Wood Mantle --- what would you do?

Question

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 ??

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

I'd stain it and condition it.

Laurie Powell · Answer

That is awesome!! Is that paint on it now or what?

Swan Road Designs · Answer

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.

Cheryl · Answer

Add/glue more wood detail to raised corner pieces, then paint, then light antique wipe. Awesome piece!

Cindy Roehm · Answer

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!

Judianni · Answer

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!!!

Kim Smith · Answer

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!

Fran McCarty · Answer

It's beautiful just the way it is.

Christine · Answer

I would paint it. If you recondition the piece I don't think the water stain is going to come off
.

Cindy Roehm · Answer

This does feel like a magic find!  I want to keep its integrity!

Centrd · Answer

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 · Answer

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.

Bonnie Lee Spencer · Answer

clean it up, and stain it

Myrna Engle · Answer

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.

Loretta Clark · Answer

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.

Renata · Answer

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.

Cindy Roehm · Answer

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!

Wood Mantle --- what would you do?

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Wood Mantle --- what would you do?

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