Fireplace Plans

I have some basic plans to update the fireplace mantel and surround!  This is something anyone can do with the right tools and the help of a handyman if you're not comfortable doing it yourself.  I don't think the plans that I have will take more than a few hours to execute and a couple hundred dollars in materials (fingers crossed I'm close)!

Here is what the fireplace looks like now:

Here is the first sketch of how I wanted it to look:

 

I realized after sketching it that I didn't think the barn wood on the sides would look right unless I also put barn wood at the top and made a square.  The more I thought about that I decided it was too much wood and I would prefer to just have the mantel be covered in wood so I modified my sketch(white-out to the rescue):

Something to note is that this plan does not involve any changes to the fireplace below the mantel but once I get the top complete I'll see if it would make sense to add white trim to the sides of the tile on the bottom portion instead of leaving it as painted drywall.  I am planning on having Home Depot cut a board for me that I will use for the planks, just not sure what I'll be using for the trim quite yet.  Figuring it out and shopping for materials is the fun part though!

Kitchen Pendant Lighting Complete

As it turns out the new industrial pendant lights that I bought to replace the builder lights were not right for the space.  Honestly, they were inexpensive and looked it but I didn't want to spend a lot of money to replace the existing ones.  Fortunately I found replacement glass shades at Lowe's for $8 each that match the style of my home better! 

Here is the before photo with the builder light shades that look too modern for my home:

Here is the after photo with the newer shades that have more of a farmhouse/rustic style that matches my décor (you can also tell that the walls have been painted in this photo):

The point here is don't be afraid to work with what you have even if you think that it's not a good look for your space!

Rustic TV Stand

I'm slowly starting to get new furniture for the house.  This weekend my custom made TV Stand was delivered and I'm so happy with how it looks in the space!  It's a beautiful, rustic piece of furniture made by a local craftsman that I've had the pleasure of getting to know.  Here is a link to his website for the company, Just Rustic, that he owns and operates.  Check it out and if you like what you see send him a message for a quote.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

This TV Stand is more than just that...it's a work of art to hold an otherwise ugly electronic device.  There is plenty of room for storing your other electronics that hook up to the TV, as well as some room for décor!

After going back and forth a couple of times about the finish I finally ended up choosing to paint it white and stain the top dark wood.  The back of the stand is covered in reclaimed barn wood and I'm in love with the barn door hardware! 

My console table has already been started and the new couch is being delivered tomorrow so I'll have more to share later this week!