but I just bought a house - in Wisconsin & also have an ugly rock fireplace - different than this one but with giant stones that are out of the DIY realm - I’m wondering who was hired to remove the stones?

      Reply
    3. Rechel

      December 27, 2018 at 6:23 am

      I have a BIGGER rock wall (fireplace) like yours and it’s buklt in 1970’s. I searched for DIY’s in how to install a cabinet around it or how to clean it etc but I don’t wnag to get rid of the rock. I just want to add shelves and know how to clean it better. If you do know how to, please share it to me.

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • momcrieff

        January 05, 2019 at 7:12 pm

        I would suggest speaking to a contractor. Find some pictures of fireplaces you like (on Pinterest?) and get a professional's opinion. I can tackle smaller DIY's, but I suspect this one is a bigger project.

        Reply
    4. amysinecox

      July 14, 2015 at 10:23 pm

      How were the rocks removed? I know you said professionally but how without damaging the cinder blocks underneath?

      Reply
    5. Kazdot

      October 20, 2014 at 11:33 pm

      Call me crazy, but I actually like the original fireplace best. Maybe I'd change the rest of the room to better complement it, and it may not fit in with the rest of the house, I don't know, but to me what's been created here is something sterile and boring by comparison. But that the homeowners like it best is what matters, I suppose.

      Reply

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    I'm Susan Moncrieff! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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