Asked on Jan 16, 2015
Wood Mantle --- what would you do?
by
Cindy Roehm
+14
I am planning to use this vintage fireplace mantle in our basement family room with an electric fireplace insert -- but what would you do with the wood? Do I treat with Amish milk or Old English and leave it naked or ??
17 answers
-
I'd stain it and condition it.
Marion Nesbitt
on Jan 16, 2015
-
That is awesome!! Is that paint on it now or what?
Laurie Powell
on Jan 16, 2015
-
It doesn't seem to have much grain to showcase, so I think I'd paint it in some form or fashion and play up the shape details it has.
Swan Road Designs
on Jan 16, 2015
-
Add/glue more wood detail to raised corner pieces, then paint, then light antique wipe. Awesome piece!
Cheryl
on Jan 16, 2015
-
I am buying it from a gal who bought it from a architectural salvage -- it looks like it may have some water damage at the bottom but I love its shape and do want to bring out the details. I really like the idea of adding more to it -- picking up tomorrow and the adventure will be underway!
Cindy Roehm
on Jan 16, 2015
-
Oh! it is sooo beautiful!!! I would leave it exactly as it is!! If you feel you must do something with it, just use an aqua poly finish, but check with some experts to see if that will alter the color at all. I think it is perfect just as it is!!!
Judianni
on Jan 16, 2015
-
I think it is an awesome find. And it seems to exude history! Just some gentle stain, treat/sand off water marks! It will be a conversation piece!
Kim Smith
on Jan 16, 2015
-
It's beautiful just the way it is.
Fran McCarty
on Jan 16, 2015
-
I would paint it. If you recondition the piece I don't think the water stain is going to come off .
Christine
on Jan 16, 2015
-
This does feel like a magic find! I want to keep its integrity!
Cindy Roehm
on Jan 16, 2015
-
goodness, I wouldn't change it at all...(and I'm usually all about the paint) but in this case, I'd leave it exactly as it is...it's gorgeous! Looks like something from Anthropologie or an upscale magazine spread...I'm afraid stain or paint would ruin it.
Centrd
on Jan 17, 2015
-
p.s. I love how well stripped wood goes with gray (and everything)...but the way it picks up the color in that brick behind it...so nice.
Centrd
on Jan 17, 2015
-
clean it up, and stain it
Bonnie Lee Spencer
on Jan 17, 2015
-
I can't really say what would help. I notice you have oak plank floors with nice graining. I see brownish in the stone?of the fireplace. This same tone is seen in the fireplace mantle. You could play up the tanish matching and even paint a stone here and there. It would look cohesive. OR you could change the fireplace to river rock and it would all look so rugged and very natural. Bottom edge doesn't matter at all.
Myrna Engle
on Jan 17, 2015
-
The one thing that will not change the wood, but will preserve it, is tung oil. It does darken it just a little. So if you want to keep the look it has now, Tung oil is a good option. I like white painted mantles myself, but this IS an antique, and you may have plenty of fresh clean looks elsewhere in the room.
Loretta Clark
on Jan 18, 2015
-
that is soooo kool. Is that the place it is going only you will have an insert in the fireplace, correct? If so, I would stain it colors of the rock on the fireplace. It would look like molded rock.
Renata
on Jan 24, 2015
-
I am so excited just to see comments that agree this piece was a worthy project. We're putting final touches together including an amazing faux electric fireplace. This is going in our basement for a little warmth plus a lot of ambiance! I scored a vintage pair of andirons to bejewel the hearth, too. Ultimately it may move out onto our back sitting porch ...... but that's a project down the list! Love love love Hometalk!
Cindy Roehm
on Jan 24, 2015
Sign Up to Answer
