Idea of the Week: Driftwood Mantle

In a preppy and modern Nantucket home full of reclaimed and reused materials, the driftwood mantle in the living room stands out. The homeowners found this reclaimed piece of black walnut from a river log in the Mississippi River. The wood was cleaned with compressed air and a soft brush to remove any cobwebs or mud.

Then 3 custom 3/8" metal plates were welded to a 3/4" steel dowel. The plates were screwed into the wall stud and covered with Venetian plaster, leaving the dowels sticking out. Three matching holes were drilled into the driftwood, and a silicon insert was used to attach the driftwood to the dowels. As a result, the mantle appears to almost float off of the wall.