building a mantel for our old fireplace

Last weekend, I built a mantel for our fireplace.

This project was years in the making....in my head!

And it took about half a day!

Simple, yet perfect!

Here is the original fireplace to our late 60s house,

totally naked, except for the blue tape I was using for reference

while I was decided on the high and width of the mantel.

(Bosco loves looking outside!)

I followed this tutorial from Shanty to Chic,

changing a few things, 

as I wanted a floating beam.

I used 3 pieces of pine: 1 x 5" x 8',

and made a long skinny box (88").

I stained it with Early American.

(you can see the tree I was flocking in the background!)

Then we hanged a 2" x 3" on the brickswith special screws, it was a little scary!I also attached 4 little pieces of the 2 x 3perpendicularly to the wall to help support the beam.

Finally we put the beam on the support,and put a few screws from the top,and voila!

Surprisingly it looks like it totally belongs!

And now I need to decorate it for Christmas,for the first time!
Happy Day!