Reader Redesign: A Smokin’ Mantel Overhaul
As soon as we laid eyes on these amazing before and after pics, we were psyched to share this fab fireplace makeover. Talk about a transformation. Here’s Megan’s letter:
I’m a big fan of your website and also live in Richmond – isn’t this a great city? I really enjoy reading about other people’s DIY projects, so I thought I’d share our latest venture. When we moved to our 1970’s transitional, it had a floor to ceiling brick fireplace that was taking over the living room. We considered painting it white, but then decided to get a bit more adventurous. We removed the garish brick hearth and replaced it with tumbled marble stone. Then we finished off the top part of the fireplace to make it continuous with the surrounding wall. Finally, since we couldn’t find a prefab mantel that fit our measurements, we constructed a custom one using lots and lots of molding pieces from Home Depot. We spent a full weekend making mitre cuts so that everything would fit together, but it was totally worth it in the end. We definitely would encourage others to renovate their fireplace! It takes patience, but in the end it isn’t an expensive project and gives a lot of bang for the buck. Be sure to research fire safety codes for your area – there are quite a few specifications on what kind of materials can be against brick and how close you can get to the firebox. Hope you enjoy the pictures of the process! Keep up the good work with the website!! – Megan
Is that not a wowee of a makeover of what? Thanks so much for the pictures Megan! We love what you and the hubs have done (so ambitious!) and the results are truly stunning. That room went from country to current in no time flat! What do you guys think? Are you inspired to spend the weekend sledgehammering your hearth and mitreing some molding?
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That is awesome! I love that shade of green. Way to go, Megan!
Beautiful! I’m a huge fan of green paint, too, but can’t find the right shade for my kitchen. What is the brand/color, if you don’t mind sharing?
I think this is one of the most impressive diy before and afters I’ve seen.
In LOVE with the shade of green too. Do tell, do tell! Great job!
That is amazing! Great job!
What a transformation! What a great color scheme. With some different accessories, it really makes it a completely different room. Awesome work!
That makeover is great! It helps the wainscotting/chair rail stand out and become the detail it’s supposed to be in the room.
They did a great job modernizing that fireplace!
It’s awesome. I love the colors, the chair rail, the rug, the coffee table… I could go on.
Is that stone beneath the chair rail? It doesn’t look like paneling?
WOW! That is an amazing transformation, just beautiful. Love that green too!
Stunning! Makes me wish our house had a fireplace to makeover.
What a clever re-do. It looks amazing, and really makes the whole room (as does not having the granny furniture). Love it, and thanks for sharing this project with us.
What a beautiful job! I love the green-very close to our kitchen color.
Thanks for all the kind words everyone! We definitely like our ‘after’ room much better! :)
The green paint is Brookside Moss by Benjamin Moore. It goes on VERY bright and scared me half to death, but the color is beautiful when it dries!
Megan
Absolutely beautiful! And I love that green too.
I have virtually the same before fireplace (except, I don’t even have a mantel to place things on.) My husband and I have been conflicted over how to renovate the whole thing, but I think with these pictures, he will be able to see what I have been talking about. Job well done.
Bravo on the HUGE mitre job! I still shudder 10 years after my husband and I attempted it.
Gorgeous!!
What a great transformation. It’s amazing what some elbow grease and creative ingenuity can do!
I love the look of the new fireplace, EXCEPT for removing the raised hearth. I like raised hearths so much better, and they are functional (an couple extra places to sit for a party).