Paint mantel and fireplace surround
When buying a older home you may end up with a fireplace that doesn't fit in with your decor. Ripping out and replacing a fireplace surround can be time consuming and expensive, but there are other ways to fix up a tiled fireplace surround easily and affordably.
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Sarah Macklem Interiors transformed an ugly fireplace into a stunning feature in this new home. The original fireplace had a nice shape and the mantel surround worked well with the planned decor for the room. But it desperately needed personality.
Panelling was added to the fireplace wall. This treatment grounded the space and visually expanded the fireplace. As an interim solution, paint was used to give the old fireplace a new look. To create more impact the decorative mantle and ceramic tile surround were painted with black satin enamel.
Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Spray - semi-gloss black - can easily be sprayed onto the tiles and surround. Another quick and easy alternative is to use Plascon Melamine & Tile Primer and finish off with Plascon Velvaglo - black. Plascon Velvaglo has a satin finish that would finish off dated tiles perfectly.
GOOD TO KNOW
Before spraying, use and orbital sander and 180-grit sanding pads on the tiles to provide a better surface for painting.