Interior Painting · Jun 2020
Brick fireplace with two niches painted white
Brick fireplace with two niches painted white. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Jun 2020. This interior painting project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Dark Brick Fireplace with Two Niches Painted a Soft Washed White
This tall brick fireplace runs floor to ceiling and has two square niches above the firebox, photographed in Jun 2020. Before the work, the brick was a dark mix of brown, black and tan that made the wall feel heavy in a room with light gray walls. The before photo shows our prep in place: green masking paper and blue tape running up both sides of the chimney, paper covering the firebox opening, the three hearth vents taped over, and drop cloths on the floor. Two small brick corbels stick out below the niches. In the after photo, the brick is a soft white with light gray showing in the mortar and on some brick faces, so the texture still reads. The niche interiors stayed dark, which makes them look like deep shadow boxes. A black decorative fireplace screen and black vent covers in the hearth stand out against the white brick, above warm wood-look floors.
How We Painted This Brick Fireplace, Step by Step
- We covered the floor and nearby furniture, then masked the walls on both sides of the chimney, the oak window trim and the ceiling line with paper and tape.
- The firebox opening was papered over and each hearth vent was taped off, so no paint would land inside the fireplace or on the vent openings.
- The brick was brushed and cleaned to remove dust and soot, because paint will not grip well on a dirty or sooty masonry surface.
- A masonry primer went on first. It soaks into the rough brick and mortar and helps block the dark color from showing through the white.
- We brushed and rolled the white color into every joint and brick face, working around the niches and corbels carefully by hand.
- After the final coat dried, we pulled the paper and tape, cleaned the hearth area and checked the edges along the walls and ceiling.
Paint Colors Similar to This White Fireplace and Gray Walls
These are similar colors to consider for a painted brick fireplace like this one, not the exact paint used on this brick or the walls.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
A clean, bright white close to the painted brick. It keeps the fireplace light while the gray mortar adds texture.
Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray SW 7015
A light gray similar to the walls around this fireplace. It frames the white brick without competing with it.
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron 2124-10
A soft black that matches the screen and hearth vent covers, a good choice for a firebox surround or mantel accent.
Questions About Painting a Brick Fireplace
Is it safe to paint a brick fireplace?
Painting the outside face of the brick is common and generally safe when the right masonry products are used. The inside of the firebox is different, because it gets very hot and usually needs a heat-rated coating or is left unpainted. Keep paint away from the firebox opening and follow the product label.
Do you need to clean the brick before painting?
Yes. Brick collects dust, soot and smoke film, especially near the top of the firebox. Paint can peel or stain if it goes over that residue. Painters brush the brick, clean stubborn soot and let it dry fully. Then a masonry primer goes on to seal the surface.
Can the niches in a fireplace be painted a different color?
They can. Leaving niche interiors dark, as in this home, makes them look deeper and shows off decor placed inside. Painting them white makes them blend into the brick for a cleaner look. Some homeowners pick an accent color inside niches to tie in with the room.
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