I Proved My Husband Wrong In One Afternoon

My husband didn't trust this was going to look as good as it does. Proving him wrong and getting this masterpiece.  I love being right.  

I used this beautiful color themed paint kit a combination of taupe, tan, beige and cream. What do you think? Check out more here:

Fireplace Paint Color Kits

Chimneys, Inside and Out

Whether it is an extension of a fireplace or a furnace, you should have your chimney cleaned or "swept" at least once a year, for several reasons.

 First, creosote often adheres to the inside of the fireplace chimney. Because of its chemical nature, creosote can actually ignite, rapidly causing a chimney fire and potential damage to the rest of the home.

Burning wood at a relatively low temperature (your cooking stove flame is actually hotter than a fireplace) causes incomplete combustion of the oils found naturally in the wood. When the smoke from a fire rises into a chimney, the residual chemicals may stick to the inside of the chimney liner. This residue becomes creosote.

Second, soot and dust build-up can clog a chimney and diminish heat output. A furnace flue may accumulate a layer of sulfuric acid or chlorine, which can cause erosion and big problems down the road.

A good rule of thumb is to not ever assume your chimney is functioning properly, even if you rarely use it. Animals, leaves and moisture from a buildup of snow or rain need to be taken care of before safe use of your fireplace.

A thorough check for any shifting of the chimnye that may have occurred over the years is also recommended. Years ago, chimneys were built with a section near the top made of terracotta, over time, these sections sometime move, causing the potential for leaks of carbon monoxide through the seams and even a backdraft.

In addition to a good cleaning, chimney inspection includes checking for leaks in the flashing around the chimney, which can cause wood rot and condensation. This, in turn, can damage electrical wiring and present a fire hazard.

by  Joseph Coupal

Is Your Fireplace Ready for a Summer Makeover?

By Guest Writer, Pam (Home Décor Diva)

I recently had an embarrassing experience that almost forced me to toss the crown of Family Decorating Diva. But there’s still time to fix it and regain my title, especially now that summer’s here and the kids are off at day camp for a few blessed weeks. Let me tell you, in my household, these summer months are about the only time things slow down for even a minute. This makes it the perfect time for some serious deep-cleaning—and, on a more fun note, a great opportunity for those needed upgrades to our home’s décor. Call it Operation Summer Spruce-Up. I always look forward to breaking out the seasonal-themed dishes decorated with watermelons and investing in a new welcome mat to replace the ratty one that’s seen winter’s wear and tear—and this year? It’s time for a fresh coat of fireplace paint.

There’s a story behind this...

I don’t know about you, but in my house, the winter months mean one thing: a packed schedule of family get-togethers. Much as I enjoy these warm times together, enough is enough if you know what I mean. At our New Year’s Brunch, my mother-in-law walked through my living room and made this comment, “Pam? This room is sort of, well, blah, don’t you think?”

As much as I hate to admit it: Folks, she was right. (I’d never tell Her this, but thank goodness Someone isn’t internet-savvy!) I looked over at the fireplace. Without the holiday candles and trimmings that we’d just taken down, it looked bare and boring—and worse, the coarse brown brick just looked dated and flat-out crummy.

Never fear! The summer months are the perfect time to fix that. With no mothers-in-law looking, it’s the ideal time to refurbish the old fireplace with a fresh coat of paint and some unique decorative touches. I’m thinking a raffia swag of seashells over the mantel, accented with some beachy accessories and photos from our Florida trip a few years back. (Wishful thinking!)

As for that awful brick, sure, I could go crazy and insist we demolish the whole fireplace and install a new one, but I don’t want to see the Mister throw his back out with a sledge hammer, and the kids would be running around in a cloud of dust for weeks. Frankly, I’m not interested. After doing some thoughtful research, I’ve found an easier, more budget-friendly alternative: a coat of tasteful fireplace paint from Brick-Anew. I’m thinking Twilight Taupe right now, and from where I stand, it looks like this might just be the one of the easier steps in Operation Summer Spruce-up. I’ll letcha know.

Fireplace Getaway

Thinking about the fireplace makeover contest over at Brick-Anew got me thinking about their excellent line of fireplace paint products, which I’ve used before and which I plan to use again once I close on my mountain getaway next week.

That’s right, I haven’t mentioned it here yet, but when I wasn’t on the road this fall and summer talking to other fireplace enthusiasts around the country, I spent a good chunk of time up in the Smoky Mountains, looking for a home away from home. No, I didn’t win the lottery – far from it –but I figured if I got far enough off the beaten path and found a place that needed a little (no, a LOT) of tender loving care, maybe I could swing it.

Anyway, the place I finally found is awesome – or it will be, once I finish fixing it up. It’s got two bedrooms, a rustic kitchen and a front porch I absolutely cannot wait to sit on next summer. Not surprisingly, if you know me, this little slice of paradise also comes with a truly amazing masonry hearth that dominates the living room. I had a few pictures I planned on posting here at Fireplace Decorating, but last time I was up there I dropped my digital camera in the stream at the back of the property trying to snap a photo of a three-point buck.

Oh well. I’ll try to take a couple more pics when I head up there next month to clean out the old firebox and scrub and paint the fireplace brick. In the meantime, I’ve posted a picture of a vaguely similar fireplace so you can get the basic idea. Mine’s not in as good a shape, of course – like I said, I didn’t win the lottery -- but that’s what the fireplace paint is for, right? When I get done, mine’s going to look even better.

Want a Whole Lotta Logs?

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything here at Fireplace Decorating. Over the past few months, while I’ve been off at trade shows and otherwise checking out the latest developments in fireplace technology, my pal Sam’s been stoking the hearth here at FD and I certainly do appreciate it. After all, somebody had to keep the home fires burning.

But now that the weather’s getting nippy again, I’m ready to stay put for a little while, which means sharing a few more anecdotes and fireplace tips with you while I enjoy the warm pleasures of the hearth as we enter the holiday season.

Speaking of the holidays, and speaking of my buddy Sam, a couple weeks ago he mentioned that the folks over at Brick-Anew are hosting a great fireplace makeover contest this month. As I understand it, they’re giving away $200 for the best testimonial and before-and-after pics sent in by November 25. Shoot, if I didn’t think they’d recognize my name, rank and serial number from the trade show circuit, I’d enter the contest myself. Two hundred big ones would keep me in firewood clear into New Year’s…