“I live in my own little world. But its ok, they know me here.”
-Lauren Myracle
The brick is in…and boy I have got some questions for you!
I’m an Obsess-y Bessie about this stuff…but that’s okay ’cause you know me here, right? 😉
Okay. Here goes. (gulp)
The mortar wash dried heavier and lighter than I had expected, so I’m having a teeeeeeensy bit of washers remorse today.
I think.
Honestly, I’m not sure.
Sometimes I’ll look in there and think I love it! Then, I’ll think about my inspiration photo and I’m just not sure. What do you think? The mortar is still pretty powdery (apparently it takes 3 full days to completely harden), so there’s still time to knock some of it off with a stiff wire brush if we need to. I also noticed the mortar man did messier grout lines on the right than he did on the left, so that has me all Bessied-out, too. I’m drawn to the messier grout lines, so I guess I wish he had done them like that on the left. Maybe it’s not to late to add more mortar to that side? Gosh, that sounds a little freaky, doesn’t it? I don’t know about that.
Maybe I just need to live with it for a few days? Maybe I’ll like it more when the mantel is in place?
Hmmmmm. I think it’s the tone that’s got me the most fidgety. But maybe the color of the plywood next to it is throwing me off? I visualized something a little more tan, I guess.
Let’s do this. Let’s look at a mock-up of what it will *kind of* look like when we’re done adding the mantel:
Does that help?
Keep in mind, that’s not the actual mantel we’re using (it’s just one I found on Google images), but ours will be white and will have corbels, so you get the gist. Are we moving in the right direction? Do I need to wire brush something, paint something, or tile over something? Do I need to wait until the mantel is on to decide?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
XO,
*Update: Kevin’s on his way home from Lowes with a wire brush and he’s not afraid to use it.
*Edited to add: That’s not true. He’s totally afraid to use it. He likes the brick the way it is and wishes his wife wasn’t such an Obsess-y Bessie. 😉
I love it!!! Though if you notice the messier vs. less messy lines now you’ll notice then all the time, so maybe try fixing that part? I know for me once I notice something it seems to bug me forever. But I LOVE the look of the brick! Seems very cottage-y, relaxed, soft. Your previous homemade mantel was my inspiration for our own mantel, and now that we are building a new house your new fireplace is my new inspiration picture!
I think it looks great but I agree with Lisa. If your eyes are drawn to the parts you aren’t crazy about now you are going to constantly look there first. Maybe fix that part.
I think your fireplace looks GREAT already. I love the color combinationn but have you considered painting the unpainted part the same color blue as the rest of the fireplace? That way the white arches on top really pop with a contrasting color. I’m also drawn to the messier grout lines. It’s a break from the lines of the antique boards. As far as the bricks are concerned, I think I would brush a little of the wash off so that the color ties in both the brown mantel and white arches. I don’t know, what do you Think? Maybe you could do a mock up? Good luck!!! And thanks for Sharing!
I am inclined to lightly wire brush the brick. For me, too much of the brick is obscured, but by LIGHTLY wire brushing it, you will reveal a bit more texture and variations of colour. I’m sure what ever you decide it will turn out beautiful.
I am all for wire brushing it to get more of a contrast in the elements. Good thing is….you can add more wash later if you regret it
I agree with Lisa. I like the messier grout lines also. It definitely gives it an older, well used and loved, antiquey cottage look as if the brick had been there 100 years.
If it were my fireplace I would probably be tempted to knock a little of the white off the brick to give it a little more contrast, especially if it would be easier to do now before it completely dries, AND considering your wood surrounds are going to be whitewashed also. That brick is lovely and you want it to pop a little right?
Then paint your wood and live with it a few days. I’m guessing you could always go back and add more whitewash to the brick again if you decided you did want more subdued?
It’s looking great one way or the other. Any adoption paperwork update? I keep hoping and praying for you guys and your son.
Layla,
Love it! I would take a light-handed wire brush to it and maybe messy-up the less messy grout side. But remember, to everyone else it is gorgeous! We are always most critical of our own things.
Gorgeous!!!
Carol
I would lighten it, truthfully. I would think the mortar should be the brightest element, and the brick should be a more neutral compliment. You can always add more white onto the brick afterwards, so I’d remove some while you’re still able.
i would knock off just a little. I think you will be happier in the long run.
I’d on board with removing some of the white. It looks nice now, but if you aren’t sure you love the color, it makes sense to remove some now and add some back… if you don’t like the bricks with less whitewash.
i love it!! And I think it looks very much like your inspiration photo. Leave it be is my vote! ?
