Building a Mantel

There are certain "must-haves" like gloves, hats and snow shovels (or better yet, a snow blower). Inside, a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket and a roaring fire can help to tame the wildest winter storm.

I think there are few things more enjoyable than sitting in front of a fire on a cold winter's evening, but I've discovered over the years that in terms of decorating, not all fireplaces are created equal.

Shari and I have decorated rooms with large brick fireplaces, small stone fireplaces and even fake fireplaces. Regardless, we've found that the fireplaces we admire the most all have one thing in common--a mantel.

Somehow a fireplace without a mantel seems incomplete, but luckily this is one decorating problem that is easily solved.

On a recent decorating job, we decided to build a mantel that would complement the country decor of the living room. To make it even more interesting, we added pegs on which baskets or other country accessories could be hung.

Building a mantel is not very difficult, but it does require the use of a router. For those of you interested in building a mantel for your fireplace, here's what you'll need:

Materials:

poplar lumber
circular saw
router table with chamfer bit
wood glue
finish nails
jigsaw with a scroll blade
double-sided tape
sandpaper
wall anchors
scrap paper
square drawer pulls
button caps
caulk
prime paint
paintbrushes
drill
screws

Steps:

To make the front plate of the mantel, cut a 1 x 8 to the length of the hearth opening. Cut a 1 x 6 piece two inches longer than the length of the 1 x 8. Use a router table and a chamfer bit to bevel a 1/4-inch detail along the edge and sides of each piece. Connect the two pieces at a 90-degree angle with wood glue and finishing nails.

Cut and attach small triangle supports where the pieces meet. These supports will add extra strength to the mantel top and provide a place for a piece of crown molding to rest. To make the angled trim molding, run the length of each board through your router table fitted with a chamfer bit. The trim will later be centered between decorative end brackets.

To make the decorative brackets for each end, first create a template by sketching the desired design on a piece of paper. To create two identical brackets, put double-sided tape between the two pieces of lumber so they can be cut at the same time.

Trace the design onto the lumber and cut it out using a jigsaw with a scroll blade attached. Cut as close as possible to the line. Sand the pieces smooth using the pencil lines as a guide, and separate the boards.

To build up the top shelf, cut a 1 x 8 with a 1-1/2-inch reveal and make the same routed bevel on the edges. For more interest, add square drawer pulls along the front plate. Place the entire assembly against the wall, and secure it using wall anchors. You can hide the screws with button caps. Caulk around the edges; prime and paint the piece as desired.

Well, the mantel's complete and the room looks great. The fireplace has become a real focal point, and the mantel provides a showcase for all those interesting country accessories.

Good thing, because I just heard the weather report. You guessed it--more snow! Well, at least we'll have a good view while we wait for spring!