Vases and Candlesticks - A Fireplace Quick Fix

I'd love to be able to cozy up to a crackling fireplace on a chilly winter night. Unfortunately, our fireplace is inoperable. Several of the homes in our neighborhood have had problems with the interior panel of the chimney failing under extreme heat. It's a problem that can be resolved fairly easily, but the inspection costs money... and the chimney cleaning costs money... and the repair, if needed, costs money...  We've just never done it, and thus we've never used our fireplace either.

With a soot stained interior, brass trimmed doors, and laminated faux wood handles, our fireplace is a bit of an eye-sore. But until we reach a decision on wether it will ever be functional again, all fireplace projects are on hold. If we are willing to commit to abandoning it's functionality, there are a hundred creative ways we could enhance its look. For example, we could paint it.

Photo from Young House Love

I love the clean look of this candle fireplace from Young House Love. They painted inside the fire box, as well as the exterior. A white fireplace wouldn't really fit with our home decor, but I would love to paint the interior of our firebox and cover up those unsightly soot marks. The only problem is, a functioning fireplace requires special heat resistant paint. Regular paint renders it forever inoperable. It's a choice you can't turn back on.

To make a long story short, despite cozy fireplace dreams, indecision has left our fireplace as unappealing and unused as it was when we bought the house five years ago.

That's the background story.... Now flash forward to the present.

Company's coming, and I need a quick fix. I want my fireplace to appear as the ambient focal point it is intended to be. I decide to light a few small candles inside the fire box, but they are virtually hidden underneath the large iron log rack. Hmm, what to do, what to do....

I ponder on that dilemma for a day or two, until an idea suddenly hits me - I can use inverted flower vases as candle pillars.

Use upside down flower vases as candle pillars inside your fireplace.

Pin It 

Remove the (heavy) iron log rack. Gather a few vases and candles. TaDa! Instant ambience!

Yes, the firebox is still soot stained. Yes, the brass trim and wood laminate handles are still there, but I now have a nice radiant glow coming from my fireplace - the perfect temporary fix for my ugly fireplace.

If you read my blog often, I sure you can guess what I placed under the display to absorb run-over wax. That's right, it's a panel from my never ending supply of diaper boxes! (Click here to read 15 other ways to reuse diaper boxes)

Linking up at Mommy by Day, Crafter by night, Lines Across, Crafty Confessions