New Mantel

The mantel is now in place, made from poplar and roughly based on a picture we found in a catalog. Not knowing exactly how it should have been done, we built this one in place afixed solidly to the wall -- it is not coming off without significant demolition. A builder friend later told me they're usually just toe-nailed on. Okay, so we're going to keep it a long time. That was the plan anyway. Cost, including tiles, is just over $200. Comparable commercial mantels are in the $1500 to $2000 range. Big savings and fun to build! And Connie got exactly the look she wanted, which was, of course, the main point of it all.