DIY Fireplace Mantle With Found Objects

I have been desperately wanting a fireplace mantle for several years now... For me, there is nothing like a beautifully decorated mantle during all the seasons of the year. A mantle is the centerpiece of a room. Even if there is no fireplace to go with it, a mantle adds an element of warmth and comfort to a space. I love our little "real" fireplace in our kitchen, but its sole purpose is to heat the home, not to decorate. There is no mantle for me to adorn with flowers, pictures and seasonal decor. Our living room (which originally was used as a bedroom) had no fireplace. It was the perfect area to put a gorgeous mantle in. My friends and I scoured flea markets, antique shops, and online yard-sales for several months. To my disappointment, I was never able to score one...

One day, in a little village near a castle, my friend, Fair Maiden Beverly, found a fireplace insert (space heater) that flickered and looked pretty realistic. I have no idea why I started writing this like it was a fairy tale... It was only 30 gold shillings...I mean Euro, since it was used of course. It was the perfect purchase for us since we were in need of a space heater as well! Why have an ugly metal heater when you can have one that looks like fire! 

We decided we were going to build me a mantle to fit around the heater! 

Here is the room before we moved in...

 Like many of our other projects...our budget to build the mantle was.... nothing. We are mere peasants after all...Like I mentioned before folks, we are saving for our trip to Italy. 

We climbed in the old part of the barn and found a ton of old barn wood and beams laying in a pile. Ends up, the landlord was going to trash it, thank goodness for us! He cut the wood to the right size and attached them all together. We found other little pieces of wood to create trim with. Nothing matches perfectly and I like it this way.

 

 I found a piece of molding in a dump pile after cleaning up from the plague. I  painted and distressed it along with all the wood so it all looked like it belonged together. I attached it to the front and it fit perfectly! We hung the large beam on brackets since it was so incredibly heavy. Along with the rest of the junk in the old part of the barn, we discovered this 130 year old barn door! It was original to our home and where they used to throw hay out of! The (female) pediment was off of a Victorian door in San Francisco. I  purchased it a few years back at a yard sale. Everything fit together as if it was always meant to be this way...

 The ladder helps me to climb onto my unicorn...

 The fireplace insert easily slides in and out so we can use it in other rooms. I plan on filling the mantle with candles during the spring and summer months.

I always find that my biggest disappointments end up being turned into my favorite ideas. We now will have a piece of our German Barn with us wherever we go!

Ok, I am off to relax by my fireplace with my pup and finish a stupid t.v. series!

Later!

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