When we received a letter from Jacky detailing her mantle makeover, we were excited to share the before-and-after photos. Here’s her note:
I’m a big fan of your site, and I wanted to share my living room transformation. We had an oddly shaped concrete mantle and left it untouched for more than two years. After reading through your archives, I finally felt inspired to redo the entire mantle wall. I started by buying two pieces of reclaimed wood molding and a 1×12 board for $30 and built a custom mantle top.
Since my husband was busy with work, I tackled the carpentry myself. Using a chop saw and finish nails, I assembled the pieces and applied two coats of semi-gloss white primer and paint. Because the concrete surround looked dingy next to the freshly painted mantle top, I painted the concrete the same white and set the new mantle cap on top. I love the curve of the crown molding against the crisp white paint.
My next challenge was the large mirror above the mantle. I wanted a smaller framed mirror at first, but couldn’t find one that fit our budget. Instead of removing the heavy mirror, I built a wood frame to fit over it. I used salvaged molding that cost 35 cents per foot, cut 45-degree corners for the joints, and finished the frame with two coats of rich ebony stain. Installing it was a little tricky until a hardware store employee suggested double-sided tape — it worked perfectly and made installation so easy! – Jacky
Here’s the before photo showing Jacky’s curved concrete mantle and oversized frameless mirror:
And the beautifully updated mantle with the new, elegant framed mirror:
That’s true DIY spirit, Jacky — and accomplished with your own two hands. Thanks so much for sharing!