Inspiration image: Skonahem via Brown Button
A few weeks ago I shared my faux fireplace mantel and the little dilemma I wanted to solve. I wanted to install a mantel surround in the entryway to add character, but a cold air return vent sat awkwardly on the wall where I planned to place it. Typical, right? There’s always some snag.
My goal was to keep the mantel on that wall while hiding the vent without obstructing airflow, and to make the mantel feel like a deliberate architectural element rather than an afterthought.
To get ideas, I opened the previous post’s comments and asked for suggestions. I was delighted to receive over 200 creative responses—thank you to everyone who took the time to share your ideas. I read and considered each one carefully.
When making my decision I balanced several constraints: limited time (I have a long list of projects), a preference to avoid complicated DIY work, and a desire to keep costs low. I also needed a solution that would actually look right in the room and suit our home’s style.
People sent inspiring photos and great suggestions. My friend Darlene from Fieldstone Hill even emailed links to beautiful antique grates—she understood my goal of making the mantel feel like a purposeful, attractive architectural statement rather than just a faux mantel. I appreciated her help.
In the end, I couldn’t find an antique grate locally—living on a peninsula makes it harder to find unique pieces unless you travel or shop online—and I didn’t want to risk ordering something that might not work once I saw it in person.
One stand-out suggestion came from Patti, who pointed me to a photo on Brown Button. The room in that image had a layout similar to my angled wall and the look of the mantel I envisioned.
Skonahem via Brown Button
What appealed to me in that inspiration photo was the design of the screen: it would cover the air return vent without restricting airflow, and it visually united the mantel and screen into one cohesive architectural feature.
Another detail I liked was that the insert in the photo was white rather than black. The light color made the mantel read as a chunkier, more unified piece, which felt intentional and substantial.
With that image saved on my phone, I began hunting for a similar solution nearby. I wasn’t expecting to find an exact match, but I hoped for something that captured the same idea. Inspiration often leads to your own interpretation, and that’s perfectly fine.
Stay tuned for my next post—I’ll show you what I found. Yes, a little cliffhanger!