Homestead Update and Fireplace Facelift

The Homestead

The pigs are here!!  Josh shared a while ago about building their pen.  He will, at some point, share more about final preparations for them, and what is involved in having them.

The Farmhouse

I am still working on the living room.  The artwork is hung, accessories are starting to make sense, and I gave the fireplace a facelift, by painting the brick.

I was not sure about painting the brick but really wanted it brighter.  Against the freshly painted walls, the brick was looking all sorts of dull.  At first, I was thinking I wanted to completely paint the brick a solid white.  But then decided I did not want to lose all the character in the bricks.  What I wanted was to tone down the red bricks, while keeping the existing character.

I had no idea how I was going to go about getting the look I wanted.  After a five-minute conversation, and sharing a quick picture of what I was starting with, with the always helpful guy working in the paint department at our local Ace Hardware, I had a plan.   I picked up a small can of white latex paint, a pack of sea-foam sponges, and a small paint tray.  He told me I could use latex paint since it was just the outside front of the fireplace, and would not be exposed to high heat.  To create character, and kind of match what was already going on, he suggested adding ashes directly to the paint.  I would not have thought of this but it worked out perfectly!

Here is what I used, a small paint tray for the paint, a container of ashes, and a container with water.  I started by getting the sponge pretty damp, then dipped it in the paint, then dipped the paint-covered sponge in the ashes. Working on each brick individually I blotted until I was happy with how it looked. Selectively leaving some of the bricks alone.

Thanks for catching up with me!  Don't forget the soap is on sale in the shop!!  

- Mindy