I shared my Fall mantel Monday and wanted to share how I made it.
I really wanted a mantel to decorate, but not a “faux” fireplace per say, so I grabbed one of my old doors and decided to just add a shelf and some trim moulding to it, then prop it up against the wall. Despite searching all over the internet for inspiration, I never found a door upcycle project like this, so I did my own thing with it, like I always do:-)
After I brought it into the room, I thought it just looked like a door propped up against the wall, and being between the other two dark doors, it didn’t stand out. My husband said it needed to be painted white. What?!?!? Don’t worry, you know how I love my wood, but this door was damaged on the other side, so I was ok painting it.
So I painted it white and found I did like that better, but then thought the shelf needed to be beefed up.
I added trim moulding from the old house and just started building it up exactly like a mantle would be.
I then decided I needed to add brackets to the sides, so I bought these at Lowes along with the smaller trim pieces. I had to notch out the bottom of the shelf bracket so the other piece would fit, and that worked great to make it look like one piece.
I was pretty happy with that, then my dad said I needed the shelf to be larger, so I added one more board to the top, then I added some baseboard trim on each side to define the bottom.
I painted and caulked then attached it to the wall through the stud behind.
I could not love it more. Just the suggestion of a fireplace has really cozied up this room, and I did it all myself using a hand saw:-) Since my husband’s injury last spring, we have both been power saw shy, and understandably, so the only cut made with the miter saw was the last board my dad insisted on cutting for me.
This is such an easy project and one that really makes a big impact in this room. It is definitely my favorite door upcycle so far. I still have a few doors left…who knows what I will come up with next:-)
I love this project, Anita, and would like to try it for my own bedroom. Thank you for the inspiration!
It turned out amazing!
Very nice. Love it and the heater is a perfect touch.
Beautiful work! Love the heater!
Wow…what a fantastic idea…I had not noticed at all that the mantel and surround was a door!…just love it!
Love it! Looks amazing.
Oh wow Anita, it turned out beautiful 😉 love it….
Smiles~
Mari
What a great idea! I have some doors in my attic!
Oh Anita, this is one of the coolest projects I've seen in a long time! Pretty, practical and doable! I totally love it!
Anita, you know I'm making me a mantle this coming week!
I'll share a pic!
Thanks for sharing this beauty!
When I saw this on your last post, I was not even aware that was a DOOR behind there! I thought it was part of the wall!!! Oh, my goodness, Anita. This rocks beyond belief! Good for you just doin' you own thing! "Your own thing" is what yields some of the most creative ideas out there in the land of blog! I don't have whatever gene it is that you have to create something like this, but I'm pinning it anyway in the hope that something will well up inside of me and make me do it!!! I've long wanted at least the illusion or feel of a fireplace in our master bedroom, and this is the solution that really sits best with me. FABULOUS!!! Well done!!!
This is such a cool idea, Anita. I love it! I'm pinning it to my DIY board. Thanks for sharing. xxx ~ Nancy
WOW!! Do I adore this!!! So very creative!!!