I recently shared the first makeover in my new house – my limewashed stone fireplace – and I am thrilled with the impact it made in the living room!  As part of that makeover, I also had to paint the marble fireplace hearth because it stuck out like a sore thumb once the orange stone on the fireplace facade was limewashed.  See what I mean in this before picture? 

Painting the marble hearth was a little risky because I wasn’t sure if it would actually work, but I painted and stenciled the tile hearth in my old home, so I decided to chance it here, too! 

I’m happy to report that the painted marble finish is beautiful and it’s holding up fantastically.  One caveat: we haven’t made a fire yet, so I can’t vouch for the durability of the finish with heat yet.  BUT . . . I am pretty sure it’s going to be OK because the hearth never got very hot anyway!  I will report back once we’ve had a fire and confirm or tell you not to do this if you want to have fires.

How to Paint a Marble Fireplace Hearth

It was so easy to paint my fireplace hearth, and it only took four steps.  You can do this project in a matter of hours!  The hardest part is waiting for the paint to dry!

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Supplies Needed to Paint a Marble Fireplace Hearth

These are the supplies I used to paint my fireplace hearth as shown in this post:

• Behr Multi-Surface Primer
• Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Natural Beige
• Small foam roller and tray
• 1.5″ paint brush
• TSP
• Sandpaper

Step One: Sand the Marble Hearth

As with all painting projects, the first step is preparation.  Preparation is so important for getting a quality finish!  I always want to get to the “pretty part,” but for a slick surface like marble, this step is not to be missed.  So, make sure to use a fine grain sandpaper and lightly rough up the marble hearth. 

Step Two: Clean the Hearth

Next, you need to clean the hearth.  Think about the gross stuff that accumulates on a hearth over time.  Dust, dirt, ash . . . the list goes on and on.  And, with the roughed up surface you’ve just created by sanding, you definitely don’t want to skip this step.

Mix up some TSP, which is a great cleaner to use before painting (it even says so on the box – ha!), and wash the entire hearth.  

Step Three: Prime the Marble Hearth

Next up comes priming!  Because marble is porous and slick at the same time, you MUST PRIME before painting!  I don’t care if you’re using paint that tells you don’t have to prime (like chalk paint), you absolutely must prime the hearth prior to painting it. 

For this project, I used Behr Multi-Surface Primer because it specifically says that it works on glossy surfaces.  I wanted to make sure that the primer and paint I used didn’t wipe right off, so I gave the product a try. 

First I applied a thin coat of primer with a brush along the rough edges of the hearth.

Then, I applied a thin coat on the top of the hearth with a tiny foam roller, and it worked wonderfully.

 

I let the primer dry for a few hours until I was sure it was ready for a topcoat.  The fireplace looked better with just primer on it. 

Step Four: Paint the Marble Hearth

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for!  The actual paint gets to be applied!

For my marble fireplace hearth, I chose to use Americana Decor Satin Enamels Paint in Neutral Beige.  I used this paint because it’s a multi-surface paint that self-seals – meaning it doesn’t need a topcoat!  I previously used this paint on my blue painted bathroom vanity makeover and in my mom’s bold powder room green vanity makeover, so I knew it has a durable finish with a sheen that I like. 

I used the same process of painting the edge of the hearth with a brush and rolling the paint on the top of the hearth with a foam roller. 

After two coats of paint the marble was flawless and looked amazing with the newly limewashed fireplace stone.  Thank goodness the orange marble was gone! 

I know marble is not typically a surface that gets painted, but in this case, I just had to update it.

I have a feeling there are others out there living with dated marble fireplace hearths or ugly marble fireplace surrounds, too, who are hesitant to paint their marble.  I say just jump in and do it!  This is an easy project with a huge return. 

Next up, I will be showing you the makeover I’m giving the built-ins that flank this fireplace! They’re looking beautiful so far!

-Bre

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Last September I announced that we were moving from our beloved home outside of Chicago to the Milwaukee suburbs.  On December 21 we moved in to our new home, and since then, I have been busy unpacking and trying to make this house feel like our home!  I tackled my first big project, which was a makeover of our massive 1970s fireplace, and I am thrilled to share my limewash stone fireplace makeover with you now!  (Update: I subsequently finished my limewash stone exterior makeover, too!  Be sure to check it out!)

Before I show you all the pretty “after” makeover fireplace photos, I have to show you the beast I was working with!  Complete with a wide variety of orange rocks, this extra large fireplace really clashed with my living room decor. 

As much as I can, I like to work with what I’ve got, though, and I did not want to tear down this fireplace (can you imagine the dust and mess?!?), concrete over the rocks, or frame it out with wood and ruin the 70s vibe we’ve got going on here.  So, I did some research and decided to do a DIY stone fireplace makeover with Romabio brand limewash.

What is Limewash?

Sorry if you already know this, but I thought that some of you might be unfamiliar with limewash, so let me fill you in!  Basically, limewash is a heavily mineral-based paint that produces a very chalky and matte finish.  The minerals seep into the porous surface to which the limewash is applied and give a really authentic and aged look.  It is VERY popular for painting bricks and other masonry, like stone!

