Fireplace Makeover

When we first moved into our house, the fireplace was...big and green to put it nicely. The front room wasn't incredibly large and the hearth took up a lot of it.  There was also a decorative oak mantel with a small box on top of it.  Something had to be done. Then I saw this fireplace makeover from The Lettered Cottage.  I was smitten.  I wanted mine to be just like it.  Luckily Layla gave a tutorial which I copied and I couldn't be happier with it.

We started by removing the tile on the hearth and then cutting off the hearth altogether.  The decorative oak mantel was not permanantely attached and so we slipped it off to reveal a small metal box that probably houses the duct work.  Our plans are to basically wall it over to either side of the mantel and up to the ceiling.  For now though we have this...

Much better.  I love the thick chunky wood mantel in contrast with the white wood and our grey walls.

We have it decked out for the holidays.  Well not really decked out, more simply decorated.  I saw a pin on Pinterest with a stocking holder made from a tree branch and I had an idea.  There is a tree right next to our house that had a big branch that was rubbing against the side of our house.  This would be a perfect way to kill two birds with one stone.  Sometimes we just need the right motivation to get a job done.  

So we cut the branch down and spray painted it with a light coating of white paint.  We used fishing wire to attach the stockings to the branch.

Ahhh, much better!

Linking to:
http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/
http://todayscreativeblog.net/ 
http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/ 
http://tatertotsandjello.com/