Live with this or rip it out?

10 years ago

My husband loves this fireplace. Please vote "live with it" or "it is too ugly". He likes the "rustic nature" of it. I like transitional and more contemporary design. Any ideas that will please us both?

Live with it?

It is too ugly!

Featured Answer

Carolina

10 years ago

Rustic contemporary or contemporary rustic:

Alta Modern Chalet · More Info

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Comments (350)

Ana Santos
10 years ago
Because of that beam coming straight into the top of the fireplace I would tear down the top (as momof5x mentioned) and place a nice thick wood mantel over it. The current color on the wall makes the fireplace look dated. I would stay away from brown and yellow tones.
Darzy thanked Ana Santos
mickisue
10 years ago
Progress comes at the most unexpected of times, yes?
Darzy thanked mickisue
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Deborah Jarman
10 years ago
I think your Ben has been an absolute Saint, dealing with all of the Houzz comments. The greatest thing though, is that this post has brought your dissatisfaction with the fireplace up for discussion. Sounds like Ben is willing to work with you on it now that he understands how much it bothers you. Kudos Ben!
Darzy thanked Deborah Jarman
Darzy
Original Author
10 years ago
@debaroah..Ben IS truly a saint. I could give you a BIG list of his agreeing to the "happy wife, happy life" and "don't mess with the nest" philosophy. Darzy 20, Ben 1 so far.
melbwoman
10 years ago
In my humble opinion ...It's the colour of the wall and the mortar ... Would consider making them both lighter and make the stone the feature ... It's all fighting with each other when only one should be the feature
Darzy thanked melbwoman
PRO
ASVInteriors
10 years ago
I think once you remove the fp, ,which you will, you print out this entire thread and wallpaper it in its place! Or at least paper your powder room with it! Glad that Darzy, who is so good at helping everyone else out with brilliant advice, is being helped by all hose she helped... Good karma.
Darzy thanked ASVInteriors
Mary Frieson
10 years ago
Maybe if you surround it with custom built-in cabinets. I would also soften the wall colors.
Darzy
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
@ASVInteriors. Thank you for the kinds words. Funny you mention printing this thread! I was going to print the thread for hubby's bathroom reading enjoyment. :) Then, leave empty comment boxes for guest comments. I've just printed all 39 pages for posterity.

Thank you all for your comments, suggestions and voting. It really helped my case. I'll let you know any progress.

@Deborah. I told my husband a Houzz Buddy golf offer came along but I told you how terrible we are at golf. He said, "Hey - I'm getting better at golf. I can almost hit the ball as far as I can throw the clubs". (Joking of course)
Deborah Jarman
10 years ago
Sounds like Ben has a great sense of humor. Comes in handy when your "rustic, piece of art" fireplace is being attacked from all sides!
Darzy thanked Deborah Jarman
tiffany66
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Darcy, check on companies that do brick and stone recoloring. They can change the color of the rock and still have it look good. Here are some examples.

http://bricktransformers.com/Brick_Closeups.html

http://www.brickstaining.net/res.html
Darzy thanked tiffany66
karenegade
9 years ago
I think you can decorate around. If it is in solid condition keep it. It will be a conversation piece. Since this is a cabin I think it works.
Darzy thanked karenegade
mickisue
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
This isn't a cabin. It's a house. And that fireplace is badly designed, executed worse, and, I hope that Darzy, who hasn't updated us, is busy wielding a crowbar on that monstrosity!
Darzy thanked mickisue
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Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
9 years ago
If she's not, mickisue, you and I need to head out to California to help her!
Darzy thanked Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID
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K.O.H. Construction Corporation
9 years ago
tiffany66 The Brick Transformer is really a good site, thanks for posting
Darzy thanked K.O.H. Construction Corporation
tiffany66
9 years ago
K.O.H. Here is a photo of the kind of work they do. Although if it were mine it would be gone. But if you have to keep it, you might as well like the color.
Darzy thanked tiffany66
Darzy
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks everyone. Sorry no update to report. MIL is in town and is currently staying with us and we are helping with a deceased friend's estate. So, even painting a new wall color is on the back burner. : ( Calgon, take me away.
rosiecook
9 years ago
cover it
mickisue
9 years ago
My favorite: people who comment without even looking at the most recent comments.

Darzy, sorry about the situation. Losing a friend is hard, dealing with estate issues is hard, putting the two together is beyond Calgon worthy: it's a weekend at the spa worthy.

I'll just assume that once your guest is gone and the others are taken care of, you and your DH will be in that family room with those crowbars.
Darzy thanked mickisue
feeny
9 years ago
Darzy, I saw this photo on the front page this morning and thought of you.
Montana Antique Random · More Info
Darzy thanked feeny
Mima Hutcheson
9 years ago
I had one almost like yours and I wanted to take it out, but I painted the walls a color that match the rock and put a large mantle and panted the mantle white that match my crown moulding and trim and I like it now.
Darzy thanked Mima Hutcheson
PRO
Holley Pokora Interior Design
9 years ago
Reminds me of Peanut Brittle. I would paint the stone off white, and paint the walls a buff/greige color for a more transitional look. Paint the ceiling white, and the beam same color as walls. The yellow walls are really making the problem worse. At least that would be an inexpensive facelift for now...
Darzy thanked Holley Pokora Interior Design
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Holley Pokora Interior Design
9 years ago
Yes and also wrap a sizeable mantel around the whole thing and stain it espresso.
Darzy thanked Holley Pokora Interior Design
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Rebecca Mitchell Interiors
9 years ago
Oh dear. It's pretty bad!
Darzy thanked Rebecca Mitchell Interiors
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LB Interiors
9 years ago
Hi Darzy, Interested in meeting other Houzzers?

