Our front room fireplace surround has been shiny white and boring, builder-grade style since we moved into our home several years ago. Recently, I came across an antique buffet top for the mantle that inspired a complete makeover of the entire fireplace surround.
This before shot shows the original finishes that I was planning to pull together. As you can see, the fireplace surround was too shiny and white to work well with the vintage look I was going for. At the same time though, I wanted to stay neutral and white seemed a natural choice against my creamy walls and with all of the grey painted furniture in the room. After much deliberation, I decided to stick with white but do away with the shine and add a grey glaze for a more weathered, vintage aesthetic. I started by painting everything in Pure White, including the fireplace surround.
When I mentioned my idea to “age” the fireplace surround to my husband, his mind immediately went to “dark wax.” Obviously wax would not be a safe option for a fireplace surround due to the heat exposure. I had contemplated it long ago and then felt how hot my mantle actually gets when the fireplace is on and immediately concluded that wax would not be a good idea.
Artisan Enhancements Scumble is a clear glaze-like medium that can easily be tinted with paint! I mixed 5 parts Scumble to 1 part Paris Grey to achieve a lovely grey glaze that would give my fireplace surround and mantle pieces the aged, vintage look I was after.
I applied the tinted Scumble mixture with a brush and then wiped it back with a damp sponge. Unlike most traditional glazes, Scumble has no odor or harmful VOCs, so I was able to do all of this inside, on a cold, stormy day surrounded by kids without worrying about any of us breathing in harmful chemicals! In addition, Scumble has an extended open time meaning that you can come back to it even 20 minutes after application and continue to adjust your finish. This was especially important to me as I had lots of interruptions in the midst of this project, what with of all of those kids running rampant, needing snacks, homework help and so forth!
Artisan Enhancements Clear Topcoat Sealer is exterior grade which means it provides protection that will withstand heat! It dries to a matte finish which was exactly what I wanted...no more shine! It also has no odor or harmful VOCs, so once again a safe product to use in the home! This sealer should be applied in two thin coats, waiting 24 hours before applying the second. In order to get an even, thin coat it is essential to use an appropriate brush, such as this “Top Coat” brush from Artisan Enhancements. I love this brush so much that I find myself using it for paint as well as
sealers. There is sealer on my brush in this photo. Notice that my brush isn’t dripping with product. The key is to apply thin layers.
When I asked the experts at Artisan Enhancements how long I needed to give my “new” aged finish time to cure before actually using my fireplace, they said it should be good to go in just one week!
I am really looking forward to some cozy evenings here this winter! And, I can’t wait to decorate the mantle for Christmas!
If you have plans to change the finish on your mantle or fireplace surround, be sure to choose products that will hold up well to the heat. If you’re like me and worry about exposure to harmful chemicals and odors, you will also appreciate the nolow VOC qualities of the Artisan Enhancements line! Visit their website to find a retailer near you! www.artisanenancements.com.
Thank you for your visit today!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
Disclosure: This is an Artisan Enhancements sponsored post, however the opinions and ideas expressed here are mine and I will only ever promote products that I enjoy using and feel may benefit my readers.
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