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
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
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