The idea for this project was born out of my curiosity about how I could transform the electric fireplace that we received with our Florida home. The original fireplace can be seen in the real estate listings from earlier this summer. In Florida, where the temperature can reach 90+ degrees during the summer months, I never thought about a fireplace. I thought I’d sell the electric fireplace I kept in another room.
When I returned to the UK in November, it was cold and I thought it would be nice to have a fire as a heat source. I have always loved a fireplace in living rooms and family areas. I had an idea in my head to build a floor-to-ceiling electric fireplace surround for the living room of this house. Instead, I decided to remodel one that I already had. Was it possible? Could I give it an updated look that complimented the style of my home? Was there anything I could lose? My experiment was successful!
The fireplace is completely different from when I first started. It is painted in the same neutral color as the walls and has a smooth, textured modern finish. It was a big task to completely revamp the room.
Below is the piece I began with. You can see that it was a basic piece you could buy online. Unfortunately, its style did not fit my coastal-meets modern aesthetic. I did not like the traditional trim or thin routed legs. Or the glass and tile face. I wanted something more modern, simple and contemporary. Something that would blend into the background.
