faux fireplace in time for the holdiays!

Building a faux fireplace for an all electric house.

linked up! 

There is still so much we want to do to our new house.. adding some old home charm is one of the things we are trying to accomplish.

We had talked about building a faux fire place since our house is all electric. We plan to eventually instal a Dimplex electric firebox.. they can be pretty costly so maybe next year.. for now our little fake log set will have to do. Even though its a little cheesy there is still something kind of fun about it.

I cant wait to get a color on the wall, trim out the baseboards and doors. Im beginning to hate our living room just a little less with the addition of the fireplace. We plan to eventually build some small built in book shelves next to the fireplace on either side. Adam would like to mount the tv above the fireplace with a built in look. However due to the way the ac is located on the ceiling not sure we can run the wires.

so onto how we did it..

I started off with a design I did in sketchup... found here.. Fireplace plans WARNING there are some things wrong on this and we made some changes.. Im going to try to update that post in a little later but it can give you an idea of how we went from boring wall to fun new fireplace.

First things first I need to brag on a product.. no I didn't get paid for this.. although if Kreg wants to sponsor me Id gladly mention the name 10 or so more times in this post :)

IF you dont have one buy one.. that is all... 

We started by building the hearth box.. we used 2x2. They were 64 inch long. The verticals were 6, and the width supports were 12.5 I believe.. WE Kreg jigged it all together..

I also suggest getting some of their clamps and right angle clamp is great!

assembled hearth box..

Next we covered the box on the sides with mdf.. I think we ended up using 2 4x8 sheets for this project.. although we did have some 4 inch strips that were left over from our baseboards that I used for some of the trimmings.. The top was two 1x10 kreg jigged together.. we did cut one board down a little so that it over hung about an inch and a half from the front edge of the hearth.. but was flush on the side since we plan to build the book shelves.. I stained it with Rust-oleum's ultimate wood stain in ebony. It claims it only needs one coat and no wood conditioner.. we were using it on cheap pine and while it did pretty good it was still blotchy... normal with pine.. so I just sanded a little and added a second coat..

Next we started working on the legs and header.. to do this we cut our facings out of the mdf and kreg jigged them to 1x3s. We screwed the 1x3s to the wall.. make sure its level and square.. and do this before adding the front parts :).

painted before adding the trim to make it easier to paint

We changed up the plans a little and decided to add crown molding for the mantel part.. instead of doing a square stained box.

Prob can't see it in the photos but we did a bead board cut on a 45 to make it look like herringbone.. that was a tough one.. 

So here it all is put together and decored for Christmas.. Im so glad we went ahead and got it done for the holidays.. I apologize for the lack of step by step photos we had and super cold front coming through and we were rushing to get it done before the cold hit.. 

paper mache deer makes a comeback sporting one of my scarfs :) and found the cute little  deer at target

Love this little vintage snowman my mom bought him for me he plugs in and lights up.. peak at the herringbone bead board..

My fav... House of Hatten.. I love these my mom had these when we were little I finally ordered me some this year that I found on ebay.. too bad they are hard to find and pretty expensive now.. Should have got my camera out for this sorry for all the phone pics..

Faux fire place plans.

So with Christmas approaching in the new house I'm really missing our old fireplace. This house doesn't have one.. its all electric.. So what to do? Build a fake one! Husband rolls eyes..  but none the less here are the plans I have drafted so far.. we will also do some small built-ins on each side. Hoping to start soon..

Our first step is to create the hearth.. I decided to do a raised one.

Using 2x2 build your box. 

Add a facing to the box.

We will probably be using mdf or a plywood. This part we will be painting white.

Cover ends..

again with mdf or plywood

Add stained wood top. 

we will probably plank together some boards for this part. 

Next build the support frame that will hold the legs and header.. (I googled fireplace anatomy :) Don't I sound like I kinda know what I'm talking about hehe) 

use a kreg jig to assemble.. you will build a smaller one of like this also see next picture for dimensions.

Build your second support and secure to the wall.

I planned to use 1x3s

1x3s for supports

add sides of legs and header

Add the face of the legs and header

Trim out the front of the legs and header. 

the legs are trimmed with 1x3s on the front sides first then the base molding applied ontop of that. then the horizontal 1x3s.

the Header ( the part above the legs) is trimmed with horizontal 1x4 and vertical 1x3s.

Build the mantel. 

we will use 1x6 for the front and sides and 2x2s for the supports...

The top will be a 1x10 ripped to 8 3/4... this will be stained the same as the top of the hearth. Leave your top off to make it easier to secure to top of fireplace...

all done. We may also add a little trim piece above the 1x4 on the header. I just haven't picked on I believe the space is 1/4 there.. if you dont want to do that you can just move your 1x4 up flush with the mantel and cut you vertical 1x3s longer.. 

back view.. 

I plan to cover the "firebox" area in bead board that is cut at 45 degree angles to make it look like a herringbone pattern.. or at least that's the plan. we will see what happens. :) Hoping to start soon. 

What do you think about faux fireplaces?

Restoration Hardware finish tutorial for Maison Inspired bed

Thanks Beckie for featuring our bed. 

This was the bed we were inspired by

linked up!

linked up!

linked up here!

link up:
http://www.vmg206.com/2014/02/brag-about-it-link-party-no-41.html

Good news! I have finally almost finished our bedroom which means I have also finished and am ready to share the tutorial on the restoration hardware inspired finish for our new bed. If you missed the build here is a link to my tutorial. Build this bed

WARNING PICTURE HEAVY 

So before diving into the tutorial let me show you what all we have been working on.. not to mention our bathroom that is almost done as well.

