Yeah, I know Lucidos, what I meant was making the mantel wider by adding trim at the back, left and right? It would have to be scribed to the mantel, but not a huge job?Or dumb idea? :0 Just tossing pebbles. Please don't throw a rock. lol :)

Wow! A lot to take in. Appreciate the discussion on the fire code stuff. And remembering how I don't want to cover my stone! So sweet :) I'm not sure, zaz, what adding trim would look like, or how much work. Lucidos would have to chime in. I like the look of the legs, but I think the width, per the fire code, would be just too skinny. Thank goodness for your Photoshop skills, lucidos! I think, in a perfect world, I would love the darker beam, but that would require some work to add more stone where the mantel would be ripped out. Who knows, though? My husband is one to just "go for it" instead of having to go thru two stages of work. I will talk to him when he gets back in town. (He and my neighbors think I'm crazy to focus on/change this dang mantel. They just don't understand!). Thanks again everyone!

Lucinda mock up a sample to see this. Just measure out the 6" from the edge of the hole then grab a bit of scrap wood or cut some cardboard or fold paper.. Don't exceed the frieze and see how it looks in actuality. All we can do is our best guess from this side of the computer.

Lucidos, the paper is very pretty, but looks too blue to me. I was thinking of a grey grass cloth that would blend with our walls and the grey in the rock. I will try and post them tomorrow. Thank you!

Got it lucidos. Will try that tomorrow. You rock, my friend! :)

One more thing, lucidos. Could you please photoshop in some appropriate sized corbels for me? II don't know how big/small to get them. Whenever u get a chance. No rush. Thank u!! :)

I think if the mantle were cabinet to cabinet it would look better...and it seems to be a little heavy...

Sure Lucinda ..I'll do it up for you tomorrow if you can point me to a sample of the grass cloth and get me a better image of the cabinet?

Also best to take your items out I can toss in a few stuffs and things.

I think everyone has covered your concerns. I have a question for you. Do you know the name and color of the stone and tiles on the floor. They are beautiful

Part of what makes the tile look good is that the front edge is cut from the same piece of tile as the top,..... so the tiles are not necessarily standard size.

Why do you feel you need this mantel? A vertical expanse of stone would be clean and beautiful, especially given the variety of displays within the shelf area.

John, I can't agree more. It may be fixed to the right proportion, but the built in will look ultimately nicer without it.

Corbels

Great work lucidos. :)

Nakid

IMHO Something needs to break up the 2 black holes.

Spanks Zaz!

That's great too. I should have come to you before I took down the wall in my kitchen and put it back up. LOL :) You could have worked wonders. :)

Yes, I think in comparison having the mantel is better. If there were no bookcases, then I would like just the stone and no mantel. And for me, the ceiling seems lower without the mantel. Or seems like it should be higher. Okay whatever... just me thinking out loud or not. lol :)

I would either remove it or replace it with something warmer like a plain floating wood shelf, something to compliment one of the brick colors. If that's not an option I would paint it one of the darker brick colors so it disappears a bit

LUCINDA - The corbels just add more weight to the mantel. And I think the legs look out of place. So before you spend a lot of money and time on this -- simply paint the bottom 2/3s of the mantel to match the darkest color stone and leave the top third white. (By top third I mean the top shelf and angled molding beneath it).
Not only will this trick the eye in believing the mantel is smaller, but the white top will coordinate with your shelving.

Perhaps lucindo can mock this up for you - sorry I don't have the software to do it myself.

Ward...I did that and I can't get the reflection as well as I'd like to represent the detailing on the lower portion.

I also thought if the trim was removed for the bottom portion and replaced with stone - stone shelf with wood on top..

Yes I think that looks better (not as big looking). The reason I suggested this option was to mitigate extra expenses. Lucinda has paid a lot for this and I'm hoping this simple solution will do the trick!

Lucidos, are your fingers cramping? Great work. I think you do some of the cleanest work I see. ;)

There is all this talk about code restrictions and combust ability etc. but who is actually going to come and inspect it once it is modified? Do you really need to pull a permit to add legs to the side?
How often is a real fire going to be made in this fireplace or is it mainly for looks/ ambiance?

Hi Anne. We do use the fireplace quite a bit during the colder months. As for inspecting it, I agree it would not happen.:)

lisatarv, the name I found on the box is Premier Stone, but I think you can get this type anywhere. It is ledge stone and on my box its called "Honey" but on Google a lot of places refer to it as "golden honey."

