Love Thy Neighbor
May 20, 2011 Especially if he's a carpenter and you bought a 1952 bungalow (14 years ago) with a "fireplace" that looks like this:
(Sheeesh, I still get the heebie jeebies just lookin' at this photo!) Yes, that's a bizarrely located electrical outlet. I know ... I don't get it either.
I could not paint that thing white fast enough, which was a MAJOR improvement, but still ...
A few months after we moved in, I found a salvaged fireplace insert (dated 1951). I was so excited thinking I'd solved our living room eyesore. And it was almost perfect, but in our attempt to make it fit we (meaning not me) removed a few tiles and chiseled away some of the concrete.
And this is as far as we (again, not me) got. It’s looked like this for about ... well, 14 years. Ugh.
There's just no disguising those unsightly air vents. The duct work was moved a while back (that's right, not by me ... see, I'm the IDEAS girl, NOT the muscle ...) and the vents relocated to the floor, so these grills are now purely, uh, "decorative" for lack of a better word.
I can never not notice this ... this thing. Let’s face it, it's just ridiculous. And I'm always embarrassed by it when people come over. I mean, it IS the focal point of the room, but for all the wrong reasons.
So recently I was chatting with my neighbor (the carpenter). Long story short, I drew him this ...
And he turned it into this ...
(cue the angels)
I KNOW!!!
Like I said, I'm the IDEAS girl. I've been fantasizing about this moment for soooooooo loooooooooong. It's so beautiful I could weep. Wait'll Santa sees the stockings hung here. Thank you neighbor!
Now, can anyone out there tell me how to dress this mantle? I'm not good at that sort of thing. All I know is that now the mirror's way to small and I have a whopping 17" deep shelf!
I'm trying to figure out how to have an afternoon nap up there. :)
Hope you have a great weekend!
Reader Comments (13)
Wow... that is an amazing transformation, espec. from the initial "before" picture. Simply fantastsic :)
I'm so coveting this quilt of yours... seriously only of the loveliest I've seen... the solids just call to me and that color purple is my favorite :) Can't wait to see how you quilt it!
And congrats and that thread score!
It looks awesome!! I am no expert on this sort of thing but I would keep your mantle just the way it is and just buy a bigger mirror. If that is not an option, maybe buy 2 tall items that would sit on either side of the mirror to make it look bigger and balances it out. Or another idea, have 2 smaller mirrors on either side of the mirror and lean them against the wall. I have seen that done and its looks great if done right. Have fun deciding and make sure you update us when you decide!
It's beautiful!
Wowser! That is quite a transformation, your new mantle and fireplace look beautiul. For great decorating idea, look at Pottery Barn's catalog. You can find alot of items that are similar to their's, but less expensive and get the same look,
I want a neighbour like that. Beautiful. Where in Calgary do you live? I used to live and teach in Kingsland, right across from Llyods rollar rink- good times.
Dara, Lloyds ... wow ...what a flashback! I grew up in Glamorgan but live in Mt Pleasant now.
Oooh, you lucky girl -- that's GORGEOUS! What a wonderful transformation!
Wow what a gorgeous transformation! You are AN IDEAS GIRL that's for sure! Lovely lovely! Now can you come fix the wind problem we have here?
The new fireplace looks super. Other than a bigger mirror, I wouldn''t add anything else - I like room on the mantle piece to display birthday/anniversary/Christmas cards.
Wow!! I love it. The 'brains' and the neighbor's 'muscle' did a great job! ;0
Wow, you certainly are the 'ideas girl', it looks amazing. I think you've dressed it beautifully. :)
Vivienne x
I was just thinking when you said the ducting was no longer there the grates weren't necessary...why not cut them out and make a bit of trim and reface the sides then?...and voila....you did! Well, the neighbour did.... what a guy! It is beautiful now..... Oh...and so nice to have a large shelf to play with .... just wait til Christmas time indeed ...and greenery and candles and ...ooooohhhh...things and stuff ......... what fun you'll have at the festive season.
Holy cow! I love the before and after shots. I am so happy for you, that would make me beyond ecstatic to have that done too. You do have a fantastic neighbor :) And what the heck is with the outlet in the fireplace?? That is so random.