Asked on Aug 18, 2014
What to do with rustic mantel?
by Debbie
+10
We are remodeling our main floor. We have painted all the trim work white to match our new white cabinets. The floor is stained with the color "coffee". Everything blends well until you get to our fireplace mantel.
I need suggestions!
I need suggestions!
It looks like a railway tie.
It's very rough and has a brick piece sticking our to "hold" it up.
13 answers
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With the color of the walls, and you said white trim, if you painted the brick white, a dark stain on the mantle would look awesome! Good luck
![Shantell Gregg Marx]()
Shantell Gregg Marx
on Aug 19, 2014
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Here's a bunch of mantel inspiration! http://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=mantel switch it up with some fun decorations!
![Hannah V]()
Hannah V
on Aug 19, 2014
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You could reface the mantel with a board on top and cover the front and ends with wide molding. Also if you don't want to reface, you could sand it down to get rid of the roughness and stain it to match your floor or paint it white to go with your trim.
![Donna Byram]()
Donna Byram
on Aug 20, 2014
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If you don't want to paint the brick, swap out the mantle with a more decorative one painted white to match. Maybe one with a bit of molding on it!
![Jeanette S]()
Jeanette S
on Aug 20, 2014
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remove the mantel for a clean and interesting brick wall
![Myrna]()
Myrna
on Oct 28, 2014
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paint it to look like river rock or marble, put standing columns at each end so that it looks like the columns are supporting it,
![Kelly lemire]()
Kelly lemire
on Oct 28, 2014
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I had one of these mantels. I took it down and sanded it with coarse, medium and then fine sand paper (a belt sander or orbital sander would work best), then I stained it to match my cabinets and put a couple coats of poly on it.
![Jane]()
Jane
on Oct 29, 2014
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Be careful about painting it white.... it might make your brick and or grout look dingeey. I am grieving over what to do with mine too.
![Sheryll S]()
Sheryll S
on Oct 30, 2014
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You can box in the mantle with smooth wood if you want to trim it so that it looks more traditional.
![Christina]()
Christina
on Dec 30, 2014
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I would have to say that I would frame the brick in some thick molding, then paint the entire thing white except the beam. I would sand down the beam a bit and then darken and wax or poly it to give it a polished sheen. If the beam isn't deep enough, then add another shelf on top of it with a beveled edge so the beam becomes the support and then mantel rests on top of it.
![Country Design Home]()
Country Design Home
on Jan 24, 2015
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I like the color you used on the walls. Are you opposed to painted brick? I'd paint the brick AND mantle the same white paint color you used on the trim and cabinets. Like you said, the mantle looks like a railway tie, so I'd make it blend in with the fireplace as much as possible.
![LibrarianTellsAll]()
LibrarianTellsAll
on Feb 04, 2015
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What the best way to place the bricks holding up the mantel if you already have a brick wall
![Greg]()
Greg
on Nov 08, 2015
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I too would recommend that you frame it in wood painted white and add some stock architectural moulding to give it some more visual interest and a touch of formality. I would do the same with the brick supports providing your local code permits wood to be within close proximity to your fireplace opening. It appears that you do have clearance. Make then look more like corbels.
![Bar822173]()
Bar822173
on Sep 22, 2016
Shantell Gregg Marx
on Aug 19, 2014
Hannah V
on Aug 19, 2014
Donna Byram
on Aug 20, 2014
Jeanette S
on Aug 20, 2014
Myrna
on Oct 28, 2014
Kelly lemire
on Oct 28, 2014
Jane
on Oct 29, 2014
Sheryll S
on Oct 30, 2014
Christina
on Dec 30, 2014
Country Design Home
on Jan 24, 2015
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