The first pic is the mantle I wanted

I think it's beautiful. Don't know if you are into it but wainscoting would tie it together nicely.

And the brick is obviously the before

Wainscoting? We just painted the whole downstairs a beautiful sherwin Williams Accessible beige. Love it.

I think it's a bit too heavy and really bums me out.

The second and fourth ones with the horse on the mantle.

Thank you kstonetoo

I think it's gorgeous!

Thanks Mira! I guess I should just appreciate it and get over it? It is really pretty

I think the lines are quite similar but the one you wanted has more simplicity and thus elegance. Some of that is not easily changed as you have the smaller tiles and the hearth. But I think it's worth a try to see if you can get closer to your ideal by simplifying what is on and around it. What you have is quite nice, overall. I'd try a pic with less on the mantle and hearth.

Thanks Susan. I love the pic I have was very expensive but could declutter a bit. I didn't want too elegant as my house is not that formal. I really liked how that moulding on the mantle coved and the one I have is just huge. It will look better when painted too

In what appears to be the inspiration photo there is no screen.

The screen you have is nice, but it is a big contrast.

What about a screen that is lighter in appearance?

Maybe a picture frame that is more rectangular than square and longer?

Thanks mzloolue, my only concern is if the mantle itself looks top heavy. I wanted the exact mantle from the inspiration photo. He did a good job building the rest of it. Maybe I'll take down those candle sconces? Get some tall ones instead

I think of wainscoting only for the balance. Taking your eye away from what you dislike. I love the paint also. I guess what I'm saying is rather than look at just the fireplace, look at the whole wall. I personally think it gorgeous and wish your carpenter was at my house!

Ahhh thanks kstonetoo!! He does a great job, I just wasn't home for the moulding purchases. I can't spend any more $ right now. We refinished hardwoods, painted kitchen cabinets, painted entire downstairs and entryway and did the fireplace. So we are resting for a bit! Haha

That second pic is exactly the mantle I wanted

It looks very pretty, however I would paint it a grey color.

I don't understand which one is yours. The second pic is the one you wanted or the one you have? Very confusing.

Ok first pic with blue bird pics is my inspiration mantle. The second pic with horse on the mantle is mine. Sorry about that! :)

Hard to tell precise sizing from the pics perhaps but the mantel design and build looks like your inspiration picture. Your comment about looking too heavy to me seems to refer to the entire project. The inspiration wall color, surround and accessories are "lighter" in color and weight than your room. Your room is also beautiful, just has your personal taste and probably what works best overall in your home's personality and style. Paint it and enjoy your beautiful update.

Ok second pic in original group with horse on top of mentor is mine. I wanted mantle like first pic in first group of photos with blue bird pic. Then I submitted 4 more pics. The mantle coving in that second pic is the look I was after. Sorry for the confusion

I can barely notice the difference between the two mantles. Both are lovely! Your inspiration photo has no hearth, no fire screen and few accessories in soft colors. Try to declutter first. As you said, you have no more $ for this project, so finish painting the mantle and move on. It is beautiful.

Mstein, love it all just wish the mantle was a skooch smaller. But we should just paint it and enjoy it. I just wanted to see if other people thought it looked out of proportion.

I see what you mean. the one you wanted seems to be a bit more steamlined therefore contemporary looking with a little more heft to it. The side pieces are deeper than he gave you. also the top piece flares out more and the pieces underneath are different. I would have him remove the top piece and the part underneath and redo exactly like your inspiration pic.

I think I know what you are saying. You wanted the mantel in the first group of photos (with the plain flat side pieces) but he gave you the mantel in the first photo of the second group of pictures (which is more detailed with insets).

I would agree with you if that is the case. I like the smooth mantels in the first group of pictures. However, both are beautiful and after about 5 minutes you will not notice it at all. Neither seems out of proportion, by the way.

Chinch if I could I would have him remove thee mantle and make it like I asked. He did it for free, owed my husband some favors and we just paid for materials. No way is he redoing it in my lifetime! Haha

This is my fireplace

I wanted the mantle like this. We could not change out the entire fireplace box and he did a great job with everything but I feel the mantle is too heavy. That's all

I freaking love it. Gorgeous!

Well, I happen to love your mantel so I have nothing more to say!

I see what you are saying with the convex opposed to a cove type moulding under the top of the mantle. But, looking at the style of your kitchen cabinets and your trim, it does match the house beautifully. If it's literally driving you nuts, then remove the top mantle piece, and get one with the cove moulding that you like. Painting and caulking will definitely help blend it all together though.
Fireplace redos are tough ones, because it's all new and such a focal point in many homes. I've designed two, and the hammer did come back out one day to redesign to my liking on one of em;) after it did not match "my vision". I did have to pay for it though, but I was happy and my trim guy was happy with the end result.

They look almost identical. The biggest difference I see is that your inspiration photo features a fireplace that is off the ground, making the legs of the mantle taller and therefore making the scale of the mantle look more delicate. Yours looks more squished. I think the angle that the inspiration photo was taken ma,as it look different than if it were taken straight on like your photos.

I'm assuming he bought the mouldings and built this mantel? I think it would have cost a lot more to get a carpenter to creat exactly the same mantle.

There's a one inch zone on yours that is convex where your inspiration was concave. As far as i can see, that's the entirety of the difference. Maybe yours is 2% wider at the top as well? Personally, I think you're being amazingly picky and your guy did a good job, but if you really think it will still be keeping you up nights after your house is all put together again, then see if he (or somebody else, in order not to burn this guy's good will) can find a moulding with the concave profile and how hard it would be to make the swap. Or go back to loving your fireplace, which really looks great.

FWIW I like the mantle you got a lot more than the mantle you wanted. A lot more!

Agree with the poster that mentioned the screen. I think that is the main issue. Take a photo without the screen and compare to your inspiration photo, bet you will like it better. Putting in a screen that fits into the firebox or leaving the firebox open and dressed with a couple logs when not in use may be the answer here.

I see what you mean, but I really think your mantel turned out beautifully!

Your floors are gorgeous also, what stain did you use? And are they red oak?

Tgb1, I thought I typed this yesterday but it's not here. Floors are red oak, stained with Jacobean with a satin finish.