70s Brick Fireplace Makeover | Before and After
A 70s fireplace is bound to have a ton of character. But we had more than we bargained for! Check out the before and after of this budget friendly 70s brick fireplace makeover!
70s Brick Fireplace, Before
When we moved into our home, I had planned to remove the dated offset brick fireplace.
However, budget restraints told me another story.
So, I decided to make the most of it and create a cozy sitting area in our newly remodeled kitchen.
Design Challenges
There were several design challenges to overcome for this brick fireplace makeover.
- Traditional 70s offset design. The lack of symmetry saddened my type A personality.
- Animal and nature imprints stamped into the brick. I love a beautiful brick. However, this brick has paw prints, leave prints and random lines imprinted onto every surface.
- Dirty orange and multi-tone coloring. I personally love a beautiful natural brick. However, the coloring of this brick was too dingy and busy for my taste.
Design Solutions
To combat the design challenges our brick fireplace presented, I:
- Decorated intentionally to balance out the offset design.
- Filled 95% of the animal and leaf imprints with joint compound, then sanded smooth. (I left some in the firewood alcove as a small nod towards the original design.)
- Removed the dated firebox cover.
- Primed and painted the dingy orange brick in Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. This creamy white feels historic and charming, not stark and cold.
Brick Fireplace Makeover Process
This brick fireplace makeover was time intensive, but not difficult.
The simple process was:
- Clean and dry the brick, paying special attention to greasy or sooty areas.
- Fill nature prints with joint compound.
- Sand joint compound.
- Prime brick.
- Paint brick.
- Decorate to combat the offset design.
How to Paint a Brick Fireplace
If you’ve never painted a brick fireplace, it is a simple process of thorough cleaning, priming and painting.
It’s very straightforward, but I have a complete guide to painting interior brick that will be extremely helpful with the details. I share all of the materials, process, and paint that will give you the best results.
How to Decorate an Offset Fireplace
One of the most common mistakes of decorating a 70s offset fireplace is thinking you have to use the entire mantel.
There is nothing that accentuates an asymmetrical design more than decorating the entire length of the space as if it were symmetrical.
Instead, pull your decor into the mantel space directly above the firebox. Use the firebox as your center point. The blank space above the remainder of the fireplace is ok to remain empty and be white space.
If you have a hearth, you can try to balance the symmetry here instead with one or two larger items. In my case, a collection of wood bowls helps create balance.
Brick Fireplace in a Kitchen
When we originally planned our kitchen design, I wanted to remove the fireplace and have it be an opening into our new living room addition.
Budget nixed that plan quickly. And I’m so glad it did!
Having a cozy fireplace in the kitchen creates so much charm and character. We love using the sitting area each day for morning coffee.
The original 70s wood paneling became a beautiful statement once the orange brick was painted. It matches our walnut cabinetry beautifully.
To shop my home sources, please visit my resource page.
More Makeovers
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I hope this brick fireplace makeover inspires you to make simple and budget friendly changes if you don’t love your own brick fireplace.
I’d love to hear your opinion on our basement fireplace! This fireplace uses the same brick and I’m waffling on whether or not to do a treatment, leave it as is, or paint. What would you do?
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~ Sarah
Home Makeover Archives
See more home makeover before and afters in these DIY and home remodeling projects!
This blog post details the transformation of a dated 1970s offset brick fireplace. Budget constraints prevented removal, so the author opted for a makeover. The fireplace presented three main challenges: its asymmetrical design, imprinted leaf and paw prints on the bricks, and its unattractive multi-toned orange color. The solutions involved strategically decorating to balance the offset design, filling most of the imprints with joint compound and sanding smooth, removing the old firebox cover, and painting the brick a creamy white (Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee). The post includes a step-by-step process for painting brick, emphasizing cleaning, priming, and painting. It also offers advice on decorating around an offset fireplace, suggesting focusing decor on the firebox area rather than attempting to fill the entire mantel. The result is a refreshed, modern look integrated into the remodeled kitchen.
โน love this post
I love that! Thanks a lot!
this is just what i searched, its very great
I love that you kept the wood it looks great
Thanks for sharing!
The transformation of this ’70s brick fireplace into a cozy, charming focal point is truly inspiring, especially under budget constraints. The strategic use of paint and intentional decor choices have breathed new life into a once dated feature, showcasing the power of a DIY makeover. The attention to detail, such as filling in the animal imprints and selecting a creamy white hue, has created a warm and inviting space that harmonizes beautifully with the surrounding kitchen and wood paneling. This project is a testament to the fact that with creativity and resourcefulness, one can achieve stunning results without breaking the bank.
I love that you kept the wood it looks great
Thanks so much Pamela ๏ผ ๏ผ I was inspired๏ผ
I love the wood so much!
it looks great!
The interior decoration style of the house is very simple but creates a cozy feeling.
I want to express my deep gratitude for all of your generosity and the wise advise that you have provided to me. I am extremely appreciative of the impact that you have had on my life.
it looks great!
The makeover successfully modernized the 70s brick fireplace, illustrating the impact of paint and strategic decor choices in home renovations.
I think the original brick fireplace in the basement looks great and since it goes to the ceiling adds an architectural element. Itโs cozy but not overbearing. Upstairs your painted fireplace looks amazing. I have old red brick in a stacked pattern above and offset brick on the hearth. Eventually I want to tile it but I have other projects to complete before this one. Your updated fireplace may make me change my mind and paint it which is my second choice.
Thank you for your comment! Sounds like you have a fun project ahead of you as well!
I love the basement room! I might paint the bricks in a similar white tone used upstairs. Also, perhaps consider staining the single wooden mantle piece in the darker color used on the bookcase-cabinet standing next to the fireplace? Itโs difficult to visualize the project without seeing the entire room. Best of luck with your projects, and thank you so much for sharing! Love your posts and tips!
Blessings,
Pamela Petrotta
ppetrotta@mac.com
Thanks so much Pamela!
Thanks so much Pamela! ๏ผ๏ผ
I love that you kept the wood it looks great
I donโt think the basement fireplace looks as bad. It is kinda hard to tell without seeing the whole room.
Thanks so much Pamela ๏ผ ๏ผ