Living Room Redo with Statement Fireplace – Before and After Photos
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I enjoy any home (or home decor item) that comes with a exceptional backstory, and my apartment is no exception: It was at the time two neighboring motel rooms on the north facet of Chicago.
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The quirky condo has its perks (a big grasp bed room, wander-in closet, and two wood-burning fireplaces), but like most hidden gems, it essential significant cosmetic upgrades, and the two at the prime of my checklist were being the residing room’s fire and the uncovered brick — the latter is controversial, I know.
I made a decision to kick off my condo’s facelift with the fireplace. It is the first detail you see when you wander in the doorway, so I was eager to swap the dated black sq. tiles for a modern statement. I located a lovely big-format porcelain marble-glance slab to use on the hearth but was pissed off attempting to locate a coordinating tile for the wall.
That is when a style and design-savvy buddy challenged me to consider the tile all the way from flooring to ceiling, the fantastic solution for generating the fire the statement my living room required.
I loved the plan but was nervous to dedicate to these types of a daring layout. What if I chose the completely wrong tile? What if it helps make the space seem lesser? Finally, I bit the bullet, employed pros for the set up, and held my breath as they very carefully set the 30-pound slabs. The initially major chance paid off the fire turned out attractive and looks suitable at home subsequent to one of my most loved parts, my white lacquer console.
The next up grade on my list — also a massive design and style hazard — was altering the uncovered brick on the front wall. Brick is certainly stunning in the ideal environment, but this boring brown backdrop was building a place presently missing in purely natural gentle appear even darker, and it clashed terribly with my new fireplace tiles!
I debated painting the brick for about a year and ran the idea earlier numerous people who warned me it was an irreversible option I would eternally regret. Finally, I trusted my instincts (and my Photoshop mockup!), resolved to tackle the task, and headed to the hardware keep.
Prep operate is the most vital part of revamping brick. I scrubbed the wall with a TSP combination, permit it dry overnight, then sealed it with a thick coat of primer. Immediately after generating absolutely sure the brick was fully dry, my father and I rolled on a satin end brick paint by Behr that comes pre-tinted pure white.
A few hours afterwards, the place was all of a sudden sunny, inviting, and completely ready for a furniture facelift. I switched my grey couch for a scarcely-utilized Inside Define couch I sourced on Facebook Marketplace, changed the glass coffee tables with a wood and rattan a single, and tied the home jointly with a washable rug. My most favourite piece of decor in the house, even though, is a spouse and children heirloom lithograph of Winston Churchill that was handed down by my mother, who passed absent in 2019. I really like how the white brick results in the excellent backdrop for the print.
The lesson right here? It can be daunting to make drastic style modifications, particularly when close friends and relatives test to influence you to perform it risk-free. In the finish, no one is familiar with your home much better than you — so trust your intestine, seize your equipment, and know that the upcoming time they move through the doorway, they’ll definitely confess you were being suitable!