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A Little Bit of Sanity and A Lot of Chaos: Mantel Makeover

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Mantel Makeover

I've been talking about bulking up our mantel since we moved in. I wanted to remove the existing one and put up a big chunky piece of reclaimed wood.

Well, T had a different idea. Sort of. He didn't want to remove the existing one, just in case the next owners wanted it. Ugghhh....so we compromised. Isn't that what marriage is all about? So we built a box to go around the current mantel. So, if we move, we can take it with us, or the next owners can do what they want with it.

We took it from this drab boring oak (Doesn't it look so sad and boring?):


To this fantastic, amazing, gorgeous chunk of wood:



By building this:


I'm pretty sure he hated this project. He wanted to do it, and he likes building things, but it presented some challenges along the way. Like cutting things a teensy tiny bit too short and having to carve out part of the inside so that it fit snugly around the existing mantel.


I did the same treatment to it that I did to the stairs, minus the coats of poly.



It's Cordovan Brown stain with a dry brushed brown paint and then another coat of stain. I banged it up with a wrench and put some worm holes in with a screw (Ha - just remembered that I used the wrench to pound in the screw.... crazy fool. Which is why I have a bruised knuckle...slammed my hand with the wrench. What I won't do for my house.)



I love it just as much as I love the stairs. I just want to hang out by it. For some reason I feel like it totally changes the feel of the room to more of a rustic feel. Which I totally wanted and love.

Oh, and I'm totally laughing at the laundry room stuff and hubby being too tall. For two reasons. One, he rarely goes into the laundry room! Even though that's where he's supposed to put his coat and shoes. And two - he's only 5'10". I actually feel like I have to duck when I step under the light, even though I won't hit it and I'm 5'5".

I love when projects work.

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7 Comments:

Blogger Debbiedoos said...

And that was a fabulous makeover, I love the silver urns, and your touch of yellow flowers, so pretty!~

April 7, 2010 at 8:13 AM  
Blogger Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

Oh that looks great! I love it with the stone. I wonder if it would look as good with my brick. I need to do something with mine. I still haven't even painted it yet. (Note to self: get off your butt and at least paint the mantel)

April 7, 2010 at 8:23 AM  
Blogger The House Creative said...

very pretty. I wish I had a nice mantel to decorate like this. Mine is home to my tv.

April 7, 2010 at 9:58 AM  
Blogger Rustique Gal said...

Kirsty, this is really nice, pretty, awesome! Good job to Hubby!
Sherry

April 7, 2010 at 11:21 AM  
Blogger Ashley Eiban said...

Oh I am so jealous of your fireplace! I wish we had one to decorate in our home! Great job here! It looks so good! Love the touch of yellow you added!

April 7, 2010 at 12:32 PM  
Blogger Kolein said...

You guys never cease to amaze me!!! I love the cover over the mantle...and your eye catching accessories on top! I love just standing next to things I do and love in my home! Right now, well, in a few minutes I'll be leaning up against a wall that I just washed. It looks like I repainted!! ;D

April 7, 2010 at 1:55 PM  
Blogger Katie Olthoff said...

That is a HUGE improvement. It goes so much better with the stone!

April 7, 2010 at 2:07 PM  

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