Having purchased a new home in Toronto, owners with an eye for contemporary design approached us to help renovate and update their newly acquired outdated field stone fireplace. Instead of tearing down the existing fireplace, this family chose to use concrete panels on top of the existing field stones to update their fireplace, without incurring the time and expense of a complete fireplace renovation.

Concrete Panels with Distressed Texture

Because our concrete panels are hand made, each piece is absolutely unique and we have the advantage of creating large or extra-large format tiles, such as we did with this project. The custom, one-of-a-kind service that we offer allows us to play with a wide range of colours and other variations, customizing each piece of the fireplace to create the best possible aesthetic. The hearth is a single piece of concrete made in the same colour and texture as the concrete panels to keep the look clean and contemporary, as well as absolutely safe because of the nature of this non-combustible material.

The distressed texture of the fireplace is created by using our lightest colour of concrete, Buff, which is made with white cement and has grey undertones. The texture, in combination with this light grey colour, gives the fireplace a contemporary and modern appearance, lifting the face of this home and letting go of some of its outdated aesthetics.

The existing side tables that were incorporated into the original design of this outdated fireplace were also covered with concrete to give a cohesive look. 1” cherry wood table tops were used to finish off the contemporary look and add a pop of colour and warmth to the design. Practically speaking, this final touch ended up working beautifully for the family and eliminates the need for loose end tables in this section of the living area.

Non-combustible Concrete Ideal for Heat Resistance

The choice to use non-combustible concrete panels and a concrete hearth on fireplace surrounds is ideal for family safety. The heat-resistant concrete panels can expand and contract, and are suitably reinforced to avoid any chances of cracking. The fireplace opening can be beautifully finished to create a clean look by adding concrete panels, ensuring clean lines and a cohesive final aesthetic.

Adding concrete panelling on top of an existing fireplace structure is an excellent way to incorporate modern design elements without committing to a complete interior overhaul. The beautiful result for this Toronto family speaks volumes about how to complete a fireplace renovation in a cost-effective and time-effective manner.