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How to Upgrade Your Fireplace by Building a Stacked Mantle

November 30, 2024 by kelsey.mackall

A while ago I updated my living room and built a new mantle out of white oak. I loved it and the way it fit with the white oak built in shelves on either side of it. It worked well until about six months ago when I started my wine bar project. I ended up stealing the wood from the mantle to make shelves for my wine bar… That left me with an unfinished mantle and a naked fireplace.

Woman demos existing mantle above a fireplace

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!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: diy, diy living room, diy mantle, DIY renovation, diy stacked mantle, living room reno, stacked mantle

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