We can officially call this project finished — the fireplace makeover is complete. Sherry even placed an oversized faux clam shell on the mantel, which seemed like the perfect finishing touch. Below are the final details and photos from the completed transformation.
To recap briefly: we planned the refacing, installed marble subway tile in a herringbone pattern, and built a tailored frame and mantel around the tiled area. Reminder: fireplace regulations differ by location and by whether the fireplace is wood-burning or has a gas insert, so check local code before starting a makeover.
Our fireplace is currently non-working; we may add a gas insert or double-side it in the future, but for this phase the final steps were primer and paint. We kept the finish consistent with nearby cabinetry, using Benjamin Moore’s Cloud Cover for the surround and touching up the firebox with its original color, Benjamin Moore’s Temptation. Note: if you have a working fireplace, use fireplace-approved high-heat paint.
We primed with supplies we already had on hand and then applied the finish coat. After allowing a couple of days for the paint to cure, we returned the hearth to its place and stepped back to admire the final result.
Update: Several readers asked if we considered widening the tiled hearth to match the framed sides of the fireplace. We did, but the difference is only a strip of shoe molding (which runs around our cabinets as well), so it didn’t justify removing cork flooring. If it starts to bother us later we may paint the floor trim white to create the illusion of a wider hearth.
Here’s a simple before-and-after to show the change:
And here’s what the fireplace looked like when we first bought the house in 2010 — a good reminder of how much difference the update made:
Because we used some supplies we already owned for the painting step, the added expense for this finishing phase was minimal. The total project cost combines the tiling and the build-out budgets. Earlier posts detailed those costs — tiling was $99 and the build-out was $98.75 — but here’s the full breakdown for transparency:
- Cement board (2 sheets): $16
- Masonry screws: already owned
- Liquid Nails Heavy Duty: $2
- Subway tile: $5.50/sq ft, totaling $70
- Thinset: already owned
- Tiling tools (saw, trowel, float, etc.): already owned
- Grout: $11
- Tile sealer: already owned
- MDF frame: $35
- Mantel top: $17
- Crown, baseboard, & decorative trim: $22.75
- 1 x 2″ boxes: $24
- TOTAL: $197.75 (with family gift cards we only spent $147.75; without gift cards or already-owned supplies this could be closer to $250)
We love the way the herringbone marble tile and the built-out surround elevate the room. The finished fireplace feels more substantial and becomes a true focal point. Photos of pale finishes don’t always capture the subtle texture and depth you can see in person, but the overall impact is noticeable.
Several readers asked how we hid the exposed cement board edge around the firebox. We used a slightly rounded scrap of trim from our pile, glued it in place before grouting to create a neat edge, and then painted it to match the surround. For a working wood-burning fireplace you’d want to use a non-combustible tile edge piece instead; if we ever convert this fireplace to wood-burning we would remove the wood trim and install appropriate tile edging.
One comparison shot shows how the original fireplace looked thin and a little top-heavy. The new, chunkier framed surround adds presence and depth, making the fireplace read as a stronger focal point in the room.
Best of all, the herringbone marble fireplace now competes nicely with our nearby penny-tile wall, so the kitchen has two equally interesting elements rather than one standout and one supporting wall. Sherry jokingly calls it a “swank-off” between the two features — both look great and bring character to the space.
That’s the wrap on our fireplace update. We’re glad it’s done and are already planning porch and carport projects for the warmer months. What are you working on? Any tiling, mantel building, priming, or painting in your house? Or maybe you’re placing giant clam shells around the room — that’s Sherry’s specialty.
P.S. If you want to follow the project from the start, see our planning process, the tiling post, and the build-out post for full step-by-step details.