Alright — welcome if you are new here. I’m glad you stopped by. Over the past few months I’ve been slowly working on an entry makeover, and right now I’m focused on adding a faux fireplace mantel. Yesterday I shared reader ideas and the inspiration image for the mantel. Today I’ll explain how I plan to reinterpret that inspiration in my own way. It’s not finished yet, so this isn’t the big “after” reveal — it’s a work in progress. I’m hoping it won’t take too long, but we’ll see.
There were lots of great suggestions from readers — an antique screen or decorative vent would have been beautiful — but those options weren’t realistic for my budget or timeline. So I’m taking a different approach that’s practical and affordable for my space.
Inspiration image: Skonahem
I found white ventilated shelves (shown in the top photo) at Lowe’s. My plan is to use two of them side by side, lengthwise, to fill the opening and create a screen-like appearance in the mantel. It won’t be an exact copy of the inspiration photo, but using the shelves should give a similar light, textured feel. Picture the inspiration image without the lattice — just a softer, shelf-style cover.
When I pitched the idea to my husband, he gave me that look — like I was a little crazy. “Shelves?” he asked. He’s not a big DIY fan; mentioning projects makes his eyes glaze over. He’d rather not get involved the way John and Sherry from Young House Love do projects together.
To be fair, he’s nervous about me leading this project because I’m not the handiest person. I don’t own many tools, and I tend to want the finished result more than I enjoy the process. I’ve been known to cause accidental damage, so this could be risky. The most nerve-wracking thing is that I’m telling you all about it before it’s complete — which makes me feel vulnerable but also keeps me motivated.
I’ve tackled covering up fireplace niches before, and that project was straightforward. The mantel cover I did previously was simple and satisfying, so I’m optimistic about this one even though it’s more complicated.
There’s a decent chance something will go awry with this makeover, and not everyone will love the result. I’m accepting that risk as part of working on a budget and moving forward. I’m determined to finish the entry and make it feel more complete.
If you missed the other side of the entry — the wall to the left of the mantel — you can see it in my painting stripes post.
Coming up:
Alongside this fireplace project, here are a few posts I’ll be sharing soon:
- Paint Colors — where I’m headed, where I’ve been, and what I consider when choosing wall colors.
- Before and After: My Front Door — a proper before-and-after reveal to continue the entry makeover series.
- The Upstairs Bathroom Makeover Reveal — finally showing the finished room.
- The start of my Office Makeover Project — I’m excited to begin this one.
Seattle is expecting a big snowstorm Wednesday, so I’ve stocked up on comfort food and plan to hunker down. I love a good snowstorm — as long as I’m safe and warm inside!