Inspiration image: Skonahem via Brown Button
A few weeks ago I shared my faux fireplace mantel and the dilemma I was trying to solve. I wanted to add a mantel surround in my entry to create character, even though there is no functional fireplace. The problem was an awkwardly placed cold air return vent on the wall where I wanted the mantel—classic design challenge!
My goal was to keep the mantel on that wall but conceal the vent without blocking airflow. I also wanted the mantel to read as an intentional architectural element in the room, not a random afterthought.
I opened the comments to get your creative ideas and was amazed by more than 200 thoughtful suggestions. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share. I read and considered every option as I weighed the best solution for my space.
Practical considerations influenced my decision: limited time (so I preferred a relatively simple solution), a modest budget, and the look of the mantel in the actual room versus a photo. Style also mattered—I wanted the final result to suit our home.
Many readers sent inspiration photos and suggestions. My friend Darlene from Fieldstone Hill kindly forwarded links to antique grates that would have been beautiful. I loved the idea of the mantel reading as a deliberate architectural statement, not just a faux piece.
Ultimately, I couldn’t find an appropriate antique grate locally—I live on a peninsula where sourcing unique items can be difficult without traveling or ordering online. I decided against ordering sight unseen in case it didn’t feel right in person.
One standout suggestion came from Patti, who pointed me to a Brown Button post with a photo that closely matched my wall’s angled layout and the mantel’s proportions. The example was especially helpful because the proposed “screen” design would conceal the air return while preserving airflow, and it visually integrated the mantel and screen into a single, solid architectural element.
Skonahem via Brown Button
I particularly liked that the insert in the inspiration photo was white rather than black. The lighter screen gave the entire mantel a chunkier, more unified appearance that felt substantial and intentional.
With that image in mind, I went hunting locally for something similar. I wasn’t expecting to find an exact match, but I hoped to discover a workable solution that I could adapt to my space. Fortunately, I came across an option that felt like the right direction. It won’t be identical to the inspiration photo, and that’s fine—photos should spark your own interpretation of an idea.
Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll reveal what I found and how it worked in the space!