Kitchen Fireplace Makeover: Planning a Marble Subway Tile Herringbone Surround
Fresh paint in the kitchen has given us a new perspective on the room and inspired plans to upgrade the fireplace. We’ve already made progress—removing the old stove and repainting the fireplace—but now that other areas of the kitchen feel more finished (there’s shiny penny tile running to the ceiling on the opposite wall), it’s time to make this side of the room match that elevated look.
Since moving in we’ve slowly improved the hearth: the old stove was taken out and the brick received a fresh coat of paint. Those changes helped, but with the rest of the kitchen feeling more intentional, we wanted the fireplace to read as a deliberate, architectural element rather than an afterthought. The goal is to build out a more substantial mantel and frame the firebox with tidy columns and a tiled surround for a refined, cohesive finish.
We’ve been saving inspiration for years from several favorite makeover projects, along with a number of magazine tear-outs that feature tiled fireplace surrounds and built-up mantels. Those examples suggested a refacing approach—building an architectural frame over the existing fireplace, adding a more substantial mantel shelf, and framing the sides with simple column-like trim for balance and visual weight.
We also liked several magazine layouts that combine wood trim and tile, which led us to consider bringing tile into the design to better tie the two sides of the kitchen together. Since the other side already features a lot of tile, this seemed like a natural way to balance the room and create a cohesive aesthetic.
To refine the concept we measured carefully and sketched a to-scale plan on graph paper. The preliminary drawing shows mostly wood construction for the mantel and surround, with an inner frame around the firebox designated for tile. That tile will act as a clean, durable focal point. As we build and tile, we’ll share progress photos so the process becomes clearer.
We considered multiple tile options—more penny tile to match the opposite wall, a luminescent sea-glass mosaic for texture, and other small formats. In the end, we chose an affordable marble subway tile that offers a timeless look and pairs nicely with the gray penny tile on the other side without matching it exactly. Classic marble in a neutral tone reduces the risk of looking dated and will maintain resale-friendly appeal.
Rather than install the subway tile in a standard running bond, we decided to set it in a herringbone pattern for added visual interest. The herringbone layout gives the surround a bit of elegance and elevates a simple material into something more design-forward—without veering into trend-driven territory.
Thanks to a few gift cards, we were able to purchase the tile at an economical price. The affordable cost let us pick a high-quality-looking marble without overspending, and the small investment will have a large visual impact on the overall kitchen design.
The tile is only part of the plan. Most of the project involves building with wood and trim: a built-out base, a robust mantel shelf, decorative 1×2″ pine detailing, and trim profiles to frame the columns and mantel. We also purchased backer board and masonry screws to support the tile installation and ensure a durable finish.
We gathered everything before starting: the marble subway tile, boards for the build-out, smaller pine pieces for detail work, trim, backer board, and the fasteners needed for masonry attachment. We’re also reusing leftover tiling tools and supplies from previous projects, so there’s no need to repurchase trowels, grout sponges, or other basics.
The existing hearth has a textured, discontinued tiled-mosaic look that we painted over earlier, but that layer will be covered soon. Our plan will fully refinish the hearth and surround so the painted brick and leftover texture disappear under a carefully built mantel and a fresh tile installation.
If everything goes according to plan, we’ll have a finished tiled surround and built-out mantel to show in a few days. We’re already working on the project and will document each step—from framing and trim work to backer board installation and laying the herringbone marble—so the transformation is clear and repeatable for others tackling a similar fireplace refacing or mantel upgrade.
What are you planning or sketching this weekend? Any tile projects or small renovations finally getting started—perhaps thanks to a holiday gift card? We’d love to hear how others are updating small but impactful features like a fireplace surround.
Note: We also enjoyed a little school celebration with our daughter Clara recently—so there’s a personal moment in the mix as the project moves forward.