I am going to show you how I painted my 1980s ugly peach fireplace.
With all the crazy amounts of photos I’ve taken of my living room, I’ve never done a post about that 80s peach granite and marble fireplace.
I’ve answered many emails about it so I thought it was finally time to do a post on it.
I didn’t think it warranted a post since I just spray painted it as a temporary solution but seeing as we’ve been here five years now and we haven’t changed our fireplaces and my paint job has held up fine, it was time to show you how I did it.
And yes, you can paint your 1980s ugly fireplace!
Here is the living room when we first toured the house.
Then we took down that wall between living room and family room.
And here is the family room fireplace.
Aren’t they a beaut? I mean, PEACH granite and PEACH marble hearth.
It wasn’t in our budget to redo the fireplaces and we were just going to leave them as is (the horror!).
{What I really wanted was large French fireplaces *sigh*.}
So in a last ditch effort while renos were happening I ran to the store and grabbed a ton of spray paint.
I didn’t know if it would work but I had no choice. I was NOT going to live with 80s peach.
So basically all I did was spray paint all the rough rock with a coat of primer (I used Zinsser Bin) and then off-white spray paint, about three coats.
I didn’t know what to do with the hearth but time was running out, the floors were going in!
So yep, I just did the same on the hearth.
I found some black BBQ paint (paint for high heat) and painted the brass glass doors.
The family room fireplace was replaced to gas.
But the living room one we left the same (which has a non-working gas insert – we’d like to take it out and use it as a wood fireplace but still haven’t gotten around to it).
So yes, it is a bit odd that we have an entire wall of bookshelves and fireplaces but I wasn’t on site the day that wall came down and my idea was to not have the entire wall come down just more of a passthrough. Oh well. Now it’s more of a dramatic look.
The paint job still looks as good as new!
You can see on the hearth by the wire basket that some of the paint has scratched off. I should really repaint the hearth but haven’t yet. Like I said, it’s been five years..not bad.
Here’s an ugly close-up.
I don’t know, I think it looks pretty awesome.
What do you think? Ready to paint your fireplaces?
Please note: if you are not in the middle of a reno, I wouldn’t use spray paint, I would use regular enamel paint and brush.
See all living room posts:
Get My Living Room Look
Restyling Bookshelves & How to Cope with Chaos
Paint Your 80s Fireplace
Old Dresser Makeover
Creating A Cozy Home
Industrial Beachy French
DIY Faux Embroidery Lampshade
New French Mirror
Craigslist Couch
Living Room Source Guide
Living Room
Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says
October 23, 2014 at 8:17 amI love how it turned out and such an easy fix. I have been toying with the idea of painting the orangy-oak mantel on my fireplace…
Shelley
Jamie says
October 24, 2014 at 8:48 amThanks Shelley! The orangey wood color is the worst! Sanding it might look nice and rustic too 😉
Hugs, Jamie
April says
October 23, 2014 at 9:24 amLooks Amazing Jamie! Great job
Jamie says
October 24, 2014 at 8:49 amThanks so much, April
Hugs, Jamie
Joanne says
October 23, 2014 at 11:01 amMy kinda gal. I spray paint everything. Sooo easy! But I never would have thought to spray paint brick. Thank you for posting this.
Jamie says
October 24, 2014 at 8:50 amI never thought it would work either but it turned out great!
Hugs, Jamie
Michele says
October 23, 2014 at 4:00 pmAmazing transformation! Looks great, and I love the pumpkins in the wire basket.
Jamie says
October 24, 2014 at 8:50 amThanks so much, Michele
Hugs, Jamie
Angela Jimenez says
October 24, 2014 at 9:39 amIt looks so fresh and clean now, I love it! I used the BBQ black on the brass on our fireplace as well and it made such a difference!
Jamie says
November 5, 2014 at 10:14 pmSuch a huge difference! Great minds think alike 😉
Hugs, Jamie
Barbara says
October 25, 2014 at 9:06 amI have an 80’s fireplace with some kind of fake rock. Would this work for me? I hate this rock but no budget to replace. Help!
Jamie says
November 5, 2014 at 10:12 pmI would definitely try it, Barbara! Use primer and acrylic paint and it should work.
Hugs, Jamie
Krista @thehappyhousie says
October 28, 2014 at 2:34 pmBeautiful Jamie! Such a huge huge difference. Whenever I see your lovely spaces it makes me want to go neutral!! Can you imagine?! They are so beautiful:)
Jamie says
November 5, 2014 at 10:13 pmhaha, I feel the same with your house, Krista!
Hugs, Jamie
SHERYL MEKEMSON says
November 6, 2014 at 12:39 pmI really like the redo on your fireplace! Fresh, clean, French, lightens the room in color and weight! You’ll never regret it! I did the same with a whole wall of grey brick and fireplace. Wanting to paint the facade of my house exterior half brick 1970’s 2-story Colonial home. I wish to establish a French look and want to also add appropriate shutters and architectural arches with a re-siding next year. I am worried about wear and maintenance of the painted brick. Any suggestions!?!
Jamie says
November 14, 2014 at 11:28 pmHi Sheryl, We had our brick exterior painted and I love it! It’s been a few years now and it looks perfect. I think as long as you have it painted by professionals you’ll be good 😉
Hugs, Jamie
SHERYL MEKEMSON says
November 15, 2014 at 10:48 amHi Jamie,
Thank you for your response.
Have your painted brick exterior posted? How often does it require repainting? What was the recommendations for long lasting wear? I would like mine to be a white and need ideas for French look shutters as well as easily constructed motifs and architecture for the full front porch on a 1970’s 2 story Colonial with a front side gabled garage.
Jamie says
November 17, 2014 at 11:08 pmCrap! I don’t know any of these answers. We had it professionally done and they took a lot of time with the prep work and they didn’t say anything to us about when it would need to be repainted. Your house sounds like it would be beautiful painted! I would post that question in Hometalk. They have professionals that can answer your question on that website. Hope that helps!
Hugs, Jamie
SHERYL MEKEMSON says
November 18, 2014 at 10:52 pmThanks!
HeartWork Organizing says
November 8, 2014 at 7:33 pmIt looks great! And you and I are two of a kind. I’ll paint anything I get tired of. My motto is, “Heck, yeah, you can paint that!” Your rooms are beautiful and so light-filled!
Jamie says
November 14, 2014 at 11:32 pmYes, just paint it! Thanks so much 😉
Stacey says
November 10, 2014 at 1:33 pmYou spray painted it? I absolutely love that! It does look so pretty and what an easy way to accomplish a completely new look. I love the wall of shelves too.
Nicole B. says
November 13, 2014 at 1:32 pmThanks for linking up at Your Turn To Shine last week! Your GORGEOUS fireplace makeover is my hostess pick this week! The whole room is really beautiful! Great job 🙂
Jamie says
November 14, 2014 at 11:34 pmThanks so much, Nicole!
Hugs, Jamie