Design Blog
Fireplace Before and After Transformations: From Our Interior Design Portfolio
Updating your fireplace can give your great room an entirely new look and feel. We’re sharing these Before & After Fireplace Projects from our Design Connection interior design portfolio in the hopes that we inspire you to make the changes that you long to see in your home. A number of our fireplace remodels were completed in two days–Check it out!
One of the many reasons why I love being an interior designer in Overland Park is that fireplaces are a actually a thing. It’s true—fireplaces are almost a guarantee in our area. A quick search on Realtor.com shows that out of 1,438 homes for sale in Overland Park, 1,102 have at least one fireplace.

With fireplaces being such a common amenity in the homes in the Kansas City area, I have certainly seen my fair share of basic builder-grade installs through the years. If your fireplace is still sporting the honey-toned wood that was popular in the ’90s, maybe it’s time for an update!
Grays are HUGE right now and they are still gaining momentum, proving to be a design trend with staying power. Classic yet fresh, grays are the perfect neutral with personality.
By using a darker gray on the fireplace and behind the shelves on the build-in, we were able to add visual interest to this space by drawing the eye in and highlighting the beautiful craftsmanship and inviting fireplace surround. See more pics from this living room design update here.
In this project, we darkened the dated honey tones and eased the floor and fireplace into this decade with a darker stain and new tile surround. Tile one day, stain the next, DONE!
Does your home have an original brick fireplace? It is a normal response to long for a change but remain unsure when it comes to making a permanent alteration to the original architecture of your home. The focal point of the room in this project by Design Connection, Inc., the fireplace, was dark, dated and dingy. We opted to work around a total demolition of the old brick façade by installing horizontal 12×24 stone tiles over the existing brick.
After my initial consultation with the homeowners, it was determined that their personal style was more transitional than traditional 1989, so we quickly got to work. Our incredibly talented tile expert placed both mosaic and linear tiles over the old surface and skillfully addressed the challenging curves along the hearth. Glass fire rocks were placed in the firebox in place of faux wood and beautiful vases were selected for a final touch to this updated fireplace.
While the changes that we made to the rest of this great room went beyond a weekend project, the fireplace was installed in a snap. Click the pic below to read more about this project’s design story.
In this project by Design Connection, Inc. we gave this entire home a metropolitan makeover. In addition to a new kitchen and new bathrooms, the two fireplaces in this home were also updated.
By painting the existing mantels white and re-tiling the fireplace surrounds, we were able to honor the traditional architecture of the home while blending it with my clients’ contemporary style.
In this Design Connection, Inc. project, the kitchen , a powder room, the living room, and the great room received a complete design update. This great room and living room share a double sided fireplace. The old, ill patterned tile was replaced with new square tiles with a shimmery mosaic border.
These days, nothing dates your décor quicker than an old box TV set. Aren’t you glad we don’t have to make design accommodations for those awkward eye-sores anymore? My clients were so excited to finally cover the hole that so crudely held their old TV in their great room. The tile on the fireplace surround was updated, the mantel piece was thinned out, and the wood was stained a rich, dark brown. An easy weekend project with a huge design impact!
What if you love your fireplace but you still feel like something is missing? Updating your fireplace doesn’t necessarily mean you have to reface it or replace it. adding the right compliments to your fireplace may be all you need. In this great room by Design Connection, Inc., the original brick fireplace was incredible, but something was missing. Wanting to maintain the traditional look of their eye-catching original brick fireplace, we decided against mounting the TV above the mantel and opted for a wall mounted TV on swivel arm. We designed custom cabinets that flank each side of the fireplace and discreetly house the television components. By faux painting these cabinets using the color of the surrounding walls, this dominating feature wall stands out while effortlessly blending with the rest of this space. The dark aqua accent wall brings this room to life as a focal point against the brick fireplace. Another project that can be installed and completed over the weekend!
We hope to have inspired you to make the changes that you want to see in your home. We know that figuring out where to start can be the hardest part of a home decor update or remodel. We make your tough design decisions easy–Contact us for a complimentary design consultation. From choosing new furniture to refacing your fireplace to managing a complete home remodel, we can help you with all of your dream home features, all under our roof. When visiting our extensive in-studio sample library, you can see and touch all of your design selections together. Not only can you make all of your design decisions in one day, this convenience makes it easy to envision your new space and be confidant with your choices.
Do you still need convincing? See even more of our fireplace Before & After projects in our portfolio!
Are you thinking about changing the look of your fireplace? We know that figuring out where to start can be the hardest part of a home decor update or remodel. We make your tough design decisions easy–Contact us for a complimentary design consultation. From choosing new furniture to re-facing your fireplace to managing a complete home remodel, we can help you with all of your dream home features, all under our roof. When visiting our extensive in-studio sample library, you can see and touch all of your design selections together. Not only can you make all of your design choices in one place, this convenience makes it easy to envision your new space and be confidant with your decisions. Contact us today!