Folks,
Here are a few pictures of our fireplace that we just dressed up – nothing too fancy. It was a standard red brick fireplace that we covered with brown marble. Then I made the fireplace surround and mantle with a combination of walnut and birdseye maple. What looks like tiles are actually squares of birdseye maple and what looks like grout are strips of walnut.
We also replaced a small half-round window with four quarter-round windows. I dressed up the standard Anderson rosettes with some walnut to tie them into the fireplace.
Cheers!
Replies
We've come to expect nothing less of your work. I particularly like the window. Good to see ya around.
Thanks, Cloud. This site is a great resource for "fine home building" so I'm back for that. I plan to stay out of the bar fights!
Later...
The trick is learning how to get in and get your beer and get out (or at least get a good spectator's seat) without getting drawn into a fight! :)
Beautiful, Crash. Elegant.
Whew, nicely done. How are the "grout" and "tiles" attached...and what are they attached to?...and when you go to the "bar" get 2 beers...you don't have to step on so much riff-raff, and you can still have a good time<G>nice to see your stuff back here. Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Luv seeing that kind of work!! I'd like to hear some more details about the methods and materials. It all looks excellent!ADH Carpentry & Woodwork
Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
Thanks, guys! I wish I had taken pictures of the construction of the surround but I didn't. Oh well...
I used blocks on the inside of the walnut sides of the surround to attach them to nailers on the walls so that there are no nail holes on the outside. For the face behind the birdseye I used AC ply with a coat of sealer. I backsawed the birdseye from thich rough-cut stock and then planed it down to 3/8 inch thickness.
The trickiest part was coming up with a tile size and "grout" thickness that would result in the diamonds lining up correctly both horizontally and vertically. That was done with a combination of A**2 + B**2 = C**2 for the diamonds and trial and error for the grout.
I sealed the backsides of the tiles and then used formica cement to stick them in place and used titebond on the grout. So far so good. I found some nice thich birdseye and walnut at a wholesaler in New Hampshire that I used for the mantle.
My wife teased me a little about the design because I don't ususally like to do things that are geometric. I think she half expected me to face off the fireplace in decorative shingles... :-)
to face off the fireplace in decorative shingles...
Ok, I just had an image of the surround in FC shingles (and one of the inspector shaking his head as he signs that off . . . )
That's pretty work. Shame there wasn't more room to get the switches in so they won't be tight up against the surround--but not much for curing that short of removing door structure.
Still looks nice. The rosettes are so very well executed. Only thing missing is the j-box for the light for the picture that so obviously wants to be over the fp . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Thanks, CapnMac. I couldn't move the switches over anymore because the studs to the right form a post for a second floor beam. I'll try to carve a faceplate for the switches that'll blend with the fp.
move the switches over anymore because the studs to the right
It kind of had that "look." And a stack of singles in a vertical row would have been, well, "dumb" (not that I haven't seen that done-ugh.)Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Roger
Nice to see your work here again.
Birdseye maple, one of my favorite woods!!
When I saw your name I expected to see some shingles, plesant surprise.
Doug
Mighty fine.
when I look up "artisan" in my dictionary, they have Roger Dumas as a synonym for inspiration and interpretation
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Ah....something we can all agree on....beautiful work Roger.
What happened....get too cold outside fer shaking?
Looks like ya got the talent for inside as well as outside work. Good on ya!
Glad to see you here at BT.
Happy New Year to ya!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Thanks, guys. Sometimes my wife scratches her head when I'm planning a project. But so far she hasn't made me take anything down and start over.
I'm kind of stuck right now with no shingle projects to do. I may have to build a workshop out back so I can make a few more shingle sculptures... ;-)
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Man, see what you can get done when you're not wasting all your time on internet forums! Seriously, looks fantastic. I love the modesty from some of you guys, "...nothing too fancy". Looks awesome, and the window is really sharp as well. Keep the pics coming.... nice to see some fine homebuilding here at.... Fine Homebuilding!
Roger: That is very nice looking and well done.
Stan
Thanks, dieselpig and Stan!
Stan, I made a semi-circular staircase in the addition on our house. I'll post pictures when I finish it. But I just thought I'd mention that I made it based on info that you and Armin Hammer (what ever happened to him?) gave me. So I'll be thanking you again when I finish it and post some pictures.