Pt 3: Fireplace Makeover Before & After

The fireplace makeover is complete and we did it all within our tight deadline (less than one week to be exact!). With time ticking and multiple projects on the go, we are happy to move forward with the rest of our family room design.

This before and after transformation is huge and personally I don’t think these pictures do it justice.  From the glistening marble tile to the sparkling glass pieces in the fireplace, to the pillars on the mantel—the end result just feels so luxe.

Coming up with a plan to update this corner fireplace was quite the challenge. There were two things we had to consider and work into the design, 1) the giant mirror; and 2) the crown molding already installed on the ceiling.

Here’s what we did.

To fix the crown molding situation, we created a mini soffit. It hides the electrical wires from our pot lights and also creates a nice transition from the crown molding to the soffit.

In order to secure this MDF box to the ceiling, Mike and Big Joe used brackets, which they hid from the inside.  Another piece of MDF was nailed to the bottom to complete the look.

Since our new Napoleon Ascent 36 fireplace is installed and working properly, we could patch up the surround.  It’s always important to refer to your fireplace’s manual to make sure you’re meeting the minimum clearance for combustible and non-combustible materials.

Before the mantel can be put back in place, tile needs to be installed. I picked out a classic marble hex tile.

We made life easier by using pre-mixed adhesive and grout for this small job.

Once everything dried, the mantel was nailed back up and we began working on the mirror.

Using the same MDF, we had panels cut-to-size that we used to create the frame. The two side panels are 8″ wide while the top and bottom panels are smaller at 3″ wide.

To glue the panels, we used PL Premium. If you haven’t figured out by now, this is our go-to adhesive for pretty much every project we do.  It’s so versatile and works well on a mirrored surface. Use painters tape to keep in place so it won’t shift while drying.

To add some visual interest, we decided to try something a little different. We added pillars on either side of the mirror using 3″ plastic pipe.

Mike and Big Joe came up with these very clever decorative bases so that we can easily secure the pipe to the mantel using glue and nails.

For a sleek and more contemporary look, I patched up the existing grooves on the legs of the mantel.  I also made sure all seams and nail marks were filled with putty before we began painting.

To give the mirror a finished look, we also added cove molding around the perimeter of the mirror. For extra detail, we glued a small decorative trim over the seam where the cove molding meets the MDF. As I constantly remind my husband, it’s the little details that make all the difference!

Once the final coat of paint was complete, we attached our homemade pillars using glue and a few nails.

We couldn’t be more pleased with the finished product!

Big thank you to Napoleon Fireplaces for partnering up with us and Big Joe for the extra set of hands 🙂

To follow the fireplace adventure from the beginning, check out:
Part 1: The Death Trap
Part 2: We’ve got a New Fireplace! Napoleon Ascent 36
Before & After: Family Room Reveal

Be sure to watch our video showcasing the transformation from start to finish!