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Faux Fireplace

February 17, 2020

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

Our home was built in the mid 1970’s, and lacked character. One of my goals in the top to bottom renovation was to add the missing character in the form of built-ins. As I worked on the re-do design plan, I thoughtfully considered each room with a goal to add interest but also make it functional and smart for that particular space. Here is why and how we added the built-in faux fireplace in the master bedroom.

The renovation had significant changes to the look and layout of master bedroom. Three of the four walls would have window and door changes. The one wall of the bedroom was basically one huge window, (you can see part of that in the ‘before’ picture below). (HERE you can see more about changing that huge bedroom window too, not only was there the interior considerations, there were plenty of exterior considerations too!)

In the ‘before’ picture below you can also see the doorway on the left. That went into the bathroom. However, in my new plan that bathroom would become the hall bathroom and this doorway would need to be closed off. This future blank wall would be the best place to create a focal point and solidify the axis and create much needed symmetry in the space.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

Nothing adds character to a room like a fireplace, especially up here in NW Wisconsin! With a fireplace design the style of the room can be clearly announced, which this blank space needed. The placement would be good, opposite the bed, so the design would include incorporating the TV.

Why faux and not real?

To put in a wood burning fireplace was out of the question, too messy, and no way to get in a footing and chimney etc. To install a gas fireplace would be much more expensive and invasive than this electric faux fireplace choice. If it was going to be a fireplace we’d actually use frequently enough to justify that cost, maybe that would have been a consideration, but our very user friendly and budget friendly version does everything we need and looks fantastic!

Below is the room at the start of the renovation. The doorway to the bathroom, in the picture has studs in it ready for sheetrock.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

We had all the woodwork and doors removed throughout the entire house, (they were hollow core doors) and replaced with solid doors and traditional colonial farmhouse style moldings.

A key part of the faux fireplace actually were these vintage aluminum porch columns below:

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

I had the carpenter set them aside when we removed them from the porch, not to reuse, but to sell. Turns out I used them to barter with. I love bartering, don’t you? It’s such a fun way of acquiring things!

An acquaintance had this mantel she no longer wanted in her shop: (just the part that I circled in yellow was what she had, I forgot to take a picture of it before we started installing it)

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

So I told her I had the perfect thing for her…

The vintage ivy porch columns were just what she needed for display in her florist shop, and this mantel was the perfect size and style for my bedroom. This barter was a total win-win!!

With the newly acquired mantel in-hand I drew up a sketch elevation plan for my carpenter:

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

Final details would be ironed out as we went along, but this was the basic plan. What seem like little details in the plan, like how far it protrudes and how tall the hearth is etc. are actually very important details in the design for the finished proportions to look appropriate and be pleasing to the eye, not to mention to be assured the TV and fireplace components all fit well.

Next I searched for a fireplace screen that would be a good size for the opening of the mantel and would emphasize the Colonial styling I was aiming for. My carpenter needed to add a little bit of trim on the inside of the opening to make it smaller to fit it perfect. (HERE is a link to this screen)

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

I also found a simple electric log heater. This picture above show the back of it, but from the front it looks like burning logs setting on a fireplace grate. It actually does heat, or can just be a flickering light. The heating part is nice to warm up the room before bedtime. (HERE is a shopping link for the electric log heater)

To build-in the fireplace mantel, having these things before the construction started was important for accuracy in the final design. Not pictured, is the TV we already had as well, so we could get accurate measurements of it for the upper chase design.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

The electrician ran an outlet for the TV on the top, and an outlet for the electric fireplace in the bottom, to totally conceal any cords. We also ran a coaxial cable outlet in the top for the TV.

As I studied pictures and designs of old fireplaces, I realized the fireboxes were angled on the sides, so had that detail added.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

My carpentered built the back sides in plywood, since it would be covered with thin brick, it needed to be strong to hold the brick, but didn’t need to look good, as it would be totally covered up.

After he finished building in the faux fireplace, I caulked and painted the inside and outside. (HERE you can read my painting and caulking tips) I knew I’d still need to do a final touch-up coat of white paint after he was done tiling/bricking and grouting, but getting this painting done ahead of time would get the majority of the paint mess our of the way.

I painted inside the top section black. I wanted the TV to just blend in with it. I also painted inside the firebox top black. That’s the part that if it were a real fireplace, the smoke would go up the chimney. I wasn’t sure if a little part of it would be noticeable when you were sitting on the settee in front of the fireplace, so just to be safe, it was a quick painting job to do it black. Every little bit of detail in the faux fireplace design that is like a real fireplace, adds to the illusion of it being a working fireplace. To see a white inside where it should be an open chimney is a dead giveaway.

In order to do the face of the hearth bottom in brick, like I had originally sketched, I really needed a special corner thin brick to make that look realistic, which at the time was a delay in ordering. We opted to finish the front in wood that I’d paint to match the trim. By this point in the renovation, after months and months of mess and not having our home finished, I was more than happy to compromise on a few things to get it done. Fortunately, this compromise was tiny and I’m still pleased with the finished look.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

As the brick went on, our carpenter started with the base hearth. (HERE is the shopping link for this thin brick)

Next, he did the backs and sides. He cut the brick with a wet saw, same thing he used to cut the tile with.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

To keep the vertical brick in place and spaced evenly, Dan, the carpenter, cut skinny strips of scrap wood to place in-between each row of bricks. Those strips of wood would be removed once the bricks were dry.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

Here is the built-in faux fireplace after everything was done in the room except for the carpet install.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

Below is the detail of the firebox with the screen that fits perfectly, thanks to having it ‘in-hand’ during the actual construction process.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

You can see the fireplace logs electric heater, but you can’t see the cord and plug, because that’s hidden in an outlet mounted underneath it in the bottom of the firebox!

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

The very simple inset shutter style doors close flat, concealing the TV inside the chase built for it. Then they open, folding out of the way when the TV is on.

Faux Fireplace SimpleDecoratingTips.com

I’m thrilled with the end result of the design. This faux fireplace is centered on the wall in the room, and gives that much needed character and focal point to this space. Plus, it offers the functionality of housing the TV as well as a little extra heat and ambiance.

Click HERE to read everything I’ve posted about this Mid-Century to Colonial Revival Cottage renovation.

Did you know I now offer e-decorating? I can help you with your decorating needs via email, without having to step foot in your home. If you’re interested in more information, visit my e-decorating site: Frame and Frills. I’d love to help you with your project!

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Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

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  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
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