Fireplace mantle project (Fall/Winter 2000/2001).

Old Living Room (previous owners):

The old mantle was essentially a wide piece of moulding.  We felt that a traditional mantle would be more appropriate for the house (and would give us a place to put the mantle clock!).

Construction starts:

We gathered lots of pictures of mantles and then one day I just scribbled a design on a piece of paper.  

The design is sort of my ur-mantle.  It probably is like some mantle from my childhood but regardless, it just felt right so I started building.

I got tired of working on the floor so one day I took a detour and built myself a workbench.  Below is the lintel in its unpainted state.  

The joints are all biscuit joints -- probably overkill since the lintel really isn't stressed but what the heck.

The fancy dentil moulding came from Home Depot as did some other bits of moulding.  Much of it was routed however on my router table (not shown).

The finished product:

In these photos, the walls have been painted and the floors refinished.  The slate tile surround was kept.

The mantel is painted with an oil-based paint that I applied with a spray gun (using an air compressor).  It makes a professional (no-drip, no brush-mark) finish.  I applied primer and then two coats in the basement.  After final assembly in place, I gave it one more light spray.

The mantel clock now has a proper home:

Below is the unfinished wine room.  More photos when it is done...