Painted & Chunky Fireplace Mantel

I can't leave my fireplace mantel alone...

I think it's because I am not loving the TV up there - but after talking it over with my family we all decided that it should stay - for now.

Why change it?

The top seemed "heavy" compared to the light, white trim below.

I added some old IKEA scrap wood to the outside of the white trim by screwing it into the wall. Then I was able to layer other pieces over it to make the base of the mantel wider and chunky looking.

Since this mantel isn't going to be permanent - I just used my nail gun to attach the wood to each other - not to the original mantel underneath. The whole thing can come apart pretty easily with a hammer. No glue was used at all.

Iron brackets.

The paint color is called Artichoke from Lowe's (Valspar). It's a pretty grey with greenish undertones.

The walls are Carrington Beige by Benjamin Moore.

White accents really stand out against the black marble and chunky grey wood.

If my wood had all matched - I may have kept it all dark walnut stain but I was reusing wood I had on hand.  Maybe I should have painted it white. Hmmm...

In a way, I like the challenge of making this rented house look a little more custom to our style but I can still be able to turn it back to original pretty easily.

View more mantel projects HERE.

Follow my Fireplace Mantel Pinterest Board HERE.

Sharing with: Funky Junk Interiors, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia