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I am painting my bathroom counter top with Rustoleum brand Counter Top paint. It recommends using a brush for cutting in and a foam roller for applying in the large areas. I used the brush for cutting in then I have used a foam roller for the large areas and it has left streaks from the foam roller. It has covered well but still the streaks! I waited the hour as directed and applied the second coat and still the streaks.

I don't believe I applied too much paint on the roller. Maybe I didn't do enough on the roller?

Sorry this is so long but some background is in order:

I have always hated this 1970's lava rock fireplace. When you walk through the front door it about slaps you in the face because it overwhelming stood out.

Our intention was to eventually fir it out and put regular wall board and mantel. We want to remove the wood stove as it serves no purpose--only heats the recessed box it's in and we have only used it maybe twice. We want to just stack round logs in there (there is a built in wood box to the right-but I don't know what else to do with the wood stove space.) Well, it's been 8 years and the fir it out and put drywall and mantel has not materialized.

I decided to paint the rock fireplace. I just wanted to tone it down a bit! I hated all those black spots. Plus the brass hardware stuck out like a sore thumb. So I painted the brass with some black wood stove paint.

Because lava rock has so many deep crevices in it, I started out by watering down some tan paint and sprayed it on using a water bottle, then it took about 5 different colors randomly dry brushed on and towel rubbed to get the affect.

The trellis thing in the center won't stay there, I had it up there until we mount it on a wall somewhere else in the house.

The TV won't stand out like that once we get a wall mounted flat screen that will go on the wall behind where the tv is now. (Hope I don't have to wait 8 years for that to materialize! lol)

My question is... What do you suggest putting in between the fireplace and the wood stove? I think I will have hubby put up a mantel (It will have to go above the vent holes of the fireplace). Would a surround around with mantel look okay around fireplace? You know one that has mantel and the pillar things left and right? Or should we try and make a mantel all the way across the expanse to the wood stove box? Note though, that the rock wall has an angle to it. You can kind of see it in the picture. This rock wall is the first thing that confronts you when you walk in the front door.

Until we finally do fir it out, I wish there was some way to break it up so that it wasn't so all rock!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21288886@N06/39267842...

The picture shows what it looks like from my living room. I have two wimpy lights on the short wall and framed fluorescent lights in the kitchen over an island. What lighting would be best for the short wall and the kitchen area? I do like how bright the kitchen is with the fluorescent lighting but I hate the dated frames.

The two accent lights on the short wall are dwarfed by the expanse of the wall/ceiling. We would like it to be brighter when those are turned on. We usually only use those for when we are trying to do something in the LR or when we leave for the evening.

I don't care for the dark brown color on the short wall (I don't know what else to call that since it starts at the ceiling). The color was suggested by my s-i-l to pull together the dark cherry cabinets in the kitchen. Plus we have dark chocolate brown furniture.

Also, any ideas on what to put on the "shelf" in the open space below the ceiling to the left would be appreciated!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21288886@N06/39256926...

If you can include links to pictures, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks!

I would like to update these fixtures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21288886@N06/38883836...

I would like to do something to these fixtures before I try to buy new ones. There are three of them situated above an island. I have cherry cabinets.

(That's a ceiling speaker in between the two lights). The floor is a very light terecotta 12" x12" tiles. Because I have an open floor plan these are visible from the living room and dining area. Right now on the cherry cabinets there is gold hardware. I want to try and spray paint these a silver. (Any suggestions on how to do this so they don't flake and peel would be useful too.)

I have so many cabinets that there is very little wall exposure. What is exposed is a light creamy tan.

I have followed all suggestions posted. I have uploaded a picture and it shows in the box when I click on "View My Profile", but when I go to my page or post answers/ask questions only the little happy face shows up. There is a link to the right that says "View My Profile" then underneath that it says "Hidden". I have gone to settings, clicked the drop downs so that ALL can see. I have also gone to the settings, clicked on "Hide Profile" said yes go ahead and do it, then gone back and said "Unhide". Argh..I see other people's pictures displaying but mine will not. Any more suggestions?