Design Tips for Fireplace Wall Updates - 2 Examples

I’m sharing two fireplace walls today where the homeowners wanted to make updates. They had a few questions for me on how to best achieve the look they wanted.

Traditional Mantel to go More Modern

This lovely mantel was a bit too trad looking for the homeowner. She wanted something with cleaner lines and wanted some suggestions on shelving for each side. She didn’t want or need a typical “lower cabinet/open shelves above” type of situation.

No tv was needed on this wall, they had it in another location in the room.

I definitely want to keep the black honed granite slab surround and hearth here. It’s very sleek, up to date looking and gives the room some punch.

However, if you read this fireplace wall post, I recommended the same kind of thing I’m going to here, a mantel that is 3-sided with mitered corners.

In this instance, since we are leaving the black slab surround, they can just do it out of painted wood.

Here’s an example of the style I like from Pottery Barn, but I’d go for something made by a local carpenter so it can be sized perfectly for your fireplace.

Since she doesn’t need or want a cabinet, I’d go for some floating look shelves, much like the ones I did in this project, below.

Here’s how it would look all put together. Don’t do too many shelves or it will look busy. And I’d go with black to repeat the black honed granite slab at the fireplace too.

My favorite wall decor to use over a modern look fireplace like this is a round, convex mirror. It’s a great size for this location, at 25” round, and has a black frame with a little gilded interior moulding.

I also like big baskets on the floor, they can put that woofer inside a basket, I hope. :-)

There is room to prop up some artwork on the top shelf too.

Modern mantel to go more traditional

Here is a modern fireplace all in a plaster type finish. The homeowner wanted a more traditional look, for it look less “90’s Miami”.

She wanted to know if she should remove the mirror, and YES, for sure do that.

The next thing I’d do is change out the tile.

I realize it matches the floor, but if she can’t do the floor now, at least do the hearth and surround. If you have this type of tile in your home, I think you should try to replace it if you can. It is very dated and the big grout joints always look dirty.

I had this type of tile myself in a whiter version before I remodeled my kitchen, years ago. I spent so much time trying to clean that grout and it never looked good.

Everyone knows you wouldn’t go out and buy this tile today. There are so many better choices on the market now.

Instead, I would opt for a travertine stone tile, which is not that expensive and has a simple look that can be done with tiny grout joints because of the rectified edges.

This will keep it warm toned and it will work with the floor for now.

She said she is going to paint everything in warmer tones, so that could be all she has to do to be happy with the look.

If she wanted to go one step further, she could add moulding to the stepped area to create a wood mantel look if she wanted or even remove the stepped area and add a mantel.

It’s amazing how a few mouldings can provide a big difference in interior style.

Need more fireplace inspo? I’ve got a lot right here.

This blogpost was thoughtfully written by me, Carla Aston, and not by AI, ghostwriters, or guest posters.