The Fireplace: One Room Challenge Week Five

It’s all about the fireplace in week five of the One Room Challenge sponsored by #ORC and #BHGORC. 

As I have said before, this is my fourth ORC but I have never been so far behind at this stage.  Usually by week five I am putting on the finishing touches getting ready to take photos.  At this point we are still waiting for carpet and wallpaper.  

I was so grateful when we received an email last week indicating that the One Room Challenge had been extended by one week.  I am hoping that the things we are waiting for, arrive and that we can finish this room in the allotted time.  

 This is what happened so far on my project in Week One, Week Two, Week Three and Week Four. 

Let me tell you about the progress we made this week.  

Stencilling the Fireplace Hearth

I posted a picture on Instagram last week of me stencilling the hearth and I am happy to say that is finally complete.

I selected the Nagoya tile stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils in size 6 x 6.  The sizing worked out perfectly as the hearth has two rows of 6 x 6 stencils.  Here are a couple of things that I feel are important when stencilling:

• Use the right brush.  This is the brush I have used both times I have stencilled and it works really well.  It is used with a dabbing motion and I think that helps to reduce the amount of bleeding under the stencil. 

• Trim the stencil.  If you are going to stencil on tiles that are beside each other, it is important to trim the excess off the stencil. This is done so the excess doesn’t rub on the tiles you just painted.
• Do not use too much paint.  The instructions suggest putting the paint on a paper plate and dabbing the excess off before you apply the paint.  This is important to avoid bleeding.  
• Go back and touch up.  Once I was finished stencilling, I went back to cover up the grey paint that I got other the white and vice versa and also to tidy up any bleeds, with a tiny art paint brush.  
• Once the paint is cured (24 hrs), apply a clear top coat.  I used a satin, non-toxic top coat so there would be no shine.  

Installing the Fireplace Mantle

Another area where we made progress was on the mantle.  I mentioned in a previous week, that we bought a piece of maple at a local wood store  (9 1/4 inches deep, 11/2 thick and 79 in long). This is the installation process:

• We measured the length of the mantle.  The TV will be on the other side of the fireplace so we wanted space between the TV and the mantle. We also decided on the height.
• Hubby took over from here.  He cut the wood to length, sanded it and applied a clear coat.
• Four pieces of 1/2 inch re-bar, two feet in length, were purchased.  He only needed 12 inches in length so he cut them down using a grinder.  (You can get re-bar in smaller lengths, but he was not exactly sure of the length he would need)

• He also used the grinder to smooth out the uneven bits on the ends of the re-bar that would be going into the wood. This was done so that the re-bar would slide easily into the wood.  
• The next step was to make four evenly spaced marks on the brick on the brick.
• Of course, my super meticulous husband made a template of the marks.  He used a left over piece of straight trim, on which he added the exact markings from the fireplace.  He then transposed those markings on to the wood.  

• In the places that he marked on the wood he made 3/8 in pilot holes, free hand, with a long bit, 6 inches deep.  He did this because it is easier to drill a thin hole more accurately than a thick one.  

• It was then much easier to make the hole bigger using the 5/8  wood drill bit. He made the holes six inches deep.
• On the fireplace, he used a 1/2 inch masonry bit, to drill six inch holes into the mortar.
• Using a lump hammer he hammered the re-bar into the pre-drilled holes in the fireplace.  

• Hubby lifted the wood, lined the re-bar up to the pre-drilled holes and slid it on.  

Other Progress

In other progress, I have started making decorative pillow covers. Hubby’s job this coming week, while we wait for the carpet and the wallpaper to arrive, is to change all the electrical outlets to white.

Always 

Leslie