How to Update a 1970s Brick Fireplace Without Losing Its Character

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If you’ve ever looked at a 1970s brick fireplace and wondered whether you should paint it, demolish it, or completely start over, you’re not alone.

For years, the trend was to strip homes of their original details in pursuit of whatever was currently popular. But today, many homeowners are rediscovering the beauty of preserving architectural character while giving their homes a fresh, updated look.

That’s exactly the approach I took with my own 1970s brick fireplace. I’m excited to share how to update a 1970s brick fireplace without losing all that beautiful character.

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Why the Original Architecture Matters

Every decade has defining architectural features that tell the story of a home’s history.

In many 1970s homes, that means full-height brick fireplaces, natural materials, wood beams, and earthy textures. While some finishes can feel dated, the architecture itself often provides the character that makes a home memorable.

Instead of removing these features, I believe it’s worth asking one simple question:

How can I enhance what’s already beautiful?

A thoughtfully updated fireplace can become the focal point of a room without erasing the home’s original personality.

With that in mind, I made a few small shifts early in our home renovations. Along with new flooring, we removed the bulkhead that spanned the fireplace and built in cabinet to reveal the full height of the fireplace.

Then I updated the cabinet with paint. Just those changes made a big improvement to the space, but I knew it could be better.

How I Refaced My 1970s Brick Fireplace

After thinking about what I wanted this basement family room to look like for 2+ years, I settled on simple additions to the fireplace surround.

However, I did have some obstacles to work around.

1. The original mantel held the electrical components for the tv. So it needed to stay to avoid high costs of updating the electrical and purchasing a new mantel.
2. The TV is oversized for this space, but we treat this room as a theater room. So the big TV stayed! And after much deliberation, I decided to frame it out to look built in.

I started by building out columns on either side of the existing mantel to pull the surround down the brick. I took this process step by step and added trim as I went.

If something felt boring or too modern, I added detail trim until it felt like the right architectural era.

At the beginning of the process, I was planning to leave the brick exposed on the top. However, once I got to this point it felt too broken up.

So I decided to frame out the top half with 2x4s and add 1/4″ plywood that I ripped down into 4″ shiplap planks.

Thankfully, this also hid the ugly pipe in the top left corner.

The way I installed this is completely removable. I screwed all framing into the walls and ceiling rather than the brick.

In the future, if anyone wanted to restore the fireplace to full brick, all they have to do is take the wood off.

At this point, I also extended the built in cabinet to the ceiling with 2×4 framing and 1/4″ plywood. Then, I topped it all off with matching detail trim.

In addition, you can see in the photo above, I made a removable bar for the bottom of the tv so the tv plug and components can easily be accessed. Additionally, the shiplap planks to the left of the tv are completely removable to access the mounting bracket release.

Paint Color and Fireplace Styling

Once all the construction was done, paint pulled it all together!

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Did you know that you can darken paint?

Many people are aware that you can ask paint stores to lighten paint. However, you can also ask them to darken it!

I chose Sherwin Williams Retreat at 125%. It offers the same great undertones of this beautiful color, but in a slightly darker tint so the sunlight doesn’t wash it out so easily.

I love how it pairs with the antique brass cabinet hardware.

Additionally, I used Walnut Gel Stain to darken the existing cabinet back paneling. It removed the honey oak and transformed it without sanding to a nice medium wood tone.

Updating Instead of Replacing

When remodeling an older home, it’s easy to assume that newer automatically means better.

While there are many instances where a complete overhaul is the best choice, replacing quality materials with trendy alternatives can sometimes leave a space feeling flat or generic.

Rather than painting the brick or tearing it out, I focused on modernizing the surrounding elements while allowing the fireplace to remain the star of the room. Small design changes can dramatically shift the overall look while honoring the home’s original craftsmanship.

The goal wasn’t to make my house look brand new—it was to make it feel timeless.

Leaving the original brick exposed worked well in this space. I also updated our 1970s fireplace with a different thought in mind in our remodeled kitchen. You can see that transformation here with a tutorial on painting brick here.

If you’d like to see how this entire project came together piece by piece, make sure to watch it live on YouTube!

A Home Should Tell Its Story

One of my favorite things about older homes is that they have character you simply can’t recreate overnight.

Every original feature adds another layer to the story of the house.

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As trends come and go, timeless design is almost always rooted in respecting the architecture that’s already there. Updating your home doesn’t have to mean erasing its past.

Often, the most beautiful renovations are the ones that celebrate it.

If you’re remodeling a 1970s home, I hope this project encourages you to look beyond what’s outdated and see the charm that’s already waiting to shine.

Sometimes the best transformation isn’t replacing the character—it’s letting it take center stage.

Thanks so much for visiting Grace In My Space today!

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~ Sarah