The DIY Village

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Honey Do List
  • Project Gallery
  • Home Tour
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclosure & Privacy

DIY Stone Fireplace Mantel Makeover

December 10, 2014 By Matt 12 Comments

DIY stack stone fireplace makeover with Dover Gray Mantel. Great mix of rustic modern decor. Love the antique cameras and photographs
Every year around this time, our fireplace mantle takes center stage!  It gets adorned with holiday decorations galore and really helps set the mood for the rest of the year! Jacque and I decided that it would be the perfect time to check a project off the Never Ending Honey-Do-List, so we thought we’d tackle a Fireplace Mantel Makeover!

Here’s a look at what we started out with.  Just your run of the mill fireplace mantel painted white.  We added some character to the hearth by installing some padded edges, looks good right? haha

Mantle Before Makeover

A simple paint job does wonders for transforming a fireplace mantel.  We discussed for a while what color we wanted to paint the mantel and while we were visiting the Lowe’s headquarters it came to us, the mantel had to be gray!  We went with semi-gloss Dover Gray Paint & Primer by Olympic.

Mantle Paint Makeover

This in itself could have been enough to satisfy our DIY itch, but we wanted to take it a step further!  Well, to be honest I was satisfied but Jacque kept on about wanting to install barn boards, and trim moldings and on and on and and on.  It sounded like way too much work so we compromised.

We decided to try our hand at installing AirStone, an ultra-lightweight alternative to real stone.  It comes in three different color collections, Vineyard Blend, Spring Creek, and Autumn Mountain. (We went with Spring Creek)

Airstone Collections

Once we chose our color, we needed to get the necessary stone.  There are two different types of flat stones to work with, flat edge and natural edge.  The natural edge stones are used to as an outer border, while the flat edged stones are used to fill in the inner voids.

Airstone Natural and Flat Edge Stones

With all the materials in hand, we began the install.  Start with a level surface and begin with a natural edge stone.  The surface prep consists of making sure the wall is clean and dust-free.

Airstone Installation Begins

Using a putty knife, spread a generous amount of adhesive onto the back of the stone.  (Described by the manufacturer as icing a cupcake)

AirStone Adhesive

With the adhesive in place, press the stone firmly against the wall.

Installing AirStone

Each box of stone contains a few different shapes, lengths, and colors of stone, so it’s important to stagger the stones as you work across the work surface.  Once the first row is in place, it’s just a matter of attention to detail and repetition!

Stagger the Airstone Size and Color

During installation, it may be necessary to cut some of the stone. Although you can cut the stone with just a hacksaw, I’d recommend using a miter saw or angle grinder with a concrete cutting blade.

AirStone proved to be a surprisingly easy installation, plus the addition of the stone as an accent to the fireplace mantle, really makes a dramatic difference in the feel of the room.  We carried the AirStone all the way to the ceiling to give the look of a stack stone chimney.

Airstone Installation

Here’s a look at the fireplace mantle before and after.  Jacque is positive we have the best looking fireplace mantel in the neighborhood.  You won’t hear any arguments from me.  The room already feels warmer, inviting, and more like home!  I can’t remember it any other way!

Fireplace Mantle Makeover Before and After

DIY stack stone fireplace makeover with Dover Gray Mantel. Great mix of rustic modern decor. Love the antique cameras and photographsThe stone and gray are very versatile and serve to be a great neutral for decorating year round!

DIY stack stone fireplace makeover with Dover Gray Mantel. Great mix of rustic modern decor. Love the antique cameras and photographs

 

Thanks to Lowe’s for their continued support in having us as members of their Lowe’s Creative Ideas bloggers!  For more tips and inspiration for home projects, be sure to check out what the rest of the amazing DIY experts with the Lowe’s Creators & Influencers have come up with!

Holiday-14-Blogger-Badge_280x200

 

If you’re an iPad or iPhone user, be sure to download the Lowe’s Creative Ideas App to see some unique seasonal project ideas!

Holiday-14-Blogger-Badge-Subscribe-Banner_392x140

 

And if you need even more inspiration, follow Lowe’s Home Improvement on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram

DIY stack stone fireplace makeover with Dover Gray Mantel

Disclosure: As a Lowe’s Creative Ideas Handyman, I was provided a gift card to cover the cost of materials for my project, but I was not told what to write.  All the ideas and words found here within are honest and my own!

Filed Under: All, Before & After, Christmas, DIY, Holidays, Home, Lowe's Creator

Comments

  1. Jenny@Birdsandsoap says

    December 11, 2014 at 3:33 am

    Love the stone! Looks great, really adds interest to the fireplace. Every time I go to Lowes, I stare it on the endcap and think of what I could cover…I really, REALLY want to use airstone on the back of our breakfast bar.

    Reply
  2. Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl says

    December 11, 2014 at 9:54 am

    What a makeover! Love the stone and the new mantel color.

    Reply
  3. keri @ shaken together says

    December 12, 2014 at 4:58 am

    Our fireplace (think 80s brass) is in desperate need of a makeover! That stone is just gorgeous and I love the gray paint choice!

    Reply
  4. Beth at Unskinny Boppy says

    December 15, 2014 at 12:24 pm

    Dude! This looks awesome!! And this reminds me….I was supposed to do something similar to my fire place! Whoops! 😉 Great job, guys!

    Reply
  5. Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:23 pm

    Oh WOW! You guys must just sit and stare at it. It looks so good!!! Nice job guys 🙂 It really looks sensational. Merry, merry Christmas to you all. ~Shannon

    Reply
  6. Wendi @H2OBungalow says

    September 7, 2016 at 6:36 am

    Love the stone addition! It’s a fabulous way to add bulk and texture to your fireplace. Plus, it looks easy enough to do as a DIY over a weekend. Pinned! Visiting from the DIY Housewives tour. Cute idea!!

    Reply
  7. kristin salazar says

    September 9, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    I love the stone and the grey makes everything look so rich!

    Reply
    • Jacque says

      September 13, 2016 at 1:11 am

      Thank you so much! I’m just glad he went with me on this one. Builder grade fireplaces can be so blah!

      Reply
  8. Melany Zimmer says

    February 18, 2018 at 11:01 am

    Love the update… the color and stone are perfect compliments and really make it pop. Beautiful!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Creativity Unleashed Link Party!! says:
    December 18, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    […] Fireplace Mantel Makeover from The DIY Village […]

    Reply
  2. Creativity Unleashed Link Party - No. 50 || Practically Functional says:
    December 23, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    […] Fresh Air Fresheners from Shaken Together Fireplace Mantel Makeover from The DIY Village Holiday Home Tour & Giveaway from One Project Closer How To Make Ice Laterns from Practically […]

    Reply
  3. diy barn wood mantel | Best How To Design says:
    September 24, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    […] http://www.thediyvillage.com/2014/12/fireplace-mantel-makeover.html […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcome…
    Search…
    Categories…

    Keep Up With Us By Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to theDIYvillage and receive notifications of our latest posts by email.

    Blog Archive

    Latest Pin

    • Follow Me on Pinterest

    Affiliates

    Copyright © 2021 · Web Hosting By RFE Hosting