Project: Fireplace Mantle

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I have been waiting to put a mantle around my fireplace for so long. With the holidays rapidly approaching, I needed to get it done.  Where else would I hang our stockings?

Although I chickened out and ordered a pre-painted mantle, it was the wrong measurements. This meant I had to trim the wood.  Since I don't own my own table saw, I had to make the adjustments by hand.  
Six hours later, I finally got the mantle up all by myself. You can definitely see some flaws (and you should MOST definitely not lean on it) but I did it.  I elected to keep the height, so there is a gap between the marble and the top portion of the mantle.  I will eventually fill in this gap with custom tiles. I hope these tiles give the mantle a sense of personality.  I'm taking my time choosing the tiles because I want them to be perfect. Yet another incomplete project. LOL.


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