From Dark and Dreary, to Fresh and Modern

The fireplace is the living room was dark.  Dark oak, dark reddish brown brick, dark, dark, dark.  YUCK! I knew immediately that I was going to paint the fireplace a much lighter color to freshen things up.

LIVING ROOM AND FIREPLACE BEFORE WE MOVED IN

DARK AND DREARY FIREPLACE

The living room was painted yellow (the same color every other room in the house was painted).  I knew that I really wanted a gray and yellow room but it was definitely NOT the walls that I wanted to be yellow.  The walls got painted a soft gray (the same color in the kitchen and hallways), the old base moulding was taken out and a new 5" moulding was added and painted Benjamin Moore Cloud White, of course the floors were done, and some yellow accents were added.  BUT the biggest difference in this room was the painting of the fireplace.
I had mentioned to several people (Nate, and his family specifically) my intentions with the fireplace and got an overwhelming response,  "Don't do it!"  No chance, my mind was made up and the fireplace was going to be painted.  So, I broke out the can of Benjamin Moore Cloud White and went at it!  Actually, I had to put two coats of primer on the fireplace first, and then the three coats of Cloud White.  Covering the dark wood was hard work for such a light color!
Take a look at the difference!  Fresh and Modern don't you think?

PAINTED FIREPLACE

We added a yellow Pottery Barn Moorish rug (great Craigslist find), dupioni silk drapes in a color just slightly darker than the walls (found at Tuesday Morning), and some pillows that my mother made with fabric (Dahlia Dove) from Calico Corners.  We also took down the very dark mirror above the fireplace (photo above) and added a sunburst mirror.  We found the mirror at Burlington Coat Factory and loved it except for the fact that it was a hideous gold color.  We spray painted it with a mixture of pewter paint and satin nickel metallic paint to give it some depth.  It turned out very nicely, if I do say so myself.  With all of these elements and the freshly painted fireplace, I had a fresh and modern, gray and yellow living room.

FINISHED!

Oh, and see that large mirror in the corner?  Nate made that for me for my birthday in 2006.  Isn't he beyond talented?!

CHRISTMAS IN OUR NEW LIVING ROOM!