Caitlin Creer Interiors
Being a fall lover, I adore everything cozy — and that definitely includes fireplaces. They make a room feel warm and inviting, provide a clear focal point, and are fun to style for each season.
I usually decorate a mantel for spring, fall, and Christmas. This year, though, I’m skipping my fall mantel because the fireplace is getting a makeover.
No, that photo is not of my fireplace. If only! The fireplace pictured above and below, by Caitlin Creer Interiors, is the inspiration for our project. While our tile and hearth will differ, the treatment above the mantel will be similar to what you see here.
You might recall when I mentioned plans for planking and shared inspiration photos.
No, not the kind of planking Jack likes to do — I mean horizontal paneling. This style is exactly the kind of look I’ve been imagining for this fireplace.
Caitlin Creer Interiors
My fireplace has always been a bit of a challenge. I appreciate having it — I love that it turns on with a switch and I like the mantel surround — but the huge TV niche above the mantel has been problematic. If we mounted our TV there, it would be way too high to watch comfortably because our fireplace is tall.
To make the room functional, our TV sits on the wall to the right of the fireplace so the sofa can face it directly. That setup keeps our necks comfortable while watching shows.
Because I like decorating the mantel, I’ve improvised to hide the large niche with cabinet doors or a leaning mirror. Those quick fixes have worked, but I wanted a permanent solution to make the room feel more finished and cohesive.
Beyond the niche, I’ve never been fond of the tile — it’s not just black tile as it appears in photos; it’s actually a flecked granite that reads glittery and gold in person, which clashes with the cozy cottage vibe I want. The large dark surround also reads like a big black hole in the room.
I’m ready to finish a few lingering projects. While I enjoy renovations, my true pleasure is nesting — creating comfortable, finished spaces I can relax in without big projects looming in every corner.
I’m thrilled to have the staircase completed and both the living and dining rooms at a point where I can call them done for now.
My kitchen has been stalled for a while — projects seem to move slowly — and that’s why I haven’t updated much. The functional kitchen work is largely complete, but the cabinets still need painting. I’m waiting on a reliable painter, which has been harder to find than expected.
While I wait, I made lists of small tasks I want completed before the holidays. It helps me feel like progress is being made even when work is on hold.
Since the family area and kitchen share the same space, I want them to feel cohesive. That was the reason we removed the breakfast bar cabinets — to improve flow. Above is how the family kitchen looked at the start of the summer.
We have made noticeable progress since then, and reminding myself of that helps when things feel slow.
Earlier this summer I had the walls painted in Polished Grey by Glidden with the ceiling in Wood Smoke. I decided the house wanted shades of blue, so I shifted the palette toward blue and brown undertones. The gray reads blue in our lighting, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I like it. Once the room is fully set up, I expect to love it.
And yes, there’s currently a mattress leaning against the wall — it seems there’s always some random large item cluttering our space until a project is finished.
We painted the wall in a lighter tone and used a slightly darker color on the ceiling to give the room more coziness and character. The plan was to add a flat molding trim as a clean dividing line between the two colors for some architectural detail.
That’s the plan — and it’s the stage we’re at for now.
Good news: our kitchen contractor returned to help finish several unfinished tasks we’ve been living with all summer. We’re not expert DIY carpenters, so having professional help should finally move these projects toward completion.
I’ve also added a few requests for work in the hall by our command center and in the main entry to help tie things together and make the home feel more finished. I’m full of ideas; I just need the right help to bring them to life.
The final steps after cabinet painting and new trim are installing flooring where the kitchen meets the family room, painting all trim, and hanging new bamboo blinds. Bit by bit, we’re inching toward the finish line.
Thanks for following along!
Stay tuned at 7PM PST for the Fall Nesting Mantel & Porch Linky!
Come back then to link up your fall posts — I’ll post the linky at that time.
If you missed the last Fall Nesting party and want to see what was linked up, you can find all the links in the Fall Around The House post.