Fireplace renovation - from ugly to awesome!

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!

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.

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.

The fireplace looked way better once the rocks were off!

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!

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!

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:

Ewwwwww!

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!