Fireplace Tranformation!

This is what that fireplace looked like the first time we saw it (that is the former owner)



And this was making do over the Summer....


And this is the mantle I got for 20$ at the "Rag Bag"


I really loved it but.....it was not wide enough to go around our wood burning insert.
So Joey and I took it apart, added a longer piece of wood... and a few new details (aged to look as old as the rest of the piece). I decided to paint it the same color as my kitchen cabinets, in fact I am in the process of repainting the trim in the kitchen and this area this same color. I was so inspired by the home of Linda Harris in Country Sampler and on the blog Behind my Red Door. And now it looks like this....




I am sure I will continue to tweak it....after seeing these pictures...
I need to use some steel wool to even out the black paint on the insert.
I repainted it with heat resistant paint.
But I am so happy with the results and I am loving the color...it really warms up the whole area. That is one more project to check off out list.....soon we will be tearing down some walls! That is exciting and kinda scary.
In the end the kitchen, the den area (with the fire place, the dining room, and the front living room will be one open living space with columns, wood floors and the simple, primitive colonial look I long for! Ooooooh I get all warm and fuzzy just thinking about!
Have a great week!