I think your instincts are good! Messy-up the left side grout & wire brush the mortar wash. I always enjoy your slow, deliberate decorating process. Good luck!
I think the color looks fine, however, if you are unsure, knock some off while you still can! You can always lighten it again if needed. As far as the mismatched, it is very noticeable, and if it were mine it would bug me until the end. of. time. Not sure whether I like it messier or neater, but either way you choose they need to be fixed so that they match. You will forever be annoyed by that!
Its lovely but too opaque.
I say knock some off, thats more in keeping
with your original look
Use that wire brush…NOW!! WHILE YOU CAN!! You can always add more white something-or-other later after all is in place, but I’m serious! Get it off now! You won’t regret it. Even if it’s to confirm that you liked it better before you touched it. Then you just add white. But taking it off will never be this easy again.
I agree with the other comments so far. Brush some of it down to get a bit more contrast as it looks a bit to pale on the mock up with the white mantel. If you don’t like it you can add more later. I too would paint the surround to give you an idea of what it will look like with the mantel in place.
I’m a bit OCD too and the neat and messy mortar would hunt me forever so I say fix it now before it sets.
Love the arch by the way. X
I agree with the rest…knock some off now while you can. It’s a little too thick. You can always add more.
I like things nice but, “perfect” is in Heaven! Relax.
I think that I would knock some off and add more mess to the left. It’s going to haunt you every time you look at it. However, it looks pretty great!!! Excited to see the finished product!!
I totally love the way it looks. And it’s always good to live with something for awhile.
I think we all get a little obsessy Bessy, I know I sure do! So you aren’t alone there! And for what it’s worth I love it just as it is!
Kim
take it off while you can and don’t live with regrets.
adding a little was later on with whatever tone you may want is always an option.
Bessie – you are just cute as a button!! So many of us seem to be just like you – we know immediately if something will bother us every time we look at it. It’s not about perfect, it’s about whether or not you smile every time you look at it. Fix it now – so you can keep smiling. Your sweet husband will help you – even if he is a little nervous about it. Praying for you two!
Until you get the mantel on I think it is hard to make a final call. You have unfinished elements and that plays into what you are seeing. As for the grout being messier on one side vs. the other I would fix that.
Yes, brush off some of the white now. It is too white. Not enough contrast. It will look lovely when it is all pulled together.
Honestly, I feel it is too light and that a lot more of the original, beautiful brick should show through. I would get after it with the wire brush. The mantel is very pretty!
I agree…..knock some off but keep the messier grout lines! It’s all a little too blended and obscures the texture. Absolutely beautiful though and I loved the blue so much I had some made up for me at HD!
I’d wire brush away some of the finish. But – if you really want the neutral finish on it, consider painting the firebox black (you need special paint). That might give you the contrast/cohesive look. I’ve both many times before for clients. Look at more pictures.
You can always dry brush gray or whatever colors to tone the wash also.
Think I am in the minority……..but………I would love to see that cute little Kevin, flexing his muscles!!!!! i think it is a bit whitey.
Layla, always trust your gut. You have a wonderful eye. if it bothers you — then you know it is a bit off. Let’s see that big Palmer smile when you two are finished.
Xoxoxo
Knock some of it off now! You’re on the right track but it’s too opaque at the moment. Love the way it’s going to end up!
I think it’s just the plywood. I love it with the white surround and with the lighter mantle it will be beautiful. Don’t fret. At least leave it till you get the rest finished. I think you’ll like it then!! Good luck!!
I agree with others who say that if it’s bothering you now it likely always will (if just a little). Maybe knock a little off while you can. And if you don’t like the tone of it, couldn’t you experiment on some extra mortar you mix up and kind of swirl or sponge on some very-watered-down stain? You could warm it up some way, surely, if it still bothers you later.
I think that I would definitely lightly brush off some off the right side to make it match the left side while you still can!
Have been wanting to do this or something like this to the exterior of our currently orangey peachy brick house. I think the fireplace looks great as is. Some imperfections are fine and make it look like it’s been there for 100 years. However, if your eye is drawn to that one area over and over again, fix it. While you can. Otherwise, your enjoyment of the finished project will be marred because your eyes will be drawn to it every time you walk into that room. Am sure what ever you choose will be beautiful.
I know it will be beautiful no matter what you decide. I’m just so happy to know there’s someone else out there as cray cray as I am about these things! Here’s to kindred spirits.