This is what we started with... I think I have already mentioned several times how the previous investment company owners sprayed every thing blue bell vanilla ice cream colored... trim everything...

no trim out of window just bull nose sheetrock.. yuck.

notice bathroom still under construction 

There can you see it? I know its hard. It's so tiny.. Im talking about the trim around the door.. yeah we changed that too.. 

We painted the walls with Sherwin Williams Dorian grey. Its a great mid to dark grey. I fought between it and dovetail. I knew I wanted something a little dark, I think if I would have gone with dovetail it would have been too dark. If I remember right the Dorian was also a little warmer.. I have never lived in a house with vaulted ceilings so I wasn't sure how you handled the color on it. After some googling we decided to go with a 80/20 mix of our wall color and pure white. It appears to be white in the room without being like whoa theres a ceiling there...

And Here is after adam installed my new all time fave craftsman inspired trim. 

my two favorite helpers

I feel bad because I cannot remember now which blog I got this idea from but it was def not my own... She described it as "high heels" for baseboards and she was so right! Im in love went from 2 inches to about 6". The best part? After my husband looked at me like I was crazy for suggesting this, I showed him an almost identical molding at Lowes. It was 33$ for I think a 12 ft strip... It cost me 35$ for a sheet of mdf I had the lovely guys at Lowes rip it down to 4 inch strips.. one board did all of our bathroom and almost all of this room. We had to buy one more board but plan to continue this through out our house so it will be used in the other rooms as we get to it. You gently and carefully pull up all your existing baseboards then use those as your template to cut the mdf boards to size.. lucky me I didn't have to figure out that some of my inside strange corners were like 22.87-9479214732817403127 degrees :)...  then nail in your mdf and top with your old ones. Caulk and paint. This makes such a difference.. at some point I'd like to add crown but that can wait for now. 

So here it all is mostly finished.. I forgot to get a picture of the window but we trimmed that out also and it looks so much better! I have a big mirror to hang over by the little reading nook. The chair still has to be upholstered and everything kinda tweaked.. I just quickly set it up so I could get some pics of the finished bed.  

Some places I got things.

lamps are surprisingly from walmart

white sheets were from tjmaxx

the bedding I made out of two king sheets from walmart. It was so easy ill link a tutorial I followed. I think it cost me around 35$. 

Bed we made.

night stands pier 1

chair ikea

curtains world market

dresser garage sale and painted. theres a post on my blog on how to ect.. 

throw dollar store.. yeah i roll like that.. 

It really look so much better in person.. Im always disappointed when I upload my photos. Just not very good at capturing it lol. 

So onto the tutorial sorry for all the blabbing. We just worked so hard on everything I had to share.

RESTORATION HARDWARE FINISH

the easy way :)

Things you need:

large drop cloth or fabric of choice

nail trim

hammer 

staple gun or pneumatic gun

loctite 

batting 

scissors 

needle nose pliers 

briwax tudor brown

minwax finishing paste

valspar  Montpelier Ashlar Gray

paint brush

ribbon

So first things first you need to upholster your bed.  I used two layers of 1/2 inch batting for the headboard and then a single layer for the bottom sides. 

We decided to upholster the headboard before adding the front trim so that I could wrap the fabric around to the back instead of having to fold and fit like on the bottom. Make sure you cut your batting to fit inside the framed out part to reduce bulk around the edges. 

Take some loctite spray adhesive and spray the headboard in the area your attaching the batting to apply your batting. I put up the first layer then sprayed it and applied the second layer. 

Next starting at the top of your headboard, before adding the trim, staple your fabric and let it drape down. After the top is secure, pull firmly and staple at bottom . Make sure not to staple to the platform part of your bed or the headboard wont detach for being moved.. 

Stretch and staple your sides. 

Now you can add your trim.

Since we had to upholster first you need to tape off your fabric before painting. I did two coats of the valspar  Montpelier Ashlar Gray

Make sure you let your paint dry well or the next step will just take it all off. I let mine dry for several hours. 24 might be best. I was ok with it taking a little off. 

After your bed has dried you can start on your dark wax. I used briwax in tudor brown. I was waxing furniture before all this annie sloan hype. I have tried her clear wax and like it but I used briwax before her so its just what I had.

If you have never waxed before try on a scrap piece.. This wax dries fast so you need to wipe it on and spread it out sort of quick don't over work it or it will start lumping and making a mess. I used an old well several old wash cloths for this.. here is an example of what mine looked like.

left is waxed right is un waxed.. dont worry about it being even.. but you want enough on there to darken everything.

After letting the brown wax dry for about 2 hrs. I started on my next part which is lime waxing.. you can make your own by mixing a clear wax and white paint.  I used minwax finishing paste you can get it at lowes. I was out of my briwax clear.. 

minwax paste and some white paint mixture

Start putting on your white wax.. again may be good to experiment first on scrap.. With this i didn't so much wipe it off.. I more put it on and spread it around.. leaving clumps in spots and working into any knots.. 

Let it dry and then come back with a clean cloth and buff to a nice finish. 

Last part and probably the most frustrating and difficult was the ribbon and nail head trim.. I had like 20 break of or bend.. go slow and expect mess ups.. 

Place your ribbon up next to your edge and then start applying your nail heads by hammering them in place... I didn't start with the corner as I was planning to overlap the ends of ribbon. I started with my first nail about an inch and a half over then continued down the line. Cutting at each corner. You can use fray check if your worried about it raveling.. and thats about it. Oh and good luck moving it this thing is heavy!

All in all im very pleased with the direction this room is heading. I really tried to balance the masculine

and feminine look of this room. I love the darker grey that is warmed up with the brown wood tones. Let me know what you think and any suggestions are appreciated.