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

There are several brands of limewash on the market, and apparently you can even make your own!  I chose to use Romabio brand limewash because I follow the company on Instagram and love every makeover I see with their products, and because their limewash is affordably priced and comes in many colors.  I used the Riposo Beige shade for my limewash fireplace makeover.

Why Use Limewash on Stone and Brick Instead of Paint?

You might be wondering why I chose to limewash my stone fireplace instead of painting it . . . 

Well, there are several reasons!

First, I like that limewash is removable within the first five days of application.  This made the project seem less risky to me.  Although it probably would have been messy and tedious to remove the finish if I didn’t like it, I felt good knowing that it wasn’t permanent if I hated it.

Next, I like that limewash has little to no odor, unlike many types of paint!  I did this project in January with no windows open, and there were no stinky fumes invading my house.

Third, I liked that the finished look was completely up to me in terms of how much of the original stone color I wanted to show through.  Simply by thinning the limewash with water, I would have been able to get a more translucent effect and would have allowed more of the natural stone color to show through.  This is perfectly fine with limewash and does not affect the durability of the product!  In my case, I was trying to mask the orange tones, so I applied the limewash in a more opaque finish.  But had I wanted to, I could have allowed more of the stone color to show through.

What Supplies Do You Need for a Limewash Stone Fireplace Makeover?

Now that you have a little more background on limewash, let me fill you in on the supplies you need to limewash a stone fireplace.  Surprisingly, it isn’t that much!

• Masonry brush
• Protective tarp
• Cleaning rags/towels
• Spray bottle with water
• Mixing bucket
• Stir stick
• Limewash (I used one quart of Riposo Beige for my fireplace)
• Painters tape
• Optional: smaller paintbrush to get in crevices and hard to reach areas

All in, this project cost me just under $70, and that is because I had to buy things like painters tape, rags, and a protective tarp (since the ones I already had are still packed away from the move).  If you already have these items, your project cost will be less.

How to Limewash a Stone Fireplace

I think you won’t believe how easy it is to limewash a stone fireplace!

First, make sure to protect surrounding surfaces with a tarp and painters tape. 

Next, clean the stone with a wet rag.  Make sure to get rid of any cobwebs hiding in between the rocks, and get the rocks wet (but not dripping wet). 

After the stone fireplace surround is clean, get out your water bottle and spray the rocks.  You want the rocks to definitely be wet, but you don’t want water running down the rocks.

Now it’s time to mix up the limewash!  For this step, make sure to read the product instructions that come with the limewash you have purchased. 

I chose to mix my quart of limewash with half the amount of water (so, 16 ounces in this case), and this resulted in a thicker cover of limewash.  Remember to mix, mix, mix the product so that there is no extra water left at the top of the bucket, and so that everything is all mixed together.  This could take up to ten minutes because limewash is very thick to begin with! 

Once the product is fully mixed, it’s time to apply the limewash to the fireplace.  I started on the top side and worked my way down.  I watched carefully to see when the limewash was almost dry (but not totally dry), and then began to wipe it off very lightly. 

Doing this let some of the rock tones show through – but not too much!

I repeated this application / drying / wiping process across the front and couldn’t believe the immediate difference the limewash made!  I won’t lie – I did have a minor time of doubt as it was such a drastic difference, but I know that I always do that with any project, so I calmed down and kept working. 

Once I finished the entire fireplace, I went back in to the nooks and crannies I missed with the bulky masonry brush, and touched up those spots with a small paintbrush.  (If you’re working with a limewash solution that is more diluted than my mixture, this may not be an issue for you!) 

I stood back and admired the look of my limewashed rock fireplace, and then noticed how awful the orange hearth looked against it.  I felt a pit in my stomach because I couldn’t let this orange hearth ruin this makeover!  The limewash did not work on the marble hearth (I accidentally got some on the hearth and it wiped right off even though it had dried), so I had to think of a different solution. 

The good news is that I did come up with a way to paint my marble fireplace hearth, and the whole project came together gorgeously!  (Click that link if you want to learn how to paint a marble fireplace hearth, too!)

The Completed DIY Stone Fireplace Makeover

I know, I know – you want to see it!  Here is the completed fireplace makeover – it looks so different! 

I cannot believe what I accomplished for under $70! 

And in case you’re wondering why I didn’t paint the brass fireplace doors – it’s because I like them!  Brass is one of my favorite finishes.

Decor should be about what you like and not what others say you should do, so I am leaving them.  (For now, at least.  ;-)). 

Final Thoughts and the Nitty Gritty on a Limewash Fireplace Makeover

In total, I spent just about 4.5 hours on this DIY stone fireplace makeover – from cleaning, to wetting the stone, to mixing the limewash, and applying the limewash.  Note that if your limewash solution takes longer to get to the “wipe off” phase, your project time could be longer.

