What should I decide first in a fireplace remodel?

A fireplace remodel is surround, hearth and mantel — and, increasingly, undoing a television mounted above it. The firebox usually stays; what changes is the material facing it, its proportions, and whether the chimney breast keeps its alcoves or loses them.

What goes wrong most often?

A television mounted above the fire, too high to watch and too hot to be there. A surround material chosen from a sample rather than seen at full height.

Will it work in a small fireplace?

In a small room, taking the surround material to the ceiling makes the wall taller rather than busier — a mantel with a gap of blank wall above it does the opposite and cuts the height in half.

Can I see it on my own fireplace before starting?

Yes — photograph the space and run it through the Studio. It is generated imagery, so compare the render against your photo rather than treating it as a plan.

Fireplace Remodel Mistakes to Avoid

The failures that show up again and again, and what causes each one. The thing every seat in the room is already pointed at.

BeforeAfter

1
Mistake 1
A television mounted above the fire, too high to watch and too hot to be there.
2
Mistake 2
A surround material chosen from a sample rather than seen at full height.
3
Mistake 3
The hearth removed entirely, leaving nothing to ground the opening.
4
Mistake 4
Alcove joinery built deeper than the breast it flanks.

Questions

What should I decide first in a fireplace remodel?: A fireplace remodel is surround, hearth and mantel — and, increasingly, undoing a television mounted above it. The firebox usually stays; what changes is the material facing it, its proportions, and whether the chimney breast keeps its alcoves or loses them.
What goes wrong most often?: A television mounted above the fire, too high to watch and too hot to be there. A surround material chosen from a sample rather than seen at full height.
Will it work in a small fireplace?: In a small room, taking the surround material to the ceiling makes the wall taller rather than busier — a mantel with a gap of blank wall above it does the opposite and cuts the height in half.
Can I see it on my own fireplace before starting?: Yes — photograph the space and run it through the Studio. It is generated imagery, so compare the render against your photo rather than treating it as a plan.

Fireplace Remodel Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1

Mistake 2

Mistake 3

Mistake 4

Questions