I have been out all day and am pooped! Thanks very much Ward for your strong advice, as well as consideration of my time and money. I do so appreciate it! It WAS a lot of time, actually, as the carpenter made it his "backup" job in between other shorter jobs. It was a mess forever! (Yes, I will find a new carpenter.) I guess I agree about the corbels (so much conflicting advice, my head is swimming!) making it look even heavier. Also agree that having no mantel at all would look bad bc of the black squares (the horror!).
So now I am left with painting the bottom (two-thirds, Ward! :)) a dark color from the stones. I have a sample of the stones, but they aren't treated so they look lighter. I will try to wet it down before I go to get some samples. I love to paint, but finding the right color drives me nuts!

Lucidos, thanks so much for all your work! Its amazing what you can do!! Obviously I haven't had time to mock up the legs or get you a sample of grass cloth, etc. I will try and do that tonight. I will only take a pic of one side of built in, so I won't have to take so much stuff off (I'm tired) and the mantel has color samples and junk hanging all over it. :) I think I need a new decorator...

Thank you lucinda17!

I don't think it's too big but, I think it should go the entire width of the brick.

Stone I mean

I do mock ups at work and they take me hours..pixel by pixel cleaning up and repainting working off 100 or so layers for one image with a huge library. Worst is when I get measurements from the field that someone read wrong. Worse yet is something like this where we are left to guesstimate sizes as Fred and I did. I can't use my licensed proprietary software here so this is mostly slopped together stuff :) But thank you for the compliments.

Am wondering what it would look like without mantle

@hovep01, if you can't be bothered to scroll up and read the entire thread, do a word search for "Nakid", and it will take you right to it.

@Anne Bubash, codes and installation instructions are written to reflect years of experience and product testing. They are not to be taken lightly even if there is no "inspection". After being heated several times and dried out, wood WILL ignite. You do not need to put a flame directly to it for your house to burn down. Many gas fireplaces have difference clearances, partly based on the designed BTU output. Without knowing the exact model number, the clearance needed could be 4" or 12". If burning down the house isn't a good enough reason for you, how about a grossly discolored paint job. Even with heat resistant paint, on wood, it will look bad in a hurry if it is too close to the opening, especially white
Remember, that even corbels need to stay far enough away from the opening to stay looking good.

Lucinda, I have been watching your thread and I like both pictures of the bottom portion of the mantel removed, keeping the thinner mantel either white or a darker color. (see Lucidos posts on Tuesday and yesterday.)

Fred you are adorable :)

While you are at the hardware store, get some more cove molding for your bookcases - things will match up better. I give your poor decorator credit - she was not wrong in telling you 'no legs'. Darkening this w paint will look cobbled when you stand back. Corbels or cut bait here and add beef to the bookcases, instead. ( yes, I heard it, going to make a sandwich now).

Seems pretty clear to me that legs are not the answer, nor are corbels, because its doubtful that you have the clearance, and you didn't want to cover up more stone anyway. So you are left with just painting out the mantel, or having it remade. Obviously painting is easier so why not start with that. Personally I would be more bothered by the TV wiring running up the outside of the bookcase along the stone. Its too bad your cabinet guy or decorator didn't make a plan for accommodating the wires to the TV.

Initially that's why I thought the mantel was so large..to house all the tv"stuffage". I think facing the lower portion of that mantel in the stone would be best less jarring to the eye. In any case there are cord neateners that come or can be spray painted any color if you can't bury the wires.

Yep. Paint it is. And yes, I know the cord situation is less than desirable. Frustrating when the carpenter had no real idea how to hide them. Decorator was AWOL. Like I said, the process was a bit painful. So, my husband just came home tonight, and I will show him ALL the responses (!) and we will find a paint. I think when all is said and done, we will probably get the "floating beam" with that beautiful dark stain. I will post a pic when the paint is finally finished.
I DO think beefing up the shelves is another good idea. I have been thinking along those lines the last few days.
Lucidos -- I will get back with you on the grass cloth.
Thanks to EVERYONE who took the time to give me their opinions!! What a great group! :)

You're welcome Lucinda - let us see how the paint goes. And I agree with you about the beam - it looks the best.

If you make the new beam mantel, consider making it wide enough to reach the cabinets, then run the wiring up inside the cabinets. Drill a hole in the side and continue the cables behind the mantel until they are below the tv.

Kivi---Most definitely!! :) Thanks!

It's not too big! It looks great! Think this is too big?

What do you think of this? Here's the before as well

I am in the change the firebox camp. I wouldn't paint.

This might sound crazy, but I bet if you got a bigger television you'd love your mantle. I rarely suggest bigger electronics, by with the heft of the book cases and the mantle, a bigger TV would provide balance. Plus, I have yet to meet the man who did not think a bigger TV was not a wise investment.

Your fireplace and bookshelves are gorgeous! I do like the wooden beam mantle though. Either leave it or do that. Bookshelves are beautiful

This is a very old thread. Circa 2014 not quite vintage :)

Yeah saw that! Started my own, thx anyway