We can officially call this finished. Sherry ceremonially stuck an oversized faux clam shell in place, and with that the fireplace makeover is complete.
To recap briefly: we planned the refacing, added marble subway tile, and then built out a frame around the tiled area. A quick reminder—fireplace codes and clearances vary by location and depending on whether a fireplace is wood-burning or gas, so always check local requirements before starting a project like this.
Our fireplace is currently non-working; we may add a gas insert or double-side it in the future, but for this phase all that remained was priming and painting.
We primed first using supplies we already had, then painted the entire surround with Benjamin Moore’s Cloud Cover to match nearby cabinets and because we had leftover paint. We touched up the firebox itself with its original color, Benjamin Moore’s Temptation. Note: if your fireplace is operational, use fireplace-rated, high-heat paint for the firebox.
After allowing the paint to cure for a couple of days, we put everything back and called the project done. The new look feels polished and intentional, and honestly I kind of want to curl up next to it (yes, Sherry pets it).
Update: Some readers asked if we considered widening the tiled hearth to match the width of the framed sides. We did consider it, but the visible edge is just a strip of shoe molding that runs around other cabinetry, too, so it didn’t feel worth ripping up flooring to change. If it bugs us later we might paint the brown floor trim white to visually widen the hearth.
Here’s an obligatory before-and-after progression. I also like seeing how the fireplace looked when we bought the house back in 2010—progress is always satisfying to see.
Because we used existing paint and most of our tools from previous projects, the only new costs are the tile and framing materials from the two earlier phases. Tiling cost $99 and the build-out materials added $98.75, and here’s the full breakdown:
- 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
- Mantle top: $17
- Crown, baseboard, & decorative trim: $22.75
- 1 x 2″ boxes: $24
- TOTAL: $197.75 (with holiday gift cards we only spent $147.75; without already owned supplies this could be closer to $250)
It’s not our cheapest upgrade, but the result looks more expensive than it was. The herringbone marble tile and the tailored framed surround give the fireplace a rich, finished look. We’ve never had a tiled fireplace before, so suddenly the room feels a bit more sophisticated.
Some readers asked how we hid the exposed edge of the cement board near the firebox. We used a scrap piece of trim from our pile (a slightly rounded profile on both sides). Before grouting we glued it in place to create a clean edge to grout against, and after painting it blends in with the surround. For a working wood-burning fireplace you’d want to use a fire-rated edge trim instead; if we ever converted this to a wood-burning fireplace we’d remove the wood trim and install appropriate tile edge pieces.
We took a bunch of after photos because we love the way the fireplace reads in person. Photos of a white surround and white-ish tile don’t always show all the texture and dimension, but the new chunkier, framed-out version reads as a stronger focal point in the room compared to the thinner original surround.
One of the nicest outcomes is how the new herringbone fireplace balances the other “fancy” element in the kitchen: our penny-tile wall. Before, that wall was the main showpiece; now the fireplace holds its own, creating a friendly design rivalry in the room. Sherry jokes there’s a “swank-off” between the two, and she admits she still pets the penny-tile wall a bit more, but the competition is close.
That wraps up this fireplace update. We’re glad to have it finished and are looking forward to tackling porch and carport projects once the weather cooperates. What projects are you working on—tiling, mantels, painting, or other updates? Any giant clam shell placement going on in your house?
P.S. If you want to revisit the earlier phases of this makeover, you can review the planning, the tiling, and the build-out steps from our previous posts.