Fire Place Mantel and MORE

One thing our home didn't have was a fireplace.  We always wanted one and with the advent of "ventless" fire boxes we became interested.  We started checking Craigs list and found a few period fireplace mantels scattered through Iowa and Missouri.  We went on a road trip in February looking at fireplace mantels that took us through Savanna, MO, Kansas City and then Columbia, MO.  We bought two we liked on the way home.  We selected this white oak mantel which was  built about 1900.  Then came the work of stripping, refinishing and fitting.  It took about a month to strip and prepare the wood for refinishing.  We then picked out some beveled marble tile, some grout and the tile saw.  The dust finally settled. We now have a fireplace in our parlor and we're very proud of how it turned out.  

Oft's Bed & Breakfast's New Parlor Fireplace

 The sculptured figure above the firebox was made by Earth Song, a firm in Canada that makes custom tiles.  Its called "Wind Man" which reminds us of olde man winter and the winds we get here in Nebraska.  

 I think this guy will help blow on our hot chocolate and pepper schnapps this winter.  We're ready.  Take care.