Living Room Redo with Statement Fireplace – Before and After Photos
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I like any home (or home decor item) that will come with a distinctive backstory, and my condo is no exception: It was after two neighboring motel rooms on the north facet of Chicago.
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The quirky condominium has its perks (a significant learn bed room, wander-in closet, and two wood-burning fireplaces), but like most concealed gems, it desired serious beauty upgrades, and the two at the top rated of my listing had been the residing room’s hearth and the exposed brick — the latter is controversial, I know.
I decided to kick off my condo’s facelift with the fireplace. It’s the to start with point you see when you stroll in the doorway, so I was eager to swap the dated black sq. tiles for a fashionable statement. I found a stunning substantial-structure porcelain marble-appear slab to use on the fireplace but was disappointed striving to discover a coordinating tile for the wall.
Which is when a structure-savvy mate challenged me to consider the tile all the way from floor to ceiling, the ideal answer for producing the fire the statement my dwelling space desired.
I loved the thought but was anxious to dedicate to such a bold style and design. What if I selected the completely wrong tile? What if it would make the home glance scaled-down? Finally, I little bit the bullet, hired specialists for the set up, and held my breath as they cautiously set the 30-pound slabs. The initially big threat paid out off the fireplace turned out magnificent and appears to be appropriate at household future to a person of my favourite pieces, my white lacquer console.
The up coming upgrade on my checklist — also a huge style threat — was shifting the exposed brick on the entrance wall. Brick is certainly breathtaking in the proper environment, but this boring brown backdrop was producing a space currently lacking in normal mild look even darker, and it clashed terribly with my new fireplace tiles!
I debated painting the brick for in excess of a year and ran the notion previous numerous persons who warned me it was an irreversible choice I would permanently regret. Last but not least, I reliable my instincts (and my Photoshop mockup!), determined to deal with the venture, and headed to the hardware keep.
Prep work is the most essential part of revamping brick. I scrubbed the wall with a TSP combination, allow it dry overnight, then sealed it with a thick coat of primer. Just after building absolutely sure the brick was entirely dry, my dad and I rolled on a satin finish brick paint by Behr that comes pre-tinted pure white.
Three hours afterwards, the space was all of a sudden sunny, inviting, and prepared for a household furniture facelift. I switched my grey couch for a scarcely-employed Inside Outline sofa I sourced on Fb Marketplace, replaced the glass espresso tables with a wooden and rattan one particular, and tied the place jointly with a washable rug. My most beloved piece of decor in the place, even though, is a household heirloom lithograph of Winston Churchill that was handed down by my mom, who handed away in 2019. I really like how the white brick produces the excellent backdrop for the print.
The lesson listed here? It can be complicated to make drastic design improvements, specially when close friends and relatives attempt to convince you to participate in it protected. In the conclusion, no just one is familiar with your household improved than you — so have confidence in your gut, grab your tools, and know that the next time they phase through the door, they’ll unquestionably admit you were being ideal!
