How I Found My Vintage Mantel

Ever since I was of house buying age I’ve dreamed of a beautiful fireplace and mantel. In my childhood home we had a gorgeous stone fireplace (not the thin stone veneer … but the real thing) that stretched up to the tip of our cathedral ceiling. I think it was at least 12 feet tall. As kids, we’d scale that fireplace up to the top. My brother would hide his money on the ledge of the top stone. And when I was 5, I hit my head on the corner of that fireplace which split my head open, spilling blood all over my mother’s white carpet. You can still see the scar from the stitches. But my taste in a fireplace is more old-fashioned and I’ve longed for a vintage mantel.

Painted Vintage MantelI have yet to own a home with a fireplace, and the idea of putting a mantel on a wall (without a fireplace) seems fake to me.  I like the real deal.

 

Painted Vintage MantelBut never say never! A couple weeks ago, hubby and I visited a consignment shop and I saw a beautiful vintage mantel on the far wall. I walked around the room looking at other stuff, pretending I couldn’t hear it calling my name.

 

Painted Vintage Mantel DetailsSlowly I sidled up to get a closer look at the details.

 

Painted Vintage Mantel DetailsI shouldn’t have gotten so close. I shouldn’t have run my hand over the carved details. I looked at the price tag, took another long glance at that vintage mantel and burned its image in my brain. Then I walked away and out the door.

 

Country Style Vintage MantelBut the memory lingered on, and this past weekend I got up off the couch and said, “We’re going back to the consignment shop.” Hubby has learned not to ask questions. He didn’t need to; he knew exactly what was going on.

 

Country Style Vintage MantelSo how did I get over my hangup of having a mantel without a fireplace? My fellow bloggers!  I’ve seen so many beautiful mantels in blogger homes, like the gorgeous ones at French Country Cottage, and they’ve given me the confidence to go faux! The mantel replaces the desk and shelf that were on this wall. The desk has been relocated and I don’t yet know what I’m doing with that old barn shelf.

 

Yellow Gerbera Daisies in White Ironstone PitcherI had to get a close-up shot of my yellow Gerbera daisies. They add a little sunshine!

 

Painted Vintage MantelThe next step is to find a pretty upholstered chair or two to create a cozy conversational area. For now, I just wanted to stage this area so I could share with you how I found my vintage mantel. I can’t wait to decorate it for the holidays.  Easter can’t come soon enough!

 

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12 Comments

  1. Congratulations! Your mantel is beautiful!
    Your description of how you come to own the mantel is precious.
    I suspect there are many of us that have had a similar experience. 🙂

  2. You sound like me walking around that shop. And if you hadn’t gone back to get the mantel it would’ve haunted you for a long time. Congratulations that it was still there. 🙂 I looks beautiful. I have wanted to build one for my studio/cottage for a long time. I may use this one as an inspiration.

    1. I got them both at the same time and put one in the living room and the other in the study. Then later when I was painting the study, I got the brilliant idea that it would work perfectly in our bedroom! And it does!! Its beautiful and it holds the tv and it so much more narrow and out of the way than any other piece of furniture that I had tried to hold the tv.

  3. Who cares is its a working fireplace, if you love the mantel you should have it and make it work. You could always add a fireplace grate and some flameless candles for the effect.

  4. A mantel does not need a “working fireplace”….it is a most amazing architectural element to stand on its own…I love the way people decorate their homes with gorgeous mantel surrounds…I love them as great headboards too….So happy that you found one that is perfect for your home and one that truly makes you smile every time to walk by it!

  5. I did the same thing in our old house without a fireplace. Found mine for $35. We had to tweak it a little to make it fit.
    I put a cream colored faux wood stove in front of it. It is the focal point of the room, and I love it! Fun to decorate for the seasons! Hope you enjoy yours!