Help fix our fireplace wall
8 years ago
We replaced a wood-burning fireplace with gas (which we love!) and a skylight above.
The idea initially was to clad the wall. Unfortunately, this meant that the installation wasn't perfectly smooth. We have since been through a few rounds of plastering and painting but it's still rough around the edges of the gas fireplace.
We don't want to spend a fortune on this wall, nor do we want to do anything that will be unappealing to any future buyers.
I have considered the super-thin large format tiles (like Kerlite or Slimtech) but have been told they can be pricey. Regular tile or stone is tricky to get it to look right because of their thickness interacting with the angles of the wall, skirting etc. Also, you might not see it from the photos but because of the chimney the top part of the wall above the mirror leans in at a slight angle.
Eager to hear what you would do in this situation!
The idea initially was to clad the wall. Unfortunately, this meant that the installation wasn't perfectly smooth. We have since been through a few rounds of plastering and painting but it's still rough around the edges of the gas fireplace.
We don't want to spend a fortune on this wall, nor do we want to do anything that will be unappealing to any future buyers.
I have considered the super-thin large format tiles (like Kerlite or Slimtech) but have been told they can be pricey. Regular tile or stone is tricky to get it to look right because of their thickness interacting with the angles of the wall, skirting etc. Also, you might not see it from the photos but because of the chimney the top part of the wall above the mirror leans in at a slight angle.
Eager to hear what you would do in this situation!
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Comments (68)I remember years ago being in a similar predicament and someone gave me some mirror tiles - I glued them on the the wall and thought I was very clever. They actually did look much better in my eyes. Try not to spend too much - I think everyone's idea of a shower curtain will all the bathroom colours in it would probably be the best option. You'll laugh about it in years to come and you will love the improvements you make over time. Enjoy the moment, unless you're selling soon your ideas will change after living there, so change when you can afford it - who cares it's YOURS. Good luck, it's so rewarding and so much fun. P.S. now we have a small bathroom, wall to wall tiles, dark grey on the floor and white on all the walls with a large grey tile up each opposing wall, tall mirror over the handbasin which reflects the opposite wall then a full length bath with shower over it. It works perfectly and looks great....See MoreHelp, our lounge/dining room is just not working.
Comments (10)I'd consider putting the corner sofa and TV stand in the dining room, moving the stand-alone chair and footstool and tall lamp near the stove as a "reading nook" and placing the dining table in the living room, leaving enough for a walkway from the entry to the current dining / possible living room. In terms of the actual furniture, everything other than the colour of the dining chair fabric looks pretty good. I would start by decluttering and removing anything that isn't functional or which you don't find aesthetically pleasing. I'd personally remove the mirror in the bar as I don't think it gels very well, the tiny framed art near the stove, the art on the wall near the TV as it's too small and hung too closely and the drum kit (unless the drum kit is used on a daily basis). I really like the Marimekko print and, IF you like it, then I would use it as inspiration for adding colour to each of the rooms, possibly even a "feature" wall using the bright blue from the print (although I'm not a huge fan of feature walls). A few minor changes may also help, like replacing the blown bulb in the wall sconce, storing the ironing board somewhere else and taking down the "hanging" glasses in the bar area as they're visual clutter right at eye line height....See MoreHelp needed for our big reno plans
Comments (66)you are super-patient!!! :) :) thank you :) I'm so sorry but I do actually have a couple MORE thoughts!! argh! there are just so many different options.... and this is a bit of an all consuming puzzle to try to solve. here they are: 1) study could become main bathroom - leaving new Bed 4 as per plan since it is bigger & a better size for guests. in this option, some area could be stolen from the study to boost ensuite size - even if it just made the ensuite 1 full metre. Ideally not requiring study window to change. 2) WC could potentially be separate either within this space OR at the back of the old kitchen (allowing for the remaining, longish hall wall to be shorter again) oklouise you may think some of these ideas are not very workable & I'd be so glad for your feedback & comment (and anyone else's comments as well), it's really so incredibly helpful - unbelievably helpful - to have everyone's input. i'd love recommendations on which ideas & options might work best for that balance between function & budget...See MoreNeed help to design wall for gas fireplace
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- 8 years agoFollowing up to show what we ended up doing, spending as little as possible.
I talked to several tilers, but at the end of the day our walls are so wonky and not straight that the only tile we could use would be modern-looking "stacked stone", which we didn't feel suited this old house.
The gas fireplace shop was able to create the surround for us, to our dimensions, for $215. The man who services the fire annually installed it for free while doing his normal servicing. We also got a slate pool table top for free off of Gumtree, and we had a handyman neighbour cut it to replace the skirting and hearth.
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- 8 years agoThat is helpful, thank you, @LesleyH. I was wondering about maybe a vinyl wall decal, looking something like this (sorry bad photoshopping; just the black lines, not the white box).
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PRO8 years agoHi, consider Zero.3 tech. Super thin, flexible and resistant. Awesome finishes available. See below, marble, wood, concrete effects.
Pretty awesome!
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- 8 years agoTwo photos. One is a bit darker so you can see that the window is pink. If you have cushion colour suggestions I'd love to hear them, too. Thank you!
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
8 years agoI think you should get a framed vintage print, like a Bally one, adds some colour and doesn't compete with era of house. We had vintage ski posters (we're mad skiers) above the fireplace in our old 1920s home and it looked great.
Sorry the photos look a bit crap taken in bad light but you get the idea.
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8 years agoHi Elisa, the fiddle leaf fig looks great there!! :-) Re your mirror, have you ever considered a round mirror on your fireplace to match your window and soften some of the harder angles in the room? I feel your current mirror does somewhat overpower the area, mainly because of its heavy frame, and something much finer (perhaps with a lighter coloured frame) would be less imposing.
Re artwork, I could see something colourful looking great on the wall above your bookcase there, and a few colourful cushions/throw on your lounge would pull all the colours together and brighten what is already a lovely and interesting room. Good luck!
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- 8 years agoFinished product! Glad I switched the rug the other direction, and the round table kind of plays off the circle window. Truly thankful for all your help! This was fun and I am so happy with the end result. :)
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