If you’ve followed along, you might have seen our bedroom fireplace in Instagram Stories as it got a few updates. Today I’ll share the full story of how our plans went off-course and how Plan B ended up being even better than we expected. When we last posted about the space on the blog, it looked like this:
We should rewind a bit. When we began Operation Revive The Fireplace it was pretty grim: dried glue and gunk from old tile, a rusty screen and general grime. Sherry, however, had that confident look that says “this will work,” and after 15 years of marriage I’ve learned not to argue with it.
Our goal was to install gas logs—like the set we used in our last living room—except this chimney isn’t properly vented, so we planned to use ventless logs. We scheduled the gas company to run a line, and while we waited Sherry used a straight razor to scrape off the old glue from the metal surround.
With the metal smoother—though still scratched—Sherry sprayed a coat of black high-heat paint to improve the appearance and make the surround heat-safe for gas logs.
We also planned to add trim and maybe a mantel later, but even before that the black paint and a little fern made a big difference.
You might wonder why we wanted a gas fireplace in Florida. Northern Florida still gets chilly winters—Google lists an average January low around 46°—and Sherry always appreciates an extra bit of warmth. The gas company could handle the whole job: quote the line, sell the logs and install them on the scheduled service date.
On install day a supervisor arrived and, about ten minutes into prep, said the logs were ventless and our local code does not allow ventless gas logs in bedrooms. That news hit hard. Sherry defended the work order, which noted the bedroom location and the instruction to order ventless logs, but it was an oversight the installer couldn’t ignore. For safety reasons the logs weren’t permitted and the gas company refunded what we’d paid.
Sherry handled it well and surprised me with the direction she chose next. Instead of trying to install a vent or venting out a wall—which would have required a big chimney through our upper deck or an unattractive exterior box—she pivoted to a decorative, non-gas solution: crystals and candles.
She started searching for fireplace candle ideas and came across photos of designer fireplaces with glass logs that looked like oversized crystals. That reminded her of selenite sticks she owns, and she decided the fireplace could become a stacked display of large crystal-like pieces with candles mixed in to provide flickering light.
We found large selenite crystal tealight holders on clearance that were roughly the size of fireplace logs. At first I was skeptical, but Sherry made a practical case: the sale price meant we could buy multiple pieces for less than half the cost of the gas logs we had returned—without installation fees or ongoing utility costs. They also offered a beachy, crystalline take on the familiar stacked birch-log look. And, of course, she loved that they were crystals.
The result is surprisingly charming. Flaming crystals stacked in a fireplace sounds odd, but when the tealights flicker among the translucent selenite it creates a warm, glowy ambiance. It’s not a direct substitute for a functioning gas fireplace, but it gives the cozy atmosphere we wanted without any of the code headaches.
We made a short video further down the post that captures the movement of the flames—something still photos can’t convey. The flicker is the mesmerizing part and shows the display at its best.
Before arranging the crystals, we prepped the firebox. Scrubbing revealed that the “bricks” were actually thin metal panels, so baking soda couldn’t remove all the soot. We decided a lighter background would make the crystals pop, and the faux-brick metal took paint really well. Two coats of Almondine by Sherwin-Williams in a satin finish brightened the space in about 30 minutes.
The light sand color ties into the tones of our floors and the artwork above the fireplace. It also makes the firebox feel less like a void when the candles are off. Once we add trim or a mantel, the whole vignette should feel finished.
We’re also planning built-in cabinets on either side of the fireplace under the windows—because that tiny white end table just won’t cut it. More on that once we finalize the plans.
More Crystals In Our Home
I’ve collected crystals for years and even recorded a podcast segment about them in 2018. That interest inspired a series of posts about some of my favorites, including Aura Quartz, Blue Calcite, Green Aventurine, Ocean Jasper and Rainbow Fluorite.
- Aura Quartz
- Blue Calcite
- Green Aventurine
- Ocean Jasper
- Rainbow Fluorite
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