I think your fireplace looks great! My personal opinion is to lightly wire brush some of the bricks so that you have a slightly darker color popping through. This will help tie in the dark wood of the mantle. Right now the dark mantle is where the eye is drawn and that’s fine, if that’s the look you want. You and your husband are seriously talented!
I love it the way it is, however, to satisfy your inner Bessie, I would touch it a little with the brush. Even if it’s a settle difference at least you touched it. It’s easier to live with than regret.
I would use the wire brush to knock down the whit on the brick more. I think letting more of the brick show through will give it more texture and contrast to the white you plan to paint on the fireplace surround. As it is now the brick blends in to much with the surround. Let the brick have more of the focus. The contrast will allow the surround and corbels to pop more. As it is now the brick and surround with the corbels read as one unit.
All I know is: get it just exactly how you’re the happiest with it. We did our fireplace 35 years ago and I decided to just live with it when it didn’t turn out like I wanted. Wrong decision. Every time I look at it I think, “sure wish I would’ve fixed that thing!”
I’d prefer seeing more brick.
I think I am with the “lightly wire brush to remove some of the wash, and make all the grout lines messy” camp. If you see it as an eyesore now, you always will. It’s like the oops in a paint or wallpapering job that you are the only one who knows about it, but you see it every time you walk into the room until you fix it.
Agree with wire brushing to remove some of the white. Also, with Adrianne about mixing up a little mortar and sponging/brushing on a little more to “messy up” the left side. Rather than watered down stain (should you decide you ever want a teensy more color or texture/non-evenness (is that a word? :-)), use a very watered down craft paint. Start with less, let dry and then add more if needed. I took a red brick (ugly!) floor-to-ceiling fireplace and using about 4 different shades of beige, grays, white, etc. and transformed it beautifully! Plus, it looks like the brick came that way. I’m very OC – I want what I want what I want and will work on something until it turns out just the way I envisioned. Go girl! You won’t regret the extra effort. I love what UR doing!
I think you should just go with your gut instinct. If you feel the need to fix it, do it now! I want to tell you that you have such a beautiful style. I have been inspired more than a few times seeing your changes in your home!
I’m praying for your sweet family to come together very soon. XO, Kim
Just to add: I think what strikes me is that when I view your pic, the whitewash looks too “pat” (even, new) when you see the beautiful weathered blue boards above the mantel. Rather, too much whitewash seems to conflict with that and draw the eye away from the whole cohesiveness that you had in mind.
Dear Bessie – you should brush some off while you can and then live with it a few more days and if needed add some more wash.
I love the corbels!!
I absolutely love this look, but I think I would give it a light brush too – knock just a bit of that white down. Trust your gut, Layla – you know what you’re doing! 🙂
I think it looks wonderful, but to get a better contrast, I would take a little of the white off. I love a worn brick look.
I would take that wire brush to it. Just a little more off. It’s too chalky for me. Of course, I have a huge brick fireplace and my husband threatens me every time I talk about doing something to it. Thankfully it is beautiful brick!!!
It’s really looking great but I would brush a little too! I’m working on adding an antique mantle to my brick fireplace this week. A fire place is such a focal point, trust your instinct!!
For me (a former and still sometimes crazy), I have started putting decorating/project concerns into 2 categories: 1) Knee jerk, that is not right, there’s something really WRONG and 2) That is not what I had in mind, but I know there are several ways to get the look I want so I know I need to live with it for a while then decide. I have saved myself a lot of work by just figuring out if something is a 1 or a 2. Regarding your brick, I think the unfinished portion throws things off a bit. It was much easier to see when you added the mock up of a finished mantel around it. If time is of the essence, and you just don’t like anything about it, some elbow grease and a wire brush might be the fix. I like texture and the contrast between colors, so I would probably do a light brushing over it all to see if that got it moving in the right direction. I think the imperfect grout just adds character and a sense of age to it. Perhaps if you got the color the way you want it, the grout would not be such an issue. If, after doing all of that, you kinda sorta wish it were lighter again, I would finish the mantel completely to get a good sense of how it looks at this point before adding back the white. Just my thoughts. Looking forward to how it turns out.
Yes, definitely brush it. It needs more contrast, and as others have said, you could always add more white wash later, if needed. You know your style very well, and those alarm bells inside are telling you something important. I’d listen to them. Looking great so far, though!
I’m loving it the way it is…. but, “happy wife, happy life” right? Kevin will have to try the wire brush. 🙂