It was TOTALLY worth it.  My living room is so much brighter, and my fireplace looks so much better.  I didn’t have to spend a ton of money to make it look fresh, and I am so thankful to have found out about limewash! 

I used an entire quart of limewash in the Riposo Beige shade for this fireplace and I didn’t have any left over. If you use Romabio Classico Limewash, they have helpful tools on their website that will let you figure out how much product you need for your specific project.  They say that generally, a quart is enough for a fireplace makeover.

The next step in this living room overhaul is to paint the wall surrounding the fireplace (it’s currently a gray/purple color), and then paint the built-ins and get rid of the mirrored backs!  UPDATE: I finished the mirrored built-ins makeover, and we replaced the carpeting with luxury vinyl plank flooring (you can read my luxury vinyl plank review here!)  We would also like to have a mantel built for the fireplace, but it is surprisingly expensive (according to the one quote I’ve gotten), and my large round wood mirror gives the natural wood look we’re after – at least for now!  

So, what do you think?  Was this 1970s stone fireplace makeover a success?  Let me know in the comments and please share this post to Pinterest to help others learn how to limewash their fireplaces, too!  Us stone fireplace people need to stick together!  🙂 

-Bre

Like many bathrooms in old homes, our upstairs hall bathroom is small!  We just renovated it (check it out in this 1920’s bathroom renovation post), and knew we had to work in as much storage and countertop space as we could, while getting the period-correct look we wanted.  That’s where our IKEA bathroom vanity hack comes in!  We hacked the $89 IKEA Silveran sink cabinet and turned it into the perfect bathroom vanity and bathroom storage solution for a small bathroom! 

This IKEA bathroom storage hack might be perfect for your small bathroom, or it might inspire you to modify a different IKEA piece for your bathroom!  There are so many possibilities if you think creatively about how to use IKEA furniture in your space.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Before I show you what we did here, I want to thank Marti at Project Palermo (also a Chicago girl!), who previously posted an IKEA Silveran hack, and who gave me the inspiration to also hack this piece!  Although my hack is slightly different from hers, she definitely deserves credit for being the hacking pioneer!

OK, so anyway, I desperately needed a shallow depth vanity to fit this tight spot next to the console sink, and my Google searches revealed the Silveran.  At just 9 7/8″ deep, it was the perfect fit!  It comes just like this – white, and with no legs or countertop.  It’s super basic, and meant to work with legs and a sink you purchase separately from IKEA! 

When assembled, it doesn’t even have a back! 

We started by cutting a piece of plywood to fit the back and the bottom, and used my not-so-scary nail gun to secure both pieces into place.  TIP: Some of the nails went in crookedly and poked out in places we didn’t want.  No problem! We used a metal file to sand and smooth them, making them a non-issue.

We also secured the back part of the cabinet with the wall mounting hardware provided with the sink cabinet.

Once the back and bottom were mounted to the vanity, we attached these 6″ unfinished wood table legs using the corresponding furniture leg mounting plates.  We initially attached these 9″ legs, but they were too tall and made the vanity quite unsteady, so I went back and got 6″ legs instead.  Those worked much better! 

Next, we attached trim pieces along the bottom front and sides, where the plywood meets the Silveran cabinet.  We used wood glue only for this! 

Once that dried, we attached trim pieces at the joint of the back plywood and the cabinet, also in order to give a more finished appearance. 

While the glue on those trim pieces dried, I ran up to Sherwin-Williams and got my own custom IKEA white paint color made!  I brought one of the pre-finished doors with me and they color matched it.  Brilliant! 

I got to work priming and painting all of the newly-added unfinished wood pieces, and was so happy that the white was a super close match to the original finish of the Silveran cabinet.  Because of that, I left the original cabinet the color it came to me, and just painted the pieces we added.  Less work = happier me.

Although the Silveran came with an interior shelf, it was shallower depth than the cabinet, and not very functional.  Because of that, I cut pre-finished Home Depot shelving to size and used that instead.  

I added some cute blue and white ceramic knobs, and then the final step was getting a custom countertop made!

My contractor took the measurements to his “guy” and had a quartz scrap cut to size. He added it to the hacked Silveran vanity and got it into place in the bathroom.  It is perfect for this tight bathroom spot!  TIP:  Our contractor fastened the Silveran to the wall for maximum stability.  Because he had to drill through the wall tile, we saved extra wall tiles so that if we ever decide to remove our Silveran vanity, we can replace the wall tiles with perfectly-matched tile.

It gives us just what we need in here – a place to store necessary supplies and a spot to set things while primping and cleaning up.  🙂

The perfect small bathroom storage solution! 

Although this particular IKEA bathroom vanity hack might not be the perfect bathroom storage solution for your space, I hope it gives you some inspiration and ideas on how to modify IKEA furniture to fit your needs!  Don’t be scared – just get started and figure things out as you go along.  We made about four separate trips to Home Depot for this project because we modified our plan as we went along.  🙂

-Bre

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