a new perch ... the mantle story

A couple of months ago I sought some advice from you all about what to do with our fireplace.
I was amazed at the emotive responses. It was about 50/50--paint the brick and
DO NOT PAINT the brick! But overall the responses were to "get rid of the brass" and bring back a mantle.

Sometimes it just helps to have fresh eyes look at your dilemma.

One sweet blogging friend even did some research and sent us this photo 

 which became our "inspiration photo." 

It sort of put it together for us. Thanks Honora!

So the Gardener and I started to have some fun exploring what to do. 

 We had the vision for a surround mantle and began to do research. 

Hmmm ... kinda pricey, even with a kit from a big box hardware store.

Suddenly we were seeing fireplace mantles everywhere --- antique shops, consignment shops, 

Craig's list... but none were quite the thing or were too costly...

... until this one showed up on Craig's list for $40. We let it "sit" for awhile but finally connected and found it was still available. 

It had been torn out of a 90-year-old mansion in a pricey area of town, and was a bit worse for wear, but we could see the potential.

Here she is in her former glory ... taken out to make room for a stone wall surround.

Home she came to sit while we thought about her, had a new grandson, and did some other important things.

We put a call into a local handyman. He loves this kind of work especially.

He glued on the old stray bits of trim that came with it, added some of his own and put on a new top. 

He transformed her into a stately lady ready for paint. You notice here we boldly removed the brass 

without a clue how we would replace it. 

We were amazed at the size of the opening. 

But, when we were meandering through some delightful 

antique shops just across the southern border of our state, 

the Gardener spotted something plopped in a back corner. What an eye he has! 

There was my dream fireplace screen --all in black and just like the one by the fireplace in my childhood home. 

How very cool, and how very cheap it was! Perfect fit!

It will be fun to decorate this per the "whims" that come along. I've had a lot of fun going back and forth with a friend in Florida 

who has an amazing eye for decorating. For instance, she suggested lowering my mother's Charleston cross stitch just an inch and a half. 

It made a big difference. (You can see an example of her art on the bottom right of my sidebar.)

It's been a fun project, we now have a new story about our house, and most of all, we are grateful!

And thanks to all of you for your helpful comments!

Connecting to My Romantic Home and Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.