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Stacked stone cladding, a floating mantel and attractive downlights gave this fireplace area a fresh, contemporary look.
The project
This all came together quite well. I built a floating mantel and added some lights with a trim above to blend in with the existing crown moulding. I also lightly sanded the clay tile base and sealed it with a gloss sealer.
I started by removing the previous shelf and cutting off the top layer of the brick corbels. The remaining layer is used as a support for the floating mantel.
I cut and attached the sheet cladding using countersunk DynaBolts. I built the mantel using DAR Pine.
I routed a channel into the inside (bottom) of the mantel to accomodate the brick corbel before gluing, clamping and nailing from inside to avoid nail holes on the outside.
I built the double returns on the mantel, routed an offset Roman ogee trim layer on the underside and dry fitted it to see if it needed any adjustments.
I added support brackets for the first layer of stone just above the fireplace opening.
I continued with attaching the stone (approximately 1m at a time) and built the light surround to match the thickness and length of the crown moulding.
I made the light surround using pine moulding: one piece of 92mm x 11mm straight edge and three pieces of 42mm x 11mm with a Colonial edge profile with mitred corners. I chose the Colonial profile as it was similar to the Colonial baseboards in the room. The 11mm thickness also matched the lip of the existing crown moulding for a seamless transition.
If you're looking for a more modern look, consider pencil round or tri quad mouldings.
Before and after
How to lay a stacked stone feature wall
Bunnings' resident D.I.Y. experts have put together this handy video and step-by-step guide: How to lay a stacked stone feature wall.
More heating inspiration for your home
Bunnings Workshop member craftyhopper turned a plain wall into an attractive feature wall with a wood heater and stone cladding.
Workshop member Jimi built a stone-clad fireplace for his gas heater.
You can discover other great ideas for keeping your home cosy in the handy Bunnings guide How to heat your home.
Let us know if you need a hand with your own project – we're here to help.
