Shalia’s Fireplace Makeover

I regretted not having a fireplace in my living room and began researching DIY fireplaces on Pinterest and Instagram. I realized that it wouldn’t be too difficult to add an electric fireplace to my living room. I chose electric because I mainly wanted the fireplace for ambiance.

When we first built the house 14 years ago, the original plans had a fireplace in the living room and the bedroom. At that time, my in-laws were removing a two-story rock fireplace from their custom home, and I knew I didn’t want to go through regretting and later removing a built-in fireplace. We ultimately decided to leave the fireplaces out of the plans.

I regretted my decision every winter–Christmastime, especially. The first home Randy and I built had a fireplace, and I missed having one so badly! I began looking at photos on Pinterest, IG, and in magazines for inspiration.

I met with a local contractor to discuss what I wanted and to show him pictures for inspiration.  I gave him about 5 photos but told him that Shauna’s fireplace @thehouseofsilverlining was my all-time favorite.

Fireplace Makeover in 6 Easy Steps:

Here is the step-by-step process of how we built a two-story faux fireplace in our living room.

Step 1. Build the frame.

Step 2. Add the sheetrock.

Step 3. Complete electrical work

Step 4. Tape and mud the sheetrock.

Step 5. Paint the sheetrock. We used Sherwin Williams Pure White.

After taking measurements, the contractor did most of the framing and all of the mantel building in his shop. During this time, Randy and I narrowed down our choices for inserts. We knew we needed a taller fireplace versus longer based on the height of our built-in.

We first narrowed our choices by size, then by reviews. Randy also visited some stores in Oklahoma City to see in person which electric fireplaces looked the most realistic. We ultimately decided to buy the Dimplex 42 Inch Wide Built-In Vent-Free Electric Fireplace with Weathered Concrete Interior and Remote Control.

Step 6. Add the mantel and fireplace insert. Our mantel color is Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

I am beyond thrilled with how my fireplace turned out. I used Harcrow Construction Services Creative Designs & Custom Buildings and Johnson Electric, two local businesses that helped make my vision a reality. You can see the videos documenting the process on our Instagram Stories here.

Here are the mantel details:

• Mantel length 7’
• Mantel height 5’
• The total height of fireplace 12’
• Depth from wall 14 3/4”
• mantel depth 7 1/4”

Paint colors:

You can check out all of the paint colors in my home here. Below, you will find the details for this project.

• Sheetrock color: Sherwin Williams: Pure white
• Mantel color:  Sherwin Williams Alabaster
• Living room paint color:  Sherwin Williams Eider White

Some Great Electric Fireplaces to Consider

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