Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Before and After - 70s Fireplace

18 comments:

  1. Don't stop.
    Keep going.
    What you do is amazing.

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  2. That is amazing!!
    I am a new blogger and I just found your blog.

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  3. I have this same rock, only it has a lot more orange and yellow in it. Definitely will be doing something like this.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment, Beth. I recommend dead flat varnish to seal. It makes the rocks look very natural.

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  4. I love how your fireplace turned out. Do you have details about paint colors/glazes or whatever us used. Did you sponge paints on to get the various colors in the stone?
    thanks

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  5. Hi DeeDee,

    Thanks for your comment.

    I sealed all the rock with a neutral color, then I used paints and glazes to make each individual rock look, well, rock-like.😊 Sealing the rock first gives you more control of the colors as you put them on.

    I sealed the entire fireplace at the end with a dead flat varnish. It's still fine after all these years. The clients are now friends and I see the fireplace occasionally.

    Good luck and have fun!

    Warmly,
    Kay

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  6. i am stunned at how natural this looks!!! You are an absolute artist!!!
    I do a lot of painting and decorative techniquing, but I wouldn't know where to start to get it soooooo realistic looking!

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  7. What brand of paint did you use on the rock was it wiped on or sponged or painted it just beautiful

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    1. Hi Susan, it's painted. I first sealed all the rocks with a coat of beige latex eggshell paint to give me more control over the rock colors. The rest is artistsaartists done with a brush. At the end I put a coat of dead flat varnish on it.

      I think I replied to a comment above with more of the detail if you're interested.

      Thanks for your comment!
      Kay

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  8. What is the purpose for using the varnish?

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  9. Hello Anonymous, thank you for commenting. I typically don't publish anonymous comments as they tend to be spam. But to answer to your question, the varnish protects the paint layers underneath. As most clear coats do.

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  10. Thank you. I just painted my rock fireplace and then seen yours on Pinterest. Beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Susan! I hope you had as much fun with yours at I did with this one. 😊

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  11. Thank you. I just painted my rock fireplace and then seen yours. I love the look. I wasn’t sure if I should apply varnish to mine.

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    1. It'll probably be fine. When I work for clients I tend to go beyond what I'd do on my own projects just to be sure everything is going to be protected. I did this one ten years ago and the clients are still living in that house. I see them every once in a while so I know it's still exactly the same as when I finished it.

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  12. What is the white stuff you painted on the rock ?how long did you leave it on there before rubbing it off ?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your interest, Anonymous.The white is a base cost I used to seal the rock so I'd have more control of the paint I put on over it.to make it look like natural rock. I didn't wipe it off. It's under the color of the final finish.

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