A Fireplace Before, During and After

We've been doing a lot of updating to our 1968 brick ranch style home.

Our latest project has been redoing our fireplace.  And really, isn't this the most unattractive fireplace you've ever seen?

We haven't used it as a real fireplace in years, meaning we don't burn wood in it anymore.  And the brick.  YUCK!   Even in 1968 there HAD to have been prettier brick than this.

 So, we decided to update things a little with some artificial stone.  Check this out!!!

This was taken after the first day.   Sorry, but it was evening so the stone looks a little yellowed in the photo.  Not sure why? 

And this was over the weekend.  Almost finished.  This picture really shows off the true color of the artificial stone.  

And here's Cole putting up the very last piece of stone.

Such a difference!!

I am beyond pleased with this.  It doesn't even look like the same ROOM let alone the same fireplace.  We are having a new mantle made, and that should be ready in a month or so.  I will post more pictures when the mantle is installed.

We are also going to have gas logs installed so we aren't staring at a big black hole any longer! 

The artificial stone was called "Canyon Stone" and it was $3.99 per square foot at our local hardware store.  Of all the remodeling we have done at our house, I think this might just be the most bang-for-the-buck project we've done so far.  Seriously, these pictures do NOT do it justice!!

Isn't it amazing what a little remodeling can do???