Our heart pine planks are fresher than ever…
…they’re a brand new mantel beam now! 😀
I’m going to deepen the color of it with some tinted wax this week, and I know we’ve still got a ways to go, but I can hardly wait to decorate it! 😀 I made sure it was 10″ deep so that I’d have plenty of display space.
It’s a verrrrry heavy beam, so it took a double layer of 2x4s behind it to secure it:
Eventually, a (white) mantel (and corbels) will be installed beneath it, so there will be more support underneath it.
Here are a couple of shots of the inside of the beam…
(The sides of the beam won’t show once the cabinets on each side of it are installed.)
…and here’s a close-up of the new hearth:
It looks like concrete (which I love), but it’s actually limestone. It’s sealed with a matte finish (granite) sealer that you only have to re-apply every 15 years.
I’ll be back Tuesday night with some new photos of the waxed beam and blue-gray painted wood!
Layla, this question is unrelated to today’s post and I apologize if it’s been asked and answered before. I’m curious as to whether you prepare your son for his new surroundings by showing him photographs of home, friends, family, neighborhood, etc?
Your new fireplace surround and mantel will be lovely!!
Can’t wait to see it all completed!
I sure would love to know how you get your ideas. I look at things and just can’t imagine how they could be changed. You really have a gift.
Janet
Here’s a link to the post that shows a photo the fireplace that inspired our makeover, Janet! 😀
https://theletteredcottage.net/fireplace-facelift/
Oh My! I just went over to browse at Muskoka Living. I clearly have not been looking in the right neighborhood for inspiration. Wow!
I love your fireplace! Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us! I Love the limestone! It that a certain color or is all limestone that color? Also did you purchase it through a granite store or lowes/Home Depot?
Thank you, Sheridan! The limestone is called ‘Indiana Gray’ and we got it from the folks at Acme Brick in Montgomery, Alabama. 🙂
Layla,
We did a fireplace remodel similar to yours with a beam almost identical! We used stainable veneer for the sides. It was super easy. And you can’t tell that it’s veneer at all you can search for it on pinterest by looking for “removed ugly lava rock” it pops right up.
Yours looks beautiful by the way! Ours was a progress photo too. I haven’t gotten around to posting a finished photo. 🙂
Ooh! It’s so pretty, Janelle! 😀
The sides of our mantel will be covered up by some built-in cabinetry, but that veneer stuff sounds awesome!
Would you mind staring where you found your carpet under that picture of your beam? Thank you so much for your blog.
Sure thing, Wendy!
https://theletteredcottage.net/living-room-update-flor-carpet-squares/