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Shabby Chic Fireplace Painting

Hand painted fireplace with shabby chic paint effect Harrogate
Hand painted ‘shabby chic’ fireplace

For this shabby chic painting project I headed down to Oare in Devon, where over the years I have done a lot of decorative painting and faux work for the same client. The manor house is beautiful as is the countryside around, and this time my main jobs were to transform a couple of fireplaces, creating a faux stone and trompe l’oeil effect on one, and a shabby chic effect on another.

Shabby Chic Fireplace Painting
The original handmade wood fireplace before painting

The clients wanted this fireplace to feel lighter and brighter – covering the dark slate and painting the surround to match the existing shabby chic mirror. The room is opulent to say the least so the key here was to create an aged finish that looked rustic but also elegant and classy.

I’d already sent some samples down to give some options for transforming the slate and once in situe set about working out the best way to approach the fireplace. It was rustic to say the least so prep the stages were numerous; masking, cleaning, priming, filling, re-priming, caulking, barrier layer, multiple topcoats, multiple layers of glaze and then layers of varnish.

The end result was a timeless fireplace that was both rustic and elegant. The colours compliment the rooms décor and the mirror above. This was quite a labour of love, but it’s great to think I’ve added to the history of this very ancient fireplace.

Hand painted shabby chic paint effect on fireplace. Furniture painting Harrogate.
Close up of the subtle detailing

The Hearth and changing the slate with a patinated gold effect 

Patinated gold effect
Patinated gold effect

A lot of the accessories in the room are gold so the client wanted a gold finish to replace the heavy dark look for the slate. I sent down a  few samples and the textured patinated gold effect was the one. Again it took many coats to build up the finished effect and again was a lot about balance. I applied 4 coats of ‘Pale Gold’ acrylic paint. The Modern Masters range has some lovely colours and is great to use, though it isn’t that opaque. I then lightly sanded it all back which revealed some of the emulsion and gave it a mottled look. Finally I applied 2 coats of lacquer and highlighter certain parts of the detailing coloured wax.

shabby chic painted fire surround
painted fire surround with gold textured inlay
French style painted fire surround
French style painted fire surround

Lee works as a specialist painter throughout Yorkshire and the UK, and is within easy reach for projects in Harrogate, York, Wetherby, Ripon, Ilkley, Leeds, Wakefield, Halifax and the surrounding areas.