Finally, after eight years, Erin decided enough was enough. So she and Kurt yanked out the faux stone and dark hearth tile, replacing them with new drywall above stacked-stone veneer and large slabs of pale gray stone on the raised hearth. Rather than replace the brass doors on the opening, Erin spray-painted the trim black to make them disappear. Kurt installed secondhand cabinets on both sides of the fireplace to house puzzles and games; open shelves above leave room for the family TV, photos, and artwork.
How to Tile a Fireplace
The mantel shelf came from Erin’s woodworker brother-in-law, who knocked off a pricey version she had seen—for a fraction of the cost. The finishing touch: a flea market divided-light window-turned frame to hold portraits of the kids. “Before, I would look at that fireplace thinking, I can’t wait to redo this,” Erin says. “Now we love to hang out here as a family.”
The Project Tally
Tore out the old faux-stone veneer and hearth tile: $0 Installed new drywall, stone veneer, and stone slabs: $500 Painted the room a soft green: $30 Made over the brass fireplace doors with heat-resistant spray paint: $5 Built in secondhand cabinets capped with an old oak desktop: $0 Added open shelves and crown molding: $200 Replicated a designer mantel using stock lumber and molding; hung a flea market window frame for family photos: $60
Total $795