Trying to get closer to planning a Houzz get together trip:)
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/trying-to-get-closer-to-planning-a-houzz-get-together-trip-dsvw-vd~1011462
Darzy thanked LB Interiors
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LB Interiors
9 years ago
Fireplace is too not you!
Darzy thanked LB Interiors
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Su-Zanne Home Staging
9 years ago
The fireplace is outdated. It usually is the focal point in any room, which is usually the first recommendation I'd have for any remodel.
Depending on the budget, I'd replace or less expensive route is to paint or whitewash or overlay the stone with cement and stamp a stacked stone. It would look like real stone, but not the cost and, best of all, would not have the mess of the demolition.
Darzy thanked Su-Zanne Home Staging
D W
9 years ago
probably time to update, this is how I did mine
Darzy thanked D W
angethomp
9 years ago
I'm surprised that I actually don't mind it. The wall colour needs to change and something on the fireplace ( art, a mirror ) could actually make it look great. Good luck
Darzy thanked angethomp
Tracy
9 years ago
How about rustic wood instead. That would make your husband happier and the fireplace would be updated.
Darzy thanked Tracy
User
9 years ago
Darzy.... left us waiting for a fireplace update?? any news?
PRO
LB Interiors
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Right Margo! Missing you Darzy!!!... I thought you were on a lot of threads .... just that I'm not. Have you been MIA? What did you end up doing?
Darzy thanked LB Interiors
LORDON Lane
9 years ago
Better way to do rustic
Darzy thanked LORDON Lane
Darzy
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi girls (waving). I was "this close" to having hubby agree to remodel fireplace with contemporary stacked stone. The mason neighbor wasn't too helpful in my dilemma. :( He agreed to do a lot of the work for a good price, but told hubby...This rock can't even be purchased any more and people want this these days. OMG...can you believe it???? But, I have since painted the FR walls Navajo White and just today purchased a 30" x 40" canvas to oil paint an abstract landscape and frame it with a black "floating" frame to cover as much rock as possible. If my art isn't totally awful, I'll post a photo. :)
traveler47
9 years ago
something like this?
Darzy thanked traveler47
Darzy
Original Author
9 years ago
traveler 47...that looks a lot better rustic style.
Deborah Jarman
9 years ago
I want to see a photo of the fireplace and your art. I doubt it will be awful. I just finished 3 weeks of hard labor at my rental between tenants. Now back at it on my own house. See you soon on one of the threads. Hopefully this one!
Darzy thanked Deborah Jarman
patrinkac
9 years ago
Family room? Work with it. Main living and entertaining space? Have to bring it out of the hunting camp and in to sophisticated society.......sorry. Florida Girl.
Darzy thanked patrinkac
Carolina
9 years ago
Hi Darzy, in all honesty, looking at your fireplace again... I'm thinking it's not nearly as ugly as I thought it was before. It has olive qualities. First you think 'yikes' and then you think ' actually, not bad at all' :-) Looking forward to seeing the updated fireplace. With or without art :-)
Darzy thanked Carolina
Darzy
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you carolins, but it's still darn ugly to me. It looks better with a fresh wall color (I tested dark colors and it didn't work in the room as the FP wall goes into the dinette area. Way too dark for the space(s). I'll eventually post a photo with the art. I just took a photo but it doesn't look like it at all in person. I'll try again when the art is up and the lighting is true. Thanks for trying to make be feel better though. :)
sacapuntaslapioz
9 years ago
If it bothers you so much, rip it out. and do something you both like
Darzy thanked sacapuntaslapioz
Momof5x
9 years ago
I have been wondering myself what you ended you doing- if you still have the fireplace, and you still don't like it- then the answer is very clear that you should change it, home is where you should feel relaxed and happy after all.
Darzy thanked Momof5x
rredpenn
9 years ago
Darzy, your thread is what got me hooked on Houzz discussions. (Well, yours, and the Spoffie one.) :) I read/gleaned info/got courage from hundreds of FP dilemmas. Glad to hear you're still working on yours. Can't wait to see the art and the paint. Sounds like an equitable solution.
Darzy thanked rredpenn
sacapuntaslapioz
9 years ago
The more I look at the fireplace the more it bothers me. There is a sense that the stones will fall off. Take the monster down
Darzy thanked sacapuntaslapioz
PRO
LB Interiors
9 years ago
Hi rred. If you change it out at a later date, I am certain with your design skills, you will create something fabulous!
Judy Mishkin
9 years ago
it's the impression of instability that would prevent me from ever taking a nap in front of it.
everdebz
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Any comments yet about white beam? You prefer modern, and so you like white?
Sal Conti
8 years ago
Rip it out
Terri Henderson
8 years ago
I normally love stone, but this is so sharp and clunky. It was laid weirdly. There are plenty of stone styles that you should be able to agree on.
PRO
Raegan Ford Interior Design
7 years ago
I say rip it out!
pamelany
5 years ago
I know I'm years too late to this thread, but what did you end up doing? I had to laugh because I just bought a house that has a fireplace that is even uglier, and yellow walls as well! I painted over it with a grey chalk paint, it took only a couple of hours, and looks a ton better.