DIY Electric Fireplace Makeover | Centsational Style

This venture began as an thought in my mind, how could I renovate the cost-free electric powered fireplace that came with the Florida property we acquired. You can see the first fireplace in people real estate listing shots from before this 12 months. All summer time prolonged I did not hassle with the strategy of a hearth in Florida with 90+ degree days. I experienced saved the electric fire in an additional home imagining I would promote it.

But when I returned in November it was chilly and I believed how great it would be to have a fire as a resource of heat. I adore a hearth as a focal issue in residing and family rooms, and I often experienced in the back again of my mind an concept to establish a floor to ceiling electric fire surround in the dwelling space in this dwelling. In its place I made a decision to rework the one I experienced on web page. Could it be performed? Could I give it a fresher look, a person that complemented the design and style of the house? What did I have to lose? I’m satisfied to report my experiment worked!

The fire seems wholly distinct than when I started off. It has a present day sleek textured end with cleaner lines that is painted the exact neutral white as the walls. I experienced to give it a total makeover which was no straightforward job!

The just one below is what I began with, you can see it’s one of those people basic items that can be purchased online, but regrettably the design and style didn’t match my coastal-satisfies-present day aesthetic. I didn’t like the traditional trim, the slender routed legs, or the glass and stone tile confront. I wished anything considerably far more straightforward, present day and contemporary, some thing that would recede into the history and glance like it belonged.

I do not have a miter noticed in Florida however. I only have 1 in California, so if I was likely to deal with this undertaking it had to be completed with essential tools, very simple supplies, and some help from the lumber chopping section at Lowe’s.

I began by deconstructing the fireplace and having it aside. I had to have an understanding of how it was set with each other if I was likely to clear away items and continue to have a functioning composition. It discovered it was a hollow MDF frame held with each other by pegs, screws, and cam bolts.

 

It was low-cost building but had just ample construction to get the job done with. I started taking away the attractive trim I did not want which experienced to be diligently done so I would not hurt the body I prepared to continue to keep.

 

 

 

Future I diligently removed the tile on the front designed of glass and stone. It was glued on quite well so I was fortunate I remembered to dress in goggles and gloves for the reason that shards ended up popping everywhere!

 

 

Now was the minute of truth, could I put it all back collectively so that it was structurally audio? Why sure, it was! Just in need to have of a absolutely unique end.

 

I understood I needed a wall texture end but wall texture does not adhere to painted MDF so I came up with a strategy to wrap it in skinny hardboard panels, the type you use for making board and batten wall solutions or lining the backs of bookcases. I made use of a person of these hardboard panels I identified at Residence Depot and trimmed it piece by piece with a blade to in shape the fire frame. I glued them on with Gorilla glue and secured them with pin nails.

I purposely attached them with the tough back facet struggling with out so that the joint compound I was scheduling to use would cling to the surface area.

This portion was time consuming due to the fact every piece experienced to be slash to precise dimensions and the hardboard panels are rough to slice with just a blade. With persistence I was able to do it and include all of the vertical sides of the structure.

 

Now it was time for the new mantel! I wanted a little something bigger with a thicker prime so I obtained a 16” piece of pine for the top rated and 1×3” strips for the sides and experienced them cut to the great measurements at Lowe’s in the lumber department. I screwed them all collectively and to the major of the structure by predrilling holes with drill bits and becoming a member of them together with wood screws.

 

Finally to hook up the hardboard panel parts and sleek the corners I applied joint tape secured with supplemental gorilla glue to assure it would stick.

 

This is the closing frame ahead of the software of the joint compound:

I was a minimal anxious at this stage since I could see the new shape but puzzled if the joint compound finish would perform. I utilized two coats of joint compound to the hearth encompass, letting them to dry for 24 hours concerning coats and sanding in concerning. When it was dry and sanded I primed the piece and then painted it the same color as the wall.

 

 

 

It all came alongside one another perfectly as I imagined and the entire venture only value me about $60. So pleased!

The aspect see of the starting off point….

And the after:

I continue to have to cover the fireplace wire, you can see it popping out on the aspect. I notched the fireplace’s side wall just more than enough to make it possible for the wire to healthy via and system to paint it the same shade as the wall so it blends in and use compact U shaped staples to keep it in position from the baseboard.

 

 

Over-all I’m extremely happy with the result! The proportions of the fire match the wall nicely with house for sconces and chairs. It’s evidence that with vision and a couple equipment and materials you can change pieces to healthy your design!

The electric fire insert is so great, it has various amounts of flame and temperature and a distant control that goes with it. The night time it was total it rained so I opened the door and listened to the rain even though I sat by the fire admiring my perform!

I’m sharing the full challenge in video clip on Instagram Reels and you can see how cozy it is at night in that video clip.

To the residing home place, I also added a round coffee desk to the area and my sofa will be delivered in January, then I’ll insert some pillows and the room will be complete!

 

 

 

There was a console I had sitting on the fireplace wall but I moved it to the opposite wall so it is upcoming to the entrance door, the perfect location to drop keys, mail, etcetera.

 

This property will be rented January by way of May possibly so I’m joyful with how significantly it’s occur considering that we purchased it in April. I’ll share other space improvements in this dwelling shortly. 🙂