
We're in the process of moving. Slowly. And instead of packing boxes, I labor over stupid things like mantels for non-existing fireplaces. (I did the same thing for our wedding. Forget the dress - I wanted to talk table linens.) After choosing to go with the paint swatch on the lower left (
Benjamin Moore #681), my next project is making this wall-jut-thing into a fake fireplace - or more like acting as the facade of the real one behind the plaster. I love mantels and am eyeing one on
craigslist right now. I love how they can be the focus of a room. Distracting your guests, say, from the 57" television your husband wants to get. I refuse to get glasses, so I'm all for upgrading the size of our tv. That, and we like watching tv. But I really don't like tvs being the center of the room - blatently & unabashedly saying "this is what we do here." Even if that's true, I'd still like to pretend it's not. But is putting up a mantel without a real fireplace just masking the problem? What if I add pretty wallpaper (purple scratches below) in place of the fire? Still masking? Help!