Mantel Makeover with Fusion Mineral Paint

So this project was one that I worked on for a few minutes here and there for over a month … because … life happens and that’s ok! I was given this antique mantel by a family member who refinishes houses. He salvages and keeps a lot of the awesome pieces like this mantel that get taken out of older homes. We have been enjoying it in a couple of different spaces in our previous homes.

It was time to give it a makeover, so I decided to go for a focal point in our dining room and paint it black to stand out against a big empty neutral wall. I have seen DIYers on Instagram use Fusion Mineral Paint and heard good reviