the project: fireplace

It's been awhile since I've posted a project: home update.

Most recently, we gave the fireplace a facelift and built a mantel. It was our goal to have it done in time for Christmas and we did! Barely :)

Here are the pictures. Sorry for the poor quality...I took them on my phone as we went along. 

 The beginning

 a rented hammer drill that saved the day breaking out the hearth tile

 I let husband run that thing...I held the shopvac with extreme accuracy instead

 how many bucket of mortar and grout did I mix??

 the first coat of thinset over the brick to give the tile a smooth surface to adhere to

 first row of tile...already an improvement

 after almost 8 hours of tiling the sides were complete

 dry fitting the granite tile hearth

 figuring out to build a mantel

still figuring it out but making progress

Success! One more coat of paint went on after this pic was taken.