Dec 8, 2009

A hole of a different color


There's a Rust-oleum Revamp party at Shanty 2 Chic going on right now, and it's also DIY Day over at A Soft Place to Land, and I haven't participated in a few weeks. Mainly because I've barely found time to breathe and take care of my family, much less to DIY something to within an inch of its life.

But I'm BACK IN THE SADDLE. Because our fireplace was about to
become the focal point for the holidays that it usually is NOT, I felt like the time was nigh to finally rid it of that nasty brass sheen it had going on.


VERY brassy.



Mind you, if I had my druthers, I'd rip the entire thing out and start over from scratch. However, I do not have any druthers, so I opted instead for two cans of this:



... some painters tape and an old Parenting magazine that I dragged out of our recycling bin for this express purpose. Total cost of this project: less than $14 (I had to use one and a half cans of the paint). It took less than two hours from start to finish (without interruption ... I did it the day after we returned from Thanksgiving in South Carolina, in between loads of laundry while the kids were at school).

First I used a dry paper towel to wipe all the dust away. Then I lightly sanded the brass, going in two directions.



Next, I ripped up that Parenting magazine and taped it to all the surfaces I didn't want painted.
This took approximately 10 times as long as the painting itself did. It probably took me 45 minutes to do this part ... I WISH I were exaggerating.



Then I sprayed one coat, waiting 45 minutes and sprayed a second coat. Here's the Before one more time:



And the After:



Before:




And After:



And then I hung my stockings up to complete the holiday look:



I do feel as though it looks KIND OF like a big black hole now, but honestly, I find it a vast improvement over the big brass hole.

20 comments:

Lisa said...

Big improvement.

RLR said...

WOW - it looks great!

Sarah T. said...

That looks way better. I want to spray paint all brass I see to either silver or black. I feel I'd be doing a service to the planet.

Mama Thompson said...

I sprayed mine a few months back and seriously still love to look at it...great job...it looks amazing!!!!

Hideaway Girl said...

MUCH better! Our home is all black or brushed nickel and I love it. But sometimes times I wonder if, in ten years, we'll be spraying everything brass again.

Debra said...

That looks great. Isn't it amazing what a little paint will do?

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

Hideaway, I SURE HOPE NOT! I can't imagine wanting to go back to brass, but since the '80s are back in clothing, I guess anything is possible!

Sewconsult said...

Looks nice, but you do realize that before you tire of the look, polished brass will be back in style. I'm keeping my brass & hoping it will be stylish soon!
Like fashion...whoever thought lime green would EVER be in style again!
Beckie in Brentwood, TN

Frugal Jen said...

What an inexpensive tranformation that makes a big change. Great job!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

it looks great! I have to do this to my screen, and an ugly brass lamp I have in the living room. Just trying to make it through the holidays first. I know when it's done, I'll wish I got to it BEFORE the holidays!
thanks for a kick in the pants!
gail

Elder Esplin said...

I love it! I really need to do this to mine. Nice job!

Brooke said...

Love the transformation. We took ours off entirely... but I am actually missing having something covering the fireplace. I wish I had seen this earlier! My boys just throw all their toys in there now... grrr.... Oh well, having fires in the fireplace are obviously out of the question with toddlers running around ;)

Heidi said...

That looks terrific. It won't look like a "big black hole" when you've got a nice, cozy fire going...I like the black much better.
I posted my mantel decor today also! I photographed very carefully so as not to show the tattered black screen and the places that need paint. Well, I bought the paint about 7 years ago and haven't used it yet. So thanks to you, now I'm inspired again! (I hate the taping part, too!)

Come have a look sometime.
Happy Holidays.
XO
Heidi - Heart and Home

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

Brooke, I'm petrified to take it out because we have birds living up in there and I'm afraid they'd all come flying out into my den!

Amy said...

WOW! It looks fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that makes such a difference! Definitely brings the rest of the fireplace to the same level as your gorgeous mantel! Love what you did, and so jealous of the fireplace, I would love to have one someday! Thanks for sharing such a great project! I'm going to have to do a similar prep in my kitchen when I spray paint my fridge this month (it started rusting through the paint? who has ever had that happen!)

Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking said...

The wonderful power of paint! It looks wonderful!

cindy said...

I'm getting ready to do the same thing....but I'm waiting till after the holidays since I"ve already decorated the fireplace/mantel. Yours turned out looking great!

Rachel said...

I'm impressed! What an awesome job. Don't you just feel like super woman when you take on something like that and it turns out so great? I know I do.

Kelly @ Ruby Begonia said...

It looks great! Thanks for sharing with me. I didn't sand mine, so I hope I don't have any problems with it. So good to see a local gal on here! Thanks for stopping by!

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