DIY Faux Fireplace

One of my favorite projects we completed recently is the faux fireplace I added to my shop (booth space).  

After years of helping homeowners decorate their mantels for every holiday and season -- I knew that I not only had car-loads of mantel decor, but I also might be able to share some decorating tips through my displays.  Plus I thought it would add a cozy touch to my space :)

I was struck with the idea after I saw Sophia's shared on Apartment Therapy . . .

Source:  Apartment Therapy

Sophia was fortunate enough to have a really nice, oversized mantel available to use -- SWOON!  All the flea-market mantels I came across were WAY out of my price range -- so I decided to enlist the help of my hubby and bro-in-law to help me make one.

Here is what I used, in all the cost was less than $50 :::

• wall mount floating shelf 48" wide (similar to this); our shelf was 10" deep that we had on display at our old house and never found a good spot for it in our new one.  I honestly do not remember where we bought it.
• 48x48" plywood, we used 1/4" sheet as a base for the firebox surround, the shelf was mounted on top of the 48" sheet.
• 1/8" plywood cut for firebox surround (fastened to the top of the 48" sheet)
• Classic Pilasters from Lowe's
• Set of 2 Corbels also from Lowe's (just used the ones I liked best with the Pilasters)
• Nail Gun, Wood Glue, Caulk, Paint, chalk-marker and chalk.  Roller, brush etc.

I also used 2 sets of Damask Wall Accents from Southern Living at Home, that I had on hand.  This added a bit of fanciness to the fireplace surround.

Here is where you are going to have to use a bit of your imagination.  I asked my son to remove a game he installed on my phone . . . he wiped my phone, clearing my camera roll.  SO . . . I don't have all the pictures of the firebox surround coming together taken on my phone (Sorry about that).

After all the elements were attached and the mantel & firebox surround were one solid piece, 

I caulked around many of the seams.  

I also played around with the Damask Wall Accents to determine if their placement . . . 

and then I painted . . . 

. . .  and painted away.

I used Old White & Graphite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint because it was what I had on hand -- 

and it covers SO VERY WELL!

I used a piece of white kraft paper and added the measurements of my firebox, to give me an idea of how big to draw my roaring fire.  I then referred back to Sophia's fireplace and used a ruler and a sharpie to sketch out the firebox -- 

the ruler helped with the angles and bricks.

Once I was happy with how it looked I covered the back of the sketch paper with chalk 

and tapped it to my dark painted firebox. 

Using a colored pencil I traced over my sketch to transfer the image to my firebox.

I followed that up by drawing the roaring fire with a white chalk pen, 

and white chalk for shading and highlights.

I was pretty tickled with the results!

I distressed the painted damask accents a bit for character and glued them down with industrial glue.

After they were stuck in place, the fireplace was ready to install. 

We anchored it to the wall and I touched up the paint a bit -- and vacuumed the floor of course. :)

I lost of lot of the pictures I took of the fireplace all decorated in my shop when my camera phone 

was wiped clean . . . but this may give you a little idea . . . 

. . . and another.

Many other projects to share . . . so I hope you come back soon!

Thank you so much!

I am linking up with these fabulous blogs :::                                  •  Miss Mustard Seed

•  Practically Functional                                                              •  Coastal Charm

•  Savvy Southern Style                                                              •  Home Stories from AtoZ

•  It's Overflowing                                                                      •  Sumo's Sweet Stuff    

•  Nifty Thrifty Things                                                                 •  The DIY Dreamer

•  Not Just a Housewife                                                             •  Ivy & Elephants

•  DIY by Design                                                                       •  Southern Lovely

•  Fine Craft Guild                                                                     •  Cedar Hill Ranch

•  Uncommon Slice of Suburia                                                   •  From My Front Porch to Yours  

•  Stone Gable                                                                           •  Fox Hollow Cottage - Power of Pins 

•  Imparting Grace                                                                     •  Feathered Nest Friday

•  The Thrifty Groove                                                                 •  Common Ground

•  Redoux Interiors                                                                     • The Charm of Home

•  Jennifer Rizzo                                                                         • Chic on a Shoestring

•  The Shabby Nest                                                                   • Fox Hollow Cottage

•  Too Much Time on My Hands                                               • Tater Tots & Jello    

•  Pieced Pastimes                                                                     • Finding Silver Pennies  

•  Three Mango Seeds                                                               • Between Naps on the Porch

•  If it's not Baroque Design                                                        • Shades of Amber