November 2024 - A Dabbled Dwelling

Building a Stacked Mantle

I redesigned the fireplace and decided on building a stacked mantle. It is a design that features multiple layers or “tiers” of materials. That gives it a dimensional, built-up appearance while adding depth creating a more dramatic focal point around the fireplace. The stacked mantle required a lot of pre primed pine. I started with pre primed 1x4s creating a frame around the existing fireplace. The ends were mitered to create clean corners and the boards were attached using construction adhesive, then finishing nails in the corners.

Woman adds boards around a fireplace while building a mantle.

Next I used construction adhesive to put 1x10s flat against the brick around the fireplace. After the 1x10s I placed more 1x4s around the 1x10s to frame the whole mantle. 1x3s were then placed around the fireplace and around the outer edge to create more dimension in the mantle. After all the boards were up, caulk and wood filler were used on the seams and any nail holes. I then painted the entire mantle, hearth, and chimney white.

Woman places board against brick to create a a mantle above the fireplace

Woman stands on chair and paints brick fireplace surround

Stacked Mantle Success!

While I miss the white oak on the mantle in that room, I am so excited with this finished mantle. It is a more neutral space and fits in better with my decor and the rest of the room. The whole project was super simple and came together beautifully. I finished the whole mantle rebuild project just in time to decorate for Christmas!

I can’t be the only one with random holes in my drywall. When someone opens a door and the stopper has disappeared, or someone unfortunately steps through the ceiling in the attic, holes happen. I hate to pay someone to fix something so small. And I especially hate to pay someone to fix something if I can figure out how to fix it myself. Patching drywall is surprisingly easy and doesn’t require any specialized equipment. It’s easy to learn how to do, and even easier once you’ve figured it out.

Patch Those Holes!

To begin, you need:

drywall
putty knife
box cutter
sandpaper
scrap wood
drywall screws
drywall mud
drywall tape

Measure the thickness of your drywall and make sure you’re getting drywall in the same thickness to replace it with. It’s easiest to patch a square hole, so cut around your hole to make it square. Get a piece of scrap wood that is just longer than either the length or width of your hole. Put the scrap wood inside your hole and screw it into the drywall to give you something to anchor the new drywall to. Be sure to sink your drywall screws so that you can easily mud over them. Then measure your drywall and cut it to fit the hole using your box cutter.

Person screws scrap wood into hole in drywall

Person cuts drywall to size using a box cutter

Once that is all set, fit your drywall piece into the hole and screw it into the scrap wood that you screwed in previously. Again, make sure to sink your screws so they can easily be covered with drywall mud. Spread a thin layer of drywall mud around the edges of your patch and place drywall tape along the seams. Then spread another layer of drywall mud over the tape, scraping it smooth in between coats. You don’t need to worry about getting it too smooth because you’ll sand it once it’s dry.

Person screws drywall square into wood to patch hole

Once the mud is dry, use your sandpaper and sand the mud smooth. If you have texture on your walls you can use a spray texture and work to match the texture on your wall. Then you paint over the patch and voila! You have easily patched that hole!

Fix Your Walls Yourself

I love that I am able to make these repairs myself. It’s so easy and I save myself the waiting and the repair bills. I find that it is super helpful to learn how to make the simpler repairs. It makes me feel so accomplished and successful. Plus, I can feel like my house is so much more put together when I don’t have to wait for a repair.