Do you remember when I said I had a project going on and would share it with you?
Yeah!
I did.
And so now, …now that we are into the third month of the year, I want to share it with you.
Better late than never right?
Ok, so I have never liked the masonry tile surrounding my fireplace.
……so much so, that I never wanted to make it a focal point in my living room.
However, as I put Christmas stuff away…I couldn’t help but look at that beige tile and cringe.
The photo above is a before shot.
It was time to do something…anything!
Have you ever gotten to that point?
I decided to look into something I could live with.
I started looking for alternatives.
So I kept looking.
Remember, I have lived with that beige tile since October of 2010!
I have wanted to replace that tile with white marble for so long.
Trivia!!!!!!
Did you know that many contractors find some jobs as being too small and not worth their time and trouble?
I know, it tis sad, but true.
Believe me, I know…. as when we are flipping houses, a contractor wants a BIG job.
I guess he wants a reason to get out of bed in the morning and replacing a few titles around a fire place surround just doesn’t cut it for him.
Unless you are going to ask him to tear the whole fireplace down and replace everything, mantle etc.
Of course we could have a DIY…but the Captain as been so busy juggling all his extra curricular activities (read that as flying, real estate, flipping houses) as well as the usual weekly “honey do” list that a project of this size just isn’t in the cards.
The project is not huge, but large enough to require a whole week-end or so to complete, so color him “not happenin”, if you understand my meaning.
So what is a girl to do?
Get creative I say.
So I kept looking.
As I packed away my last box of Santa’s elves…I got to thinking about that beige title around the fireplace.
First thought was to paint it.
Remember this post “How I painted my travertine backsplash and fell in love?”
Yes, I painted the back splash in my kitchen!
That was a temporary fix about 3 years ago.
My dear readers, the painted travertine tile has worked out so well, that I can think of many other projects to bring to fruition, rather than replacing the nicely painted kitchen backsplash at this time.
In other words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Also, the Captain and I have decided to remodel the whole kitchen with new appliances and floor plan, which also includes a new “floor plan” of hardwood floors and removing all existing cabinets.
Gut the kitchen is my motto….which also means replacing all the tiled floors in the open space, called the kitchen, hall way, dining nook, the dining room and the living room.
But this is not happening anytime soon….maybe late this year or early next year?????
Meanwhile, where is my marble tile surrounding my fireplace?
I found the answer on line.
Through lots and lots of research of products.
I remembered Diane of “In My Own Style” …actually using a DIY product to paint her kitchen counter tops to look like Carrara Marble.
Hmmmmmm. I mulled that over wondering if I could simulate the grey veining of the marble as well as Diane.
I had a vertical surface while Diane had a horizontal surface.
Nope, I said to myself…too much work.
So I kept looking.
And then I saw it…a DIY person had found a product to simulate marble.
So I kept looking.
And then a man used the same product on a bathroom vanity and wrote that the product held up after 2 years and 3 kids.
Now, they had my attention.
So I kept looking.
Easy to use and easy to remove if you did not like it or decided to do something different.
No harm, no foul!
The cost was perfect.
The look amazing!
So I quit looking after reading hundreds of reviews.
And now this is the final look…..
I am pleased with the results and when “only daughter” visited last week, she liked the new “marble” too!
What do you think?
My thoughts are…. it works until we do the kitchen remodel and then maybe a contractor will think that job is big enough for his time and effort.
And then I will start looking again for a pretty Carrara Marble to do the job right.
I will keep looking.
Oh, did I forget to tell you what the product is?
It is called Designfolie selbstklebend and is made by a Swiss/German Company….sorta like the products from our trusty IKEA!
My fireplace is a wood burning fireplace and supposedly this will withstand the heat.
However, burning with wood can be a real mess, so I keep a clean heat with electric.
We have had the fireplace going and so far…the “marble” is holding up.
Another name for this product is d-c-fix.
Or in common terms….It goes on a lot like Contact Paper and can be removed with little mess when the time comes!
Those European countries have some great ideas don’t they?
I will post how it is applied in another post.
More to come.
Blessings Always
Rita C. says
Whoa again! Another hit, lady. I’m gonna pin this one so I can remember it as a possible solution to one dilemma I see in our new home (that I don’t want to get into as a big project with contractor anytime soon. I am sick of projects, have enough going on with the move itself).
Kari says
And Rita, I was on-line the other day at Home Depot and found the product…It is called D-C Fix, which is considered a step up from contact paper. I touch it every day as I am fascinated with it….it truly feels cool to the touch like marble. And No one believes me when I tell them what it is…they have to keep touching it in amazement. LOL
lauraingallsgunn says
I had NO IDEA such a product existed. Just fabulous! Thank you for sharing.
Kari says
Laura, they do not call it contact paper although it performs much like it, but it is a temporary fix that works. thanks for stopping by
the Painted Apron says
Wow, that’s amazing!
Kari says
It really looks like the real thing…even though temporary, until I can use real marble. My daughter touched it and said it even felt like marble.
the Painted Apron says
My son is a contractor and he said he looses money on the small jobs, which is why they don’t like them! You could probably get it done when you re-do your kitchen though…
Kari says
That is true Jenna and the plan.
I have 3 sons in the contracting business, so I know what your son said is true.
Unfortunately, all three of my sons live way up north and when they visit, I hate to ask them to do a job like that because they are on vacation….even though they would do it in a heart beat.
We also had a painter (several years ago) come in and paint a bathroom on one of our flips that had so many architectural details that he had not anticipated. We decided we didn’t like the color, but he would not come back because it was not worth his time and effort. ….perfectly understandable. They need to make a living but many times they will quote a price because they are in a “slump” time…
Benita says
Kari, I think you did a fabulous job on remaking your fireplace surround…it is gorgeous! I love that there are “quick” fixes to something in our home that bugs us, until we can get to the real deal. Wish there was something like that for the wrinkles! 🙂 Love and hugs sweet friend!
Kari says
I hear ya Benita…where do these wrinkles come from anyway. The ones I hate are on my arms if I hold my arm a certain way. YUK!
My daughter touched the “marble” and said it even felt like marble. Yay! It is temporary but now I don’t have to look at that ugly beige tile.
Everyday Living says
Kari, it looks amazing, just like marble. You did a great job my friend!
Kari says
It will do in a pinch Pam…some day, I will have the real marble. At least when I look at it, I don’t frown. LOL
Liberty says
So– heat proof contact paper? Hmmm… wonder if such a thing would work for stove burner covers….
Kari says
I don’t think I would put it on burner covers…the tiles are further away from my fireplace tiles.
Kari says
Liberty, Did that make sense?
OK…when we have the fireplace on….the heat is further from the “marble” than a stove burner cover would be. 🙂