update your fireplace with marble tile

We recently made a few small updates to our living room that made a world of difference in making our family room feel bigger and brighter!  If you have been following along on Instagram & snapchat (houseofharper), you know I have been busy working with friends and interior designers Saba and Sarah Jawda for a full redesign (that I am dying to share in the new year)!  But for now, while we are waiting on some final touches, I wanted to share our updated mantle… just in time to hang the stockings!  (You can see the before picture here.)

how to style builtins around your fireplace

Our family room was previously almost two rooms, a living room that was half way open to a sunroom.  Because of the divided rooms, we were wasting space and had two entries into our kitchen (one doorway in each room).  I am big on symmetry so the single bookshelf to the left of the fireplace bothered me since we moved in.  I fantasized about matching built-ins on both sides of our mantle and updating the red brick with a cleaner and more modern marble.  After a year of dropping hints, I was able to get FMK on board and now that it is complete, I think he might actually be more excited about it than I am (if that’s possible).

how to style builtins around your fireplace

Decorating the built-ins is always an evolving process as you collect more things you love, but I went to Home Goods and found some cute things to fill in a few holes until I find what I want to permanently complete the space.  I love collecting things as we travel and finding things we truly love so our book shelves tell a personal story and show our personality.

how to style builtins around your fireplace

how to style builtins around your fireplace

update your fireplace with marble tile

how to style builtins around your fireplace

how to style builtins around your fireplace

how to style builtins around your fireplace

update your fireplace with marble tile

Photographed by Ailee of Snapshots by Ailee Petrovic

For more post from our Houston home and past NYC apartments, be sure to check out the HARPER at HOME page!