You fell in love with your new home because of its commanding focal point: a cozy fireplace where you envisioned spending fall and winter evenings warming up by the fire. But what if you love the flames but hate the crumbling brick, the dated brass hardware or the dirty stone? Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to glam up a tired fireplace to suit your design style. Here are some tips–ranging from super-affordable to worth-the-splurge–to give your fireplace a much-need facelift.

Give It A Fresh Coat Of Paint

As long as your fireplace is in good shape structurally and is safe to use, the easiest and most budget-friendly option to transform both the tile and mantel lies in a can of paint. Painting a fireplace white can be transformative. White works best for a fireplace because it usually can be an extension of your trim colour.

Whether you go the all-white or all-black route, or you choose contrasting colours to make it pop, don’t forget to refinish your mantel, too.

If your mantel is made of solid wood, sand it down until any finishes are removed on the surface; this will help the paint adhere and last a lot longer. With your tile surround, be sure to use a primer before applying your latex paint in your desired colour.

To freshen up stone fireplaces, leave the latex paint behind. Chalk paint does miraculous things; you can create this multi-dimensional look that’s whitish-grayish instead of just a solid painted stone. 

Cover A Faded Fireplace With Another Material

For a mid-range budgetary option, consider refacing your fireplace. You’ll get a completely new look without the huge mess and expense of a total tear-down. Try cladding the fireplace in reclaimed wood or millwork to add a warm texture, or incorporate concrete to bring an industrial, contemporary vibe to the space. You can also purchase masonry veneers which look like brick or stone but are much thinner and lighter.  

When it comes to stone or millwork for your fireplace, call in the pros or someone handy. Stone and tile require a wet saw to cut, which can be tricky.

To cut down on costs, put up 12×12 tiles or an even border of stone around the fireplace.

A great DIY alternative, try using shiplap for the upper portion of the wall above your mantel. It’s relatively straightforward to install, and can easily transform a dated fireplace into something more modern and refined. Be sure to paint the shiplap and fireplace surround the same colour so that it flows as one cohesive unit.

If you go the wood route, consult your local municipality–most building codes advise against installing combustible material within six inches of a working fireplace.

Other inexpensive refacing options include drywall, ceramic or porcelain tiles, stucco, concrete, or veneered stones–all can be affixed directly to your existing fireplace for a simple solution.

Start From Scratch

If your fireplace is traditional and your overall design scheme is ultra-modern, a can of paint probably won’t cut it. Sometimes a sledgehammer is the only choice. 

Depending on your personal style, a full demo is the only way to go to create the fireplace of your dreams. Whether that be a sleek marble surround or farmhouse shiplap incorporated with a live edge mantel.

Other splurge-worthy materials include quartz, granite or exotic wood, as well as extending the entire fireplace up to the ceiling. You can also apply any of these tips to your outdoor fireplace, if you’re lucky enough to have one.

Give Your Fireplace Mantel Some Love

An updated fireplace won’t sing until you’ve also styled your mantel. 

Start with an anchor or large piece to ground the space and layer with asymmetrical vases and artwork. Elevate the rest of the mantel with stacked books to create visual interest and finish off with some fresh greenery to complete the look. Arranging a few picture frames along it, too.

Don’t be afraid to get a bunch of accessories; you don’t know what’s going to look good until you bring it home and you can always return the items.

You can also dress up your fireplace with a spiffy new screen, or paint a dated brass screen or hardware using high heat black paint. 

No matter what your budget or style is, there’s a fireplace revamp that matches, so have some fun with this important design element.

When buying your first home, there are more costs involved than you may expect. Between moving expenses, legal fees, inspections and taxes, purchasing a property involves a lot more than just saving for your down payment. It’s not uncommon for first-time buyers to skip on budgeting for these expenses and then get sticker shock when all of the additional costs pile up. 

Thankfully, first-time home buyers in Canada have exclusive access to programs to help offset some of the costs. From rebates to tax credits, there are a variety of initiatives available to support prospective home buyers on their journey to homeownership. 

Here, is the scoop on five first-time home buyer programs in Canada you can apply for when you’re ready to make the leap into homeownership. 

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)

This federal program through the Canadian Revenue Agency lets you withdraw up to $35,000 tax-free from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) as a loan to build or buy your first home. 

In order to qualify for the HBP, you must be a first-time home buyer, have an agreement to buy or build, and intend to live in the qualifying home as your principal residence within one year after purchase or when the residence becomes habitable. You can make a single withdrawal from your RRSP or several within the same calendar year. 

You must pay back the HBP loan within a 15-year period to avoid penalties, starting the second year after the funds are first withdrawn. 

GST/HST New Housing Rebate

Targeted specifically at Canadians  buying a new construction property, the GST/HST new housing rebate allows you to recoup some of your tax expenses. 

To be eligible, you’ll need to have purchased or built a new home, or substantially renovated your own existing home that has a fair market value under $450,000 once construction is complete. The property must be your primary place of residence. Floating and mobile homes are also eligible, as well as land that is leased for at least 20 years. 

When you’ve applied for your tax rebate, be sure to keep a copy of the completed forms, original invoices and all other documents for up to six years. 

The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive

Overseen by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), this new buyer incentive program aims to reduce monthly payments with a shared-equity mortgage with the federal government. 

New buyers can claim five or 10% of the property’s purchase price to put toward a down payment. Within a 25-year period, or when the home is sold, the same percentage value of the home is paid back. The homeowner can also pay back the incentive in full at any time. 

For the purchase of a resale property or mobile home, buyers can take a 5%incentive. If buying a new construction home, purchasers can take five or 10%. 

To be eligible for the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, your household income must not exceed $120,000, your total borrowing cannot be more than four times your qualifying income, and you must meet minimum down payment requirements. 

The Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC) 

If you’re a first-time home buyer with a qualifying home you could receive up to $5,000 of the purchase from the Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC).

A qualifying home falls under most residential structure types, including single-family, semi-detached, condominium and townhouse properties that are complete or under construction. Shares in a housing cooperative granting you the right of ownership also apply. However, for any of these property types, you must intend to occupy the home as your primary residence no later than one year after purchase.

To file for the rebate, simply enter $5,000 on line 31270 of your tax return. If you’re applying for the rebate with a spouse, you can split the rebate between the two returns without exceeding the $5,000 limit. 

Land Transfer Tax Rebates

In Ontario, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, first-time home buyers can receive a reduction on their land transfer taxes. Land transfer taxes are paid when the transaction closes, and are based on the purchase price. 

In British Columbia, buyers can receive $8,000 in rebates, earning the full amount up to a $500,000 maximum purchase price. Between $500,001 and $524,999, only a partial rebate is given, and there is no rebate for prices above $525,000. 

If you find rebates confusing, or are simply looking for advice on first-time home buyer incentives, a realtor, financial expert or mortgage broker can point you in the right direction of what will best suit your needs. 

I am experienced with working with all types of buyers, both new and seasoned, I am there to walk you through every step of the home buying process.

Once you’ve secured your dream home with an accepted offer, things start to get exciting. However, even if the property looks great, the only way to be sure everything checks out is to hire a professional home inspector. 

Home inspections can teach you so much about your new house, including how to maintain it and which repairs need to be carried out now or in the near future. Inspectors can also help uncover a property’s mysteries or even find nasty surprises you’ll want to know about – and possibly renegotiate on – before the sellers hand over the keys. 

Don’t Skip This Step

We get it – in hot markets where multiple offers are common, sellers may prefer dealing with buyers who have no conditions attached to their offer, including not insisting on a home inspection. However, forgoing an inspection is a bad idea.

If there’s ever an issue with the house that you want to go back to the seller about, without an inspection you haven’t done your due diligence so you’re not covered. 

Home inspectors assess a property’s main systems and check that the structure is sturdy, safe and to code. They can also alert you about necessary repairs or deficiencies. 

Inspectors are there to give a fair assessment of the building and, if he/she sees something serious, he/she will tell the buyer to get it looked into further or to obtain a quote for the repairs. It’s a great chance to learn about your new house.

The homeowners should accompany the inspector during the process, rather than wait for a written report. When on site, homeowners get all the information and, by the time the inspection is finished, they have a better understanding of what’s going on, so they can put the final report into context.

Can Discover DIY Projects Gone Wrong

Scroll through social media and it’s not hard to find examples of improvised repairs, such as DIY decks being held up with a single post, electrical configurations that can lead to fire hazards, or ill-conceived ideas where someone cut out part of a supporting floor joist to get more headroom in the basement. Inspectors see it all and will advise you what needs fixing. 

It May Uncover Unwanted Roommates

The last thing you want in your new home is a wasp’s nest or raccoons in the attic, bats in the walls or carpenter ants chewing your wood framing. An inspector takes a close look for signs of trouble and can help provide peace of mind.

New or Nearly-New Should Also Be Inspected

If you are purchasing a new property arrange for a pre-delivery inspection. This step is conducted with the builder before you take possession of your home, where you walk through the property and verify that all work has been completed.

The inpector will make sure all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted. 

It’s always safer to get an inspection, because no one wants unwanted suprises.