FAUX FAUX FIREPLACE

No, that's not a typo. I really did make myself a faux faux fireplace. Let me explain. It all started when I dreamed up a faux fireplace to go next to my Christmas tree this year. I thought of this, like, a month ago. And then I kept thinking about it. Along with my dining room plans . . . that's right, my plans to have the "big stuff" finished before Christmas are quickly running away from me. Of course, it doesn't help that I coach 3rd and 4th grade girls basketball two nights during the week and almost all day on Saturdays. AND I still have to participate in all the normal holiday insanity, too. Anyway . . .

Here are a couple of the faux fireplaces that sparked the thought:

 

(from here and here)

Here is the spot for my fireplace. This is my buffet that I decorate for every season. I didn't do a whole lot for fall:

 

 

And here it was for Halloween:

This morning I decided to get a move on the faux fireplace. I woke up and drew some plans to figure out what materials I would need from Lowe's. And then I got lazy. I didn't really want to leave the house. (I get that way on Sundays.) Luckily, I already had a perfectly good shelf I built months ago. And I knew I wanted a chalkboard "firebox". So, a four foot already DIYed shelf, plus a large already DIYed chalkboard, equals a faux faux fireplace!

Here's my lovely assistant helping me decide whether this was going to happen or not. (Insert child labor joke here :P )

 

I really didn't get any "during" pics, because it was that easy. Hang shelf, prop up chalkboard, draw a cozy fire, and style shelf. Easy peasy!

 

The shelf is hung four feet from the floor and the mirror is about five inches above it. You may have noticed I turned the mirror horizontal for this. I just switch the hardware to the long side. It's easy. I've done it a couple times over the years. I really didn't plan on styling it for fall, considering I'll just be taking it down to do Christmas next weekend. But alas, I couldn't resist.

 

 

I made the "FALL" banner last month before I started the blog. It's super simple. Just some fake leaves I already had, and some pennants cut from a drop cloth. I borrowed a brown marker from my girls' school box and free-handed the letters. It's all strung up on a length of twine. If you haven't noticed, I like easy. :)

The basket on the floor holds winter wear: gloves, scarves, hats. I want to put birch logs, greenery, and twinkle lights in there for Christmas.

 

In these pictures, it looks like it needs something along the sides to make it more fireplace-y (you know what I mean.) But, in person it's pretty awesome. Obviously, this will be the landing spot for our stockings this year (they were just hung on the wall in the past.) And I can't wait until I get my tree up next to it!

 

So there you have it, the lazy girl's faux faux fireplace.