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Home Decorating

What should I do with this mantel?

10 years ago

Hi everyone

Our yearlong house project is coming to a completion (can't wait!) and sure enough, another decision comes up...

We just built a fireplace mantel for our living room/library, and I'm wondering what to do - stain it the same color as the adjacent bookshelves or do something different?

The floors are white oak stained with Duraseal English Chestnut. The bookshelves are fir stained with Minwax English Chestnut. Wondering if we should continue and stain the mantel the same as the shelves?

The picture shows the fireplace mantel from the entry foyer. That is, as you enter the house, you walk a few steps, and then turn left and this is the view you see.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

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Comments (13)

theresa2
10 years ago
I would definitely stain the same as the bookshelves. It's gorgeous!
palimpsest
10 years ago
Same as the shelves.

I would consider doing a simple panel over the mantel and staining that, too, to have a complete paneled end wall.
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porkandham
10 years ago
Another vote for staining it the same as the shelves.
bronwynsmom
10 years ago
I say stain, too.

Your mantelpiece has a craftsman quality to it, and so it's particularly appropriate to stain rather than to paint.

(As I've said ad nauseum here, English Chestnut is my favorite of the Minwax line, so of course I think it's a wonderful choice!)
storyofmylife
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. This is a Craftsman style house, and our original intention was to stain the mantel the same as the adjacent bookshelves.

I was worried if having it all stained English Chestnut would make this room look too dark, although to the left of the fireplace is a 12 ft wide window that faces south.

Like bronwynsmom, we absolutely love the look of English Chestnut stain but was worried about the possibility of overdoing it.
Annie Deighnaugh
10 years ago
If you are looking for craftsman style then dark it should be...many craftsman rooms are loaded with dark wood.
natesgram
10 years ago
Loving the look and agree with staining the same color. I don't think it will look too dark if you use some light or colorful accessories on the bookshelves. Please post more pics.
mary_lu_gw
10 years ago
Stain it. I also like the idea that Pal suggested. Putting a wood panel above and staining it as well. Think it would look great and not too dark at all.
lynn_r_ct
10 years ago
I also think whatever artwork you plan to put above the mantel may break up the expanse of all that wood.
storyofmylife
Original Author
10 years ago
@natesgram - I'm attaching additional pictures of the room. I can only attach one per post, so there'll be 3 other posts after this one.

This view is if you face the fireplace, and look to the right. This is a view looking into the kitchen.
storyofmylife
Original Author
10 years ago
Pictures of the room continued - another view of the room looking to the right of the fireplace.
storyofmylife
Original Author
10 years ago
This is the view from the kitchen. If you look left while facing the fireplace, this is the view you see. This is a 12 ft x 5 ft window, that faces south. We have a nice view of the valley and the "mountain" (or rather, a 2000 ft high hill).
storyofmylife
Original Author
10 years ago
This is a view opposite the fireplace. View is that of the entry foyer.

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