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Faux Marble Fireplace

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I painted a faux marble technique on my old black and discolored marble fireplace and it turned out beautifully. By painting this faux marble fireplace, I saved us a lot of money.

Update

The fireplace was painted over 5 years ago and has held up beautifully. I move the heavy iron fireplace screen and the paint has not chipped or scratched.

I painted a faux marble technique on our fireplace marble.

The walls and trim in my home are painted a very warm white. I decided to paint the marble veins a very soft gray. This is because I thought if I had too much gray. it would clash with the warm white. If I repaint my home, I might add a darker gray paint to the fireplace.

Gray vein marble technique.

When this idea first popped into my head, I knew that it was either an incredibly genius and would save me lots of money or incredibly stupid and cost me lots of money!

faux marble painted fireplace to update our home.

I would say this faux marble fireplace is the project that I had been most scared to do.  The supplies sat on the hearth for a month before I got up the nerve to go for it.

Before

I painted our damaged, black tiles on our fireplace to look like marble. It was easy, and it looks beautiful!Our house is 23 years old, and our fireplace was severely damaged.  So damaged that I could not post pictures of it on my blog anymore, and I had to do something.  The heat from the past 23 years had turned the shiny black marble into dull and burnt looking marble.

I painted our damaged, black tiles on our fireplace to look like marble. It was easy, and it looks beautiful!

Several years ago, I placed a heavy stocking holder on the mantle, and it fell off and shattered one piece of the marble.  We tried to find a piece to match, but it was so old that we could not find a matching piece, so I have tried to hide it in my photos.

I painted our damaged, black tiles on our fireplace to look like marble. It was easy, and it looks beautiful!

I wanted white marble badly, and I knew that it would be an expensive project.  I had seen where a few people have painted counter tops to look like marble and had great results.  If countertops could hold up to painted faux marble, my fireplace should be able to.  I could have the old black marble replaced with new white marble and spend hundreds of dollars, or I could try to paint it first and if it doesn’t work, go to plan B.

My husband is the voice of reason in my life.  I told him my idea, and he didn’t shut me down.  That means “go ahead, do it” to me.

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Supplies

  • Gripper primer (recommended by home improvement store)
  • White Paint
  • Grey Paint (small bottle)
  • Pewter Paint (small bottle)
  • Folk Art Light Gray (This is a tan color gray. Use this color if you want more of a tan color in your marble.)
  • Feather
  • Sea Sponge
  • spray water bottle
  • Polycrylic
  • 3 Small Paint Rollers (I would definitely roll it so you don’t have brush strokes). One roller for paint, primer, and sealer.

Some bloggers use iridescent glitter for countertops. I did use it at first but I was not happy with the way it looked so I painted over it. You can find the glitter at an Arts and Craft store.

I painted our damaged, black tiles on our fireplace to look like marble. It was easy, and it looks beautiful!

I purchased one square of black marble and replaced the broken tile.  The best thing I did was re-grout the entire fireplace so it would look like one piece of marble.  I mixed a small amount of grout that I already had and filled in the grout lines.

Painting the marble

Video below of where I used this faux marble paint technique on a laundry room backsplash that might be helpful.

Instructions

  1. Lightly sand the old marble with a 220 grit sanding block.  Use a tack cloth or damp rag to clean up all the dust.

I painted our damaged, black tiles on our fireplace to look like marble. It was easy, and it looks beautiful!

2.  Paint three coats of Gripper to be safe.

3. Paint two coats of white paint on top of the Gripper primer.  TIP: I had a piece of marble that I used as a guide.

I painted our damaged, black tiles on our fireplace to look like marble. It was easy, and it looks beautiful!

Since I wanted my faux marble to blend with my warm white wood, I used a pure white paint, but I used warmer grays.

My fireplace was severely damaged. I painted the black marble to look like new white marble, and it is stunning! This is a easy and cheap way to get the look of expensive marble.

4. Dip the feather into the darkest gray and brushed marble looking lines going in an angle across the tiles. I made the lines cross over to the next tile so that it would look like one piece of marble.

marble fireplace 105 (1 of 1)

5. Squirt water on the mark and soften the paint with the damp sea sponge.

I dipped the feather in the darkest gray and brushed marble looking lines going in an angle across the tiles. I made the lines cross the next tile so that it would look like one piece of marble.

The best thing is that you can wipe off the mark after it is wet if you do not like it.  It is almost foolproof! Randomly dab the damp sponge on the paint to give it a more natural look.

My DIY faux marble fireplace is holding up beautifully!

Seal the paint

Use 3 coats of Polycrylic in satin to be safe.

I am so surprised how it feels like marble when you touch it, and I really think that the fireplace looks stunning now! I could not wait for my husband to get home from work, and he could not believe how great it looks.  It really looks like the real deal.  He drags everyone that comes over into the living area to see the faux marble fireplace, and he makes them touch it.  I am so glad that this did not turn into a DIY fail!

You may also like to see how I painted a Faux Marble Backsplash in my laundry room.

Faux marble backsplash in laundry room makeover for the $100 Room Challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Mary-the boondocks blog says

    It looks gorgeous Sherry. Do you ever light the fireplace, I mean burn wood in it? I’m also in the process of redoing mine but it is made of bricks and marble on the side. I want to redo the top.

    • Sherry says

      It is a gas fireplace and we have lit the fireplace a few times, and the faux marble looks fine.

  3. Linda at Mixed Kreations says

    Wow that looks amazing Sherry! You did a great job on it. I want to do something different to our fireplace, just not quite sure what. I don’t think the white marble would work for ours but it’s beautiful on yours.

  4. Kathryn says

    I am blown away at how fantastic it looks. Especially the way it matches your wood above. Your beautiful mirror graces the whole thing. Bravo! I would make everyone come see it, too!

  6. Candace says

    this looks A-M-AZING! love it so much. I have been thinking about redoing my fireplace for a while and I think your post has motivated me to look back into this.

  7. Lynn Spencer says

    Sherry! What a FANTASTIC transformation! I have a piece of wood that I’ve started to paint as a trial for a piece of marble and you’ve prompted me to dig it back out and finish it.
    The white marble really updates and freshens up your entire fireplace. I know you are just thrilled with yourself and your accomplishments. Truly remarkable and encouraging to the rest of use.
    Well done friend!
    Hugs, Lynn

  9. Hil says

    I love how clean and crisp the white looks now in comparison to the black. Thanks for linking up at the #bloggerspotlight

  10. Evija says

    Absolutely love your fireplace and the faux marble looks so real!! LOVE it, definitely will try it myself. Thank you for sharing with OMHGWW, happy Easter!

  13. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    I am so impressed. But then, I am by all your projects! It turned out so gorgeous! I wouldn’t know if wasn’t marble! And you made it sound so easy, I’m sure that it’s not as hard as I’m making it out to be in my head! And I love the step by step pictures! Just amazing and it looks so much better with your style! Love it!

  15. Katrin says

    Sherry, it looks fantastic and just like marble! What an awesome idea to do this, I would have never thought of that! This is a beautiful transformation, so bright! Love it!

    • Sherry says

      Thank you Celeste! I am so pleased it turned out looking exactly like marble. I think my husband was relieved!

  20. Marie says

    This turned out gorgeous! I love it! Using a feather to apply the paint is genius! I would have never thought of that. Thanks so much for sharing at Merry Monday!

  22. Laurie says

    Sherry, I’m so glad you shared this post! I want to do this on my countertops – I also have been looking at the supplies for a long time. I love, love, love your fireplace! It looks stunning! Thanks for sharing with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday! Look for your feature at the next party! Pinned!

  25. Lela says

    You’ve done a great job! It is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing at Inspiration Thursday. Hope you had a great Easter weekend!

  27. Lori says

    Sooo amazing!! I’ve painted a counter top, more like a granite finish, but this is sooo cool! Love it! You did a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It!

  28. Dawn says

    Thank you for linking up your post to Friday Favorites!! Your faux marble fireplace will be featured this Friday, we’d love for you to link up again, doors open Thursday night. You totally WOWED me on this one!

  31. Cindy says

    Wow! Your new “marble” fireplace looks great!!!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

  32. Erlene A says

    Wow, that’s so amazing! What a huge difference. The fireplace looks so fresh and bright. Great job! Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday!

  33. Carol says

    How lovely it looks! So much like actual marble and a terrific alternative to a complete redo. Very clever, I may even try some faux marbling myself!

  34. Emily says

    This is an incredible transformation! Your fireplace looks beautiful! Thanks for linking up with Creative Spark; I chose your faux marble fireplace as one of my Features this week. Have a wonderful rest of your week!

  40. Carol Mitchell says

    Sherry,
    Fantastic job on the fireplace! Exactly what I want to do to mine. I just had a quick question…where and how did you use the light gray paint? I’m sorry it I didn’t see it in the tutorial.

    Thank you.
    Carol

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