DIY Faux Fireplace

Or 101 things to use fence planks for.......................

We have a ton of wood here because of all the renovations - and though some of it was bought for different projects - they didn't happen and so I decided:

Suzan says - Do you think we could build a faux fireplace for the bedroom?
John says - No - the room's small enough
Suzan says - How much room does a little fireplace take up?
John says - I KEEP telling you I'm NOT a damned carpenter -
Suzan says - We once made one for every room ( to cover radiators - they turned out brilliant - does anyone else remember past projects with sadness that they weren't blogging then? )
John says - That was different
Suzan says - We have all kinds of wood here - we'll make it a weekend project - c'mon - it'll be soooo nice.
John says - We already have 2 fireplaces in the house - we don't need 3

But he soon saw the error in his ways - when I explained at supper time that we'd already had breakfast and lunch and we didn't NEED a third meal.

WARNING !
We are not carpenters as John so eloquently put it -
This is a faux fire place for dummies - seriously - D.U.M.M.I.E.S.

Counter sunk holes?  Fuggedaboudit
Hidden screw holes?  Ya gotta be kiddin' me
Perfectly measured wood?  Overrated

Truly, a ten year old could make this one ( which is right around our skill level )

First we cut the 3 main pieces of wood ( make sure you have a WHITE furry blanket to work on that you later spill stain on................)

We simply attached the three pieces using brackets...................

Suzan stands over him and says - Please make sure you get the brackets straight
John says - Why?  What does it matter?
John says - Are you going to get dressed today?

Suzan says - Maybe - maybe not - these are my " work " pajamas
John says - I hate them
John says - Can you go blog somebody while I'm working?

I think they look very Christmas-y myself.
Okay - here's the 3 pieces bracketed together

At this point you could call it a day - do a little magic on it with moldings and such and just have a mantel you can attach directly to the wall  ( which was my original plan )

But I decided I wanted to box it in...............so there was actual depth to it -
Here comes the fence planks again ( you must be so sick of seeing fence plank projects by now - but I promise you they are no officially finished lol )

We cut out the niches to allow it to fit flush against the wall - the larger one for the baseboard - the smaller one for the quarter round

and then we attached it with carpenters glue and nails -

This is what it looks like from the back - pretty rudimentary to say the least

But when you turn it around, it's starting to look like a fireplace !!!

And so far it's been 2 steps -
Bracketing the 3 main pieces of wood together................
And attaching 4 fence planks to box it in.

Now we're ready to dress it up and at this point it becomes more a personal taste job - we put picture molding around the " legs " in 2 sections -
These hide the places where the fence and the planks of wood meet..................
There's also a thicker chunk inbetween the two....................
A fence plank was cut down to size and an applique applied to it in the center.
Again using carpenter glue and nails

Then I took at least 20 photos of the small Christmas tree plants I bought from Ikea -
Seriously - when I went to grab the photos for this post - they were right smack in the middle of this sequence - talk about a blogger with A.D.D. - I need to be medicated I think

Okay back to the fireplace -
Next I framed out the fence plank in the middle with the same picture molding - making it look more like a raised panel

and the same on the legs ( I can't think of what else to call the side pieces !!! )

And at this point it was ready to be stained or painted or bleached or whatever you prefer !

It's not completely finished yet - the footings on the bottom have been a source of a nightmare or 2 for us but they'll get done - as soon as we're speaking to each other again :)
Those medallions in the top part of the frame?  Not attached yet.
Oh and we haven't finished the mantel on top either - I have the wood - I just haven't painted it yet - so for now you get to see an almost finished faux fire place - because I've delayed this post long enough now !

I painted it with Paris Grey and the trim is done in a white wash of Pure White ( Annie Sloan Chalk Paint )
A very light hand was used - almost dry brushing it - to keep it looking old and antqiued

And here it is in the bedroom

With a third mantel to decorate for Christmas lol

And even if it's a DIY for Dummies - ( and it really is ) this dumb blonde is happy to be this far along in the project !

We had most of the supplies on hand - but even if you had to purchase the wood it would cost ( roughly )

Plank of wood - cut to size - 20.00
4 Fence planks - 12.00
Moldings - 10.00
Appliques - 10.00
Plank of wood for mantel - 10.00
Working alongside your better half and getting 2 days of the silent treatment because of mitered corners gone wrong?
PRICELESS !!!

And approximately 60.00 :)

Suzan says - I'd LOVE to make a small one for the guest room
Suzan says - John?
Suzan says - JOHN?
John says - Good-night Suz- anne....................

Update - To see how I created a faux marble mantel you can click HERE

Have a wonderful day everyone !
Much love,
Me

Looking for inspiration?
Join me at these fabulous parties !

The DIY Dreamer                                    Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design                                         Beyond the Picket Fence
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson               From my Front Porch to Yours
From my Front Porch to Yours                 French Country Cottage
The Shabby Art Boutique                         My Turn for Us
My Romantic Home                                 Funky Junk Interiors
The 36th Ave                                           Life on Lakeshore Drive
Between Naps on the Porch                     Sand & Sisal
A Stroll Thru LIfe                                    Too Much Time on my Hands
Classy Clutter                                          I Should be Mopping the Floor
The Scoop                                              Kathe with an E
The Dedicated House                              Remodelaholic