I think I mentioned a while back that I've wanted to paint my fireplace mantel in my living room. I've had this "bee in my bonnet" for months now and I finally finished it yesterday and I so love it!
Here are some before's. This is a faux fireplace. We built a shallow box to attach the mantel and I've always had a mirror proped up inside
Old picture from 2006 when I still had the faux finish on my walls (gee how my look has changed!) and we hadn't yet taken out the dining room window and replaced it with french doors.
I bought the mantel about 10 years ago at the Lakewood Flea Market here in Atlanta. It was the end of the last day of the flea market and I had looked at all the mantels on the way in but they were way more than what I wanted to pay. So on the way out I stopped by again and sure enough the seller was willing to drastically slash the price. She didn't want to have to pack them all up in her truck again!!
This is April of 2008. Notice I've painted the walls!
This is the after
I can't tell you how much I LOVE it painted white!!
I put almost all my mercury glass on top.
Instead of having a framed mirror inside I decided to attach a frameless one inside and I love how it looks! Origainally I thought about attaching some tiles to the part that's black but right now I'm liking the contrast of the black and white. Maybe sometime in the future if I find the right tiles.
I'm really loving the yummy contrast of the shinyness of the mercury glass against the white of the mantel!
I don't think I'll put the fpl screen back up. I like it much better without
Just a bit of primer and paint and I have a whole new look for very little money! Now on to other things! I'll be back Wednesday with a few things I've gotten at the thriftstore in past few weeks and a fun makeover. Have a great week everyone!
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76 comments:
Oh wow! I love love love the white too! It is so crisp and clean and stunning!!!! and I like it w/o the screen also...just looks more refined and not so cluttered! and oh man, I need to find me some mercury glass because it is so stunning on there! Love it! Great work!!!!!! Anytime you want to paint something else....feel free to stop by my house! hehe!
So lovely! You are an inspiration!
wow, what a transformation! it looks great!!!!!!
Really, really love the white. What a wonderful look. Also like the mercury glass on the mantle.
Love the white on the fireplace. It makes it a real standout piece in your room. The mercury glass is the perfect touch for the setting. Good Job!
That looks great!
I love it! Isn't it amazing what a little paint can do? Your fireplace looks AMAZING! Also, I LOVE your blog banner~ the fabric on your little table on it is beautiful. :) I have been looking for some like that for a while for some chair seats I am going to recover.
I love your blog! I'll be back again! :) Have a great day!
It does make a huge differnce! That Mercury Glass is beautiful. How long have you been collecting?
Your mercury glass is calling to me!!! I love it. The white is so fresh, and I love the golden glow of the whole look!
What a brilliant job you have done. You should be so proud of yourself. A can of paint is indeed a wondrous thing bt it also needs the inspiration and that doesn't come in a can. Margaret
Awww. I love the new look. I have been aiming to put a faux fireplace in my bedroom. This truly inpsires me!
Beautiful Blessings~Kelly Maria
Your fireplace looks wonderful! I love the look you've got and it's fun to have something that you're so happy with. A couple of years ago we completely 'remodeled' our old 60's version fireplace and we've never regretted it. I love it so much I can't seem to remember life before it was so beautiful. Thanks for sharing yours with us today. ~Adrienne~
Wow Manuela, you've done a great job. It is you, right there. You always amaze me with your skills. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.
Very Nice. What color is the wall cor by the way? Mishelle
So clean and sleek looking! Love it. Sally
LOL. I posted how you motivated me in today's post. I have been wanting to redo my fireplace and now I want to do it even more. I love your mercury glass on the mantle. So much sparkle!
Much improved. I like it better that way.
Ciao
I fireplace looks great, you did a fantastic job painting. And I LOVE the mercury glass!
This looks WONDERFUL! Loooooooove it!
Dawn
It looks beautiful, Manuela! And, I love your idea of a mirror in the opening. We have a fake fireplace mantle in our living room and you've given me some inspiration...thank you!
Wow, it looks great! Love all your mercury glass, it's amazing! I always get in the mood to paint or do some home-improvement projects in Sept after the kids have gone back to school or at the start of the New Year!
It's beautiful painted white! I love it!
Your mantel looks wonderful! The white looks so great, with your walls, love the mirror, in the fireplace and the one above! The mercury glass is so beautiful. When you find those perfect tiles, let me know for I need a few too. lol I just painted my mantel black!Not ready to show until all the sheet rock is finished. Hubby did a lot this week end. I may get the painting finished in family room this week! Cross my fingers! lol I left him notes written on the sheet rock in the family room and on the old boards in dining room saying Please finish me! He found them yesterday, and wrote back Please sand me and paint me. lol
You did a great job of the makeover. It looks wonderful!
Isn't it amazing what a coat of paint can do?
Hugs, Rhondi
It is stunning in white! I really love it!
Looks great, and I like the mercury glass on top. You did good! :-)
Glenda
Thanks for stopping by.
That is beautiful! Your mercury glass on top makes it so elegant.
It looks amazing. I love the mirror back there, and am glad you aren't covering it with the screen. it makes your paint look clean and fresh. Love it
-Laurel
That looks amazing Manuela! I love the white against the yellow wall. And the mirror inside is just perfect. You have a wonderful collection of mercury glass!
I love how paint can make something look so different.
I love it!
It's a great look...really like the mirror without the screen as well. Another fantastic makeover!
Looks great!
You never cease to amaze me. :)
By the way, I have Gardening When it Counts on my stack of books "to read soon".
I guess it is my longing for nicer weather that has me thinking of gardening.
OH! I absolutely LOVE it!!! The white looks perfect on it!!!!! Great job! ;)
Love the mercury glass and the fireplace looks very nice painted white....I spent the day bathed in white paint..I started the bedroom and the Ralph paint at $30 a gal. isn't cooperating...It might even need 3 coats...I love to paint walls but not over and over again...Have a good week....Sue.
Dear Manuela,
Your makeover is so beautiful!!! I love the mantle painted white! It is amazing what paint can do! Your mercury glass looks so pretty there, and I love the mirror in the fireplace! You decorate so pretty and your home reflects all the love and time you put into it!
Love, Paula
I was JUST thinking how my mother has always said someone had a bee in their bonnet! Well I'm glad you did...that looks amazing! So much better in white!
What a change! It looks great. your room have such a glow. Love it.
Debbie
Oooh...how gorgeous! I'm going to have to google mercury glass, I've never heard of it!
Wow ~ beautiful transformation, Manuela! It's truly amazing how a little paint and some creative vision can change the personality of a space. Your mercury glass collection is lovely. Well done!
SPECTACULAR.... as usual.... I love the white and the mercury glass is fabulous.... why don't I have any????/ I need to fix that....
Big hugs sweet one
Linda
That looks absolutely beautiful! I love the white and the mercury glass--it looks so fresh and shiny!
I love the white! The mercury glass is beautiful! I got out the white paint this weekend too and transformed an armoire. Now I want to sit and look at it all day!
Thanks for visiting. Guess what, I have finished sheet rock and a painted family room, still need moulding on doorways,floor, and crown. I am tempted to decorate any way!
Paint is a wonder isn't it. Your mantel looks wonderful. I love small projects that make a great impact.
Love the mercury glass too.
The white looks great with the Mercury glass. I love this kind of project, fast with a huge impact!
YES, your fireplace looks sooo much better painted white. I agree. Lovely collection of mercury glass too.
Blessings,
Sher
The mantle looks wonderful! I also bought a mantle at Lakewood one year and have it in my bedroom. I will have to look for a mirror to place inside.
I love your mercury glass! I bought my first 3 pieces from JCPenney's Christmas clearance last week. I cannot wait to add to my collection.
Yes, the white is much better! So crisp and clean...it just pops on the wall!
I love it.....perfect with the mercury glass...soo elegant. cherry
And what a beautiful new look you have! Great transformation. laurie
What a difference. Love it. Mimi
Thntle looks just wonderful painted white. The mercury glass is beautiful all together, what a lovely collection!
Love the new mantle look! Especially that mercury glass...oh,my! :)
Wonderful makeover Manuela. It's fabulous and I love how you've used the mercury glass!
I wish I had as much get up and go as you obviously do. I have lots of bees in my bonnet just precious little time for those projects. Love the results. Thanks as always for sharing.
Your fireplace mantel looks just perfect painted white. Although, I may be a bit biased as I would paint everything white if I could. A slight addiction. :)
Manuela, That is some makeover! I love the mercury glass lined up like that...it makes quite an impact.
LOVE it, DebraK
Beautiful...good job! Love the before and after shots :)
Manuela,
Yes, the white really pops! I have several mercury glass candles sticks and I really like them....great transformation you did....
We are remodeling our den and my mantel is being restyled....
Thanks for the visit and kind remark about our 'Book of Memories'.
Betty
I love it white too! It looks great with your candlesticks..you did a fantastic job as usual.
Love it! Great job!
The results are striking! Well done!
Oh, it looks great painted white! I can see why you are loving it better. ANd that mercury glass collection is just beautiful, lucky you for collecting so much of it.
What a delightful blog you have and beautiful home! Enjoyed my visit! ~Maryjane
I just love the whole look! You have such a nice, warm home. I will be looking forward to seeing what you got on your next post.
Have a great day.
Nicole~
I LOVE the fireplace makeover!! I was particularly interested because I just put a fireplace mantel and surround in our entry!!! I had someone build a base for it to stand on (like a little hearth) and then he painted it black (distressed it a bit). Our house is pretty new, with white wood work,so I had thought about using white on the mantel. However, I have several pieces of black furniture (old pieces painted black) and cherry and dark oak, so I went with the black on the fireplace to co-ordinate. I LOVE it, too! My only area of "I'm not so sure" about it is the firebox area. I didn't have the carpenter put a back on it, so you can see the wall. At Christmas, it looked great because I hung a big star in that area (I also had a basket of greenery with mini-lights on the hearth), but now it just jumps our at me. I loved the fireplace screen idea of yours and the mirror!!! They are both items I can switch in and our according to the season I'm decorating for---I'm sooo glad I checked on you today!!! Dana
Hi Manuela,
I love the white, it's so fresh!!
You did a great job as usual!!
Thanks for visiting me.
Rosemary
It looks so beautiful! I love the mercury glass-just gorgeous! Madeline
That mercury glass collection is just beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful Manuela...what a gorgeous fireplace. I love all your mercury glass on top as well...makes the whole area "sparkle".
Ruth
Oh Manuela!!! What a huge difference! I love it!
I had a white mantel and yellow walls in my old house...loved it so much...miss it!
I have never heard of Mercury Glass, I will have to research it, it's gorgeous!
Stop by my blogs this week, I am having 18 giveaways on Bella Casa and 1 on bella casa news :)
That is so wonderful. I prefer white wood work too. You did a beautiful job. xo rachel
I love your fireplace it is beautiful. I like what you did on the mantle. I always need help with that thank-you for the idea.
Ginger
Wow that is amazing!! I love the white but love the mirror even more!! I love that it's frameless -- makes it look like it's open to the next room. So cool!!
Your photo's are lovely and I love the fireplace makeover.
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