Turn up the heat with this fantastic fireplace makeover and create a space so cosy you won’t want to leave!
Revitalise a dated fireplace surround with a splash of paint in an on-trend hue. This is an ideal winter weekend project – it’s a quick and cost-effective transformation that instantly updates and brightens your home.
Your Resene ColorShop team can help you with the right prep for yours. If your fireplace surround is too hot to touch when the fire is lit, it’s best to leave it unpainted – you could focus on creating a feature wall behind it instead.
Top tip: Resene Sandtex can be tinted to a wide range of Resene colours meaning you can skip the need to apply coloured topcoats. Or you can apply your chosen colour over the top for a different colour effect.
How to transform your fireplace
You will need:
- Resene drop cloth
- Painter’s tape
- Plastic masking film
- Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner
- Microfibre cloth
- 180 grit sandpaper
- Safety gear
- Dusting brush
- Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer
- Resene paint pots
- Assorted paintbrushes
- Resene #1 Easy Reach roller kit
- Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect
- Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel (we used Resene Cabbage Pont)
1. Protect: Place your Resene drop cloth down and secure with painter’s tape. To protect the fireplace from any sanding debris and paint, cover it with plastic masking film secured with painter’s tape.
2. Clean and sand: Spray the tiles and hearth with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner and wipe down with a microfibre cloth. Lightly sand the surfaces with 180 grit sandpaper – don’t forget your safety gear! Brush away all sanding dust.
3. Seal: Apply one coat of Resene Waterborne Sureseal pigmented sealer to the tiles on the surround and hearth. Cut in with a brush first, then use a brush or roller to cover the rest of the surface. Allow to dry.
4. Add texture: Apply a coat of Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect – we only applied it to the vertical tiles, not on the hearth – and allow it to dry before applying a second coat. Bring out the texture by using a brush and applying it in a criss-cross motion or stipple. This process can be repeated multiple times to achieve your desired texture result – the more coats you apply, the more rustic and textured the finish will be.
5. Colour the texture: Once you’re happy with the texture and the Resene Sandtex has fully dried, it’s time to add some colour. Apply two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen using a brush, allowing dry time between coats. We used the gorgeous green colour Resene Cabbage Pont. To create a limewash effect, use Resene FX Paint Effects Medium.
6. Paint the hearth: Apply a coat of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen to the hearth area. Allow the first coat to fully dry before applying the second coat.
7. Finishing touches: When all the paint is dry, remove the masking film from around the fireplace and you’re done!
Make a custom timber mantelpiece
Take your fireplace setup to another level by creating a custom mantelpiece from reclaimed timber. Coat it with Resene Colorwood Whitewash and Resene Aquaclear to allow the natural beauty of the timber to shine through, resulting in a polished, professional looking finish. It can be attached to the wall easily with strong construction adhesive.
Turn a vintage ladder into a plant stand
A touch of Resene paint and stain can transform an old timber painter’s ladder into the perfect plant stand.
A combination of paint and stain means you can use stylish colours while also allowing the natural beauty of the timber to shine through.
We’ve used Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream for the main frame and Resene Frontier for a subtle pop of colour, with Resene Colorwood natural wood stain in Resene Bark for the steps. The steps were then finished with two coats Resene Aquaclear semi-gloss. This is a relatively straightforward DIY project that you can complete over a weekend.
Watch the step-by-step, visit www.masterstrokebyresene.com/ladder-plant-stand.
