Scavenger Chic

Create a Mantel from a Mirror Frame

• By Joan
• February 11, 2018
• 13 Comments

When I first saw this frame I thought it was a mantel.  It was the height and width of a mantel, it had the wood carvings of a mantel. It just had that one extra piece of wood running along the bottom.

It turns out, it wasn’t a mantel at all, but a frame for a mirror.  Replacing the mirror would get super expensive, so why not turn this into what I thought it was in the first place…a fireplace surround and mantel.

First up, cutting off the bottom portion of the frame.

This cut doesn’t look like much, but it probably was the toughest part of this makeover.  I wanted to leave some of the existing frame so that I could add an extension directly onto the existing wood.  I think I used three different saws to finally make my cut.  I won’t go thru my trial and error but I think the tool to use if you have one  twould be the Dremel Multi-Max .

Add a piece of scrap wood, a little wider than your trim.  If you need your mantel to be higher, this is the time to add your addition.

Sand, glue and nail to secure.

Because this frame used to hold a mirror, there was a ledge alongside the inside opening that prevented the frame from sitting flat.  A 1×2 is the perfect size and it also adds some much needed width to the fireplace surround.  This is just my test piece.

The existing frame top was only 2 1/2″ wide.  My new reclaimed wood top is 5 1/2″.  Sand, glue and nail to attach.

My new wood additions don’t quite match, but no worries, it will all be painted.

A thin piece of scrap wood dresses up the extensions.  These are sanded, glued and clamped until dry.

The  1×2 interior frame was  cut with mitered corners glued and nailed from the back side.

Fill any gaps with paintable caulk.

Chalk paint works very well with layering.  You don’t have to be particularly neat with this step, just don’t leave any drips or globs of paint.

This is a light and a dark gray.

Follow the grays with a solid coat of white.

Lightly sand and distress the edges revealing as much or as little of the paint layers and wood as you like.

The multi layers of chalk paint are most noticeable in the new pine layer.  You don’t want the sanding to reveal brand new wood.

So now that you have a brand new mantel I wanted to give you a couple ideas for what you can do with it.

I had no desire to take off the current headboard on my twin bed…that would have involved unbolting,  but I did want to show you how cute this fireplace surround would look as a headboard so I propped it on the end of the bed.  I’ve added a couple pieces of farmhouse siding to the opening but you could also consider pallet wood or ship lap.  I think you get the idea.

The next two pictures are from my brother’s house.  He’s a huge architectural salvage fan and I’m pretty sure his mantels are truly vintage.  The first one he uses to frame out his dining table.  He lived in an old row home with no space to pull the table into the middle of the room.

The second mantel he used gets a more traditional use dressing  up a plain brick fireplace.

Stay inspired.  Have a great week.

Shared at.  Metamorphosis Monday,

Talk of the Town,  Wow us Wednesdays,

Related posts:

Dry Erase Board from an Old Frame DIY Upcycled Frame and a New Baby Thrift Store Makeover, Frame for Baby Corrugated Tin and Pallet Wood Frame