Quick, Inexpensive and Easy Fireplace Update

When we were house shopping 5 years ago we didn't have too many crazy requests, I didn't feel. Especially if you watch a few episodes of House Hunters. Some of those people are a little wound up in my opinion! One thing we were hoping for (though at one point I was starting to loose hope) was a wood burning fireplace. For us, there's nothing like the glow of a crackling fire on a dark cold day.

Ever since we bought the house, I've never been real in love with how dark that wall was. Dark mantle, dark brick and brass.

 

A while back, we removed the screen/doors and spray painted the brass a flat black with a high heat spray paint. A few screws are all that hold it in. We just taped off the glass part and viola:

It was an improvement getting rid of the brass. But, the wall was still so dark. This photo doesn't really do it justice because I've got the spot lights on and my camera flash. We both agree that one day, we want to do rock and a new mantel, but in the mean time I had come across this post of a low cost way to drastically change the look of the fireplace. I must say I LOVE IT.

Such a HUGE difference and it took me 1 hour by myself and $25 to complete! I just can't stop glancing at it. I wish I had done this DIY YEARS ago.

All you need is:

1.  A cheap or old paint brush
2.  A container to mix paint/water in
3.  Some white latex paint (I bought a new small can of the cheapest at Home Depot)
4.  Rag or old t-shirt to keep drips at bay.

I mixed equal parts water and paint in a small bucket. To get the look that I did, I pretty much just painted in the grout lines and smudged it around with the rag. I did some light brushing over the main part of the brick to lighten it a little. It gave it an old aged look that I was very pleased with! It has drastically lightened that end of the living room!