It’s chilly weather time and that means back to indoor projects in our home! And what better time of year to take on a DIY Fireplace Build-In project!
This little project was so much fun! As promised in our A Barley Toy Christmas post, this was our DIY electric fireplace build-in and wall project. What I didn’t mention then tho, was the shoestring budget we were working with in trying to see that come to fruition! Very happy to say, that for a project that cost us so little but made such an impact, it was definitely worth it!
The Backstory
Make no mistake about it! We LOVE black accents in a room over here at Designing Scarlett! And when we finished the rec room, we knew the color black would play a role in that against the farmhouse white walls, shiplap and original beams to our old home. I had no choice but to apply a paint treatment to the beams. Wanting to keep the original beams exposed, I had to combat generations of graffiti, stains and inconsistent blotches of color somehow. But as Oprah would have said, that’s an entirely different show!
Where Once Rum Was Run??
This would be our wall of choice for the fireplace install as it was quite bare once the drywall went up. Bare, however, was a welcome change when we considered how far we had come. In fact, the entire basement prior to any renovation was once upon a time, downright creepy! You can read more about that urban legend over here on our older My Painted Porch blog.
Our new plan however, since having made many improvements to our home over the years, was to see us spend cozy evenings here on family nights. And to see our daughter with friends overnight in what would be a hangout space of their own as she grew older.
The den wood fireplace upstairs is for family game nights with no electronics (incl no television). And for Joe and I to sip a glass of wine in and talk about our day or life in general. Or to enjoy Sunday morning coffee in peace and quiet with the dogs curled up at our feet. That room is our sanctuary!
But our daughter had outgrown her playroom some time ago. And we wanted to maximize our available living space, so we came up with a plan for a built-in electric fireplace and wall. Not only did we want the electric fireplace for ambiance and an extra source of heat on chilly winter evenings. But we also needed something for that blank wall space. So I set out shopping for the television, while Joe went to work on the shiplap wall and fireplace surround.
Gathering Materials For Our DIY Fireplace Build-In
Joe had leftover wood stacked in his workshop from some of the other projects we’ve taken on. Some of the remnants had already been stained or painted, so it was a bit of a hodgepodge once installed. Until the finishing paint and distressing were complete, that is. You can believe me when I say that very little goes to waste around here. If it’s sound and can provide another function, we run with that!
Including Hidden Storage in the Surround
We were also needing a bit of a storage area in the surround for the Nintendo console, games etc as well as the option of unplugging the fireplace if needed. And we didn’t want those areas obvious but more, hidden. So Joe installed hinges inconspicuously where required, which I included in the paint finish. He also hand-carved indentations into the underside of the front panel facing, enabling fingers to easily pull down the panel as opposed to having knobs or obtrusive hardware on the face of the panels.
The Fireplace Surround Facing Materials
Following much discussion of what we would use for the facade and already with an exposed brick wall in that area, so as not to compete with the brick, we opted against brick but rather for a stone porcelain tile. He also installed the tile to continue under the raised hearth ledge to the floor.
The base ledge, we made of patio stones which I was able to locate under a mound of snow in a local building center’s stockyard. They were quite grey and looking well, like patio stones. So I sporadically stained them with diluted wood stain to grunge them up and age them a bit and they suited the purpose just fine.
Once Joe was finished with his end of building all, I painted the surround in black, lightly distressed it all with sandpaper and finished it off with a hand-buffed coat of paste wax.
The End Result – Our DIY Electric Fireplace Build-In
What we now have is a cozy area for Joe and I to watch Yellowstone in, cuddled up under throws with a huge bowl of popcorn and maybe a Corona!
Eliza also now has a warm and inviting sleepover space where she and her friends claim their cozy spots on the sectional to just hang out or watch vids with snacks under blankets. And fall asleep without having to even so much as get up to go to bed!
It also lends a focal point to the room when all is in use, with a nice little punch of my fave accent color!
The Total Cost Of Our DIY Fireplace Build-In Project?
The total project cost (not including the electric fireplace or television of course), was under $125. That included all materials. The paint, of course, I had already had on hand because I love black (in case I haven’t mentioned). It also included the framing, most of which had been new wood leftovers from other projects. As well, it included the paving stones, tiles, hinges and shiplap, which we had cut as planks from an engineered wood product remnant from our local building center.
We still have to decide upon a uniform window treatment for the windows but Joe still has leftover wood in his workshop! Yipee!! I’m thinking shutters. Who knows? And we have yet to grout the pavers. But just like every other initially unfinished project in our home, we’ll make our way back to it eventually.
But for now, bring on winter and the -30 temp evenings that come along with that here in northern NB!
Bring on the next episode of Yellowstone!
“You’re fired too, you nosey bleeeeeeeeep!!”
Oh Beth!!
Or is that “Go Beth!!”?!
Up Next…an ode to Vintage with “The Valentine’s Day Box“!
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