Fireplace Progress

BEFORE PICTURE

DAY 1

Trying to get the mantle off

Big Strong Hubby got the mantle off

Cleaning the bricks - vacuuming

Brushing them off



ewww...it's flinging little pieces of mortar at me



oh my gosh it's getting worse...I think it went in my mouth!



ok...much better :-)



Caulking the big holes so they don't appear all shadowy after painting

END OF DAY 1

Taped off and ready to paint - we were afraid to use the tape on the ceiling in fear it might pull the texture off

DAY 2

I did the honors of putting on the first paint!

Already looking better

END OF DAY 2

We couldn't even finish the primer coat the first day of painting.  It is MADDENING trying to get paint into every nook and cranny...and time consuming...my goodness!

END OF DAY 3

Still not totally done with the primer coat, but we didn't have much time to work on it this day.  We're calling that bottom stoop "Phase 2"...caus we still need to be able to stand on it to paint the rest.



Some lessons I've learned during this process...mostly ones I already knew ;-)

1. I am not very patient
2. I have an amazing husband
3. I hate painting bricks
4. I am NOT a perfectionist
5. Why in the world is that fireplace to stinking big when everyone else online has fireplaces the size of a peanut????
6. It looks WAY better white
7. We've made the right decision

One last remark to leave you with.  This was Anna's reaction to waking up and seeing a white fireplace.

"I would have painted it purple...but I guess it looks alright white."

So all you who were against painting the brick white...at least we didn't let our 3 year old pick out the color!!

I'll keep you updated with our progress...