The fireplace project...taking it to base neutral!

As I mentioned when I first shared the den, one of my “eventual projects” was to reface the fireplace.

But as I have said before, often “what is there” blinds us to “what can be.” So the absolute best thing you can do with any mentally blocked project is to take it to “base neutral.” Whether it be a room, a dresser, a fireplace….take out what you don’t want or paint it all white…and start with a blank slate.

After months of being mentally blocked, I took a hammer and crow bar and took it to “base neutral.”

I love that this house has two fireplaces…and the one in the living room is fine ….for the time being….

(Yes, fall puked in my house!)

But the den is a “less formal” space and I really want something less formal looking…like stone and a big beefy wood mantel.

I’ve dropped a few “inspirations” into a computer file…

…and I have found several looks I like on Pinterest.

I like the look of stone or brick to the ceiling but that would entail removing the crown, which would then mean I would have to paint the ceilings throughout the entire space…kitchen, den and breakfast room. And that is just not a project I want to even think about at this time.

My plan is brick or stacked rock and a big beefy wood mantel…preferably walnut. I have been researching the Airstone product (sold at Lowes) and if I go with the stone look, I may give it a shot. But I also like the brick look so I am looking at brick tile as well….

That’s the plan…I think…maybe…

I don’t know. What I do know is it will be much easier for me to visualize what can be now that what was is gone.

I better get to visualizing because as you can see, I will need both mantels for stockings in about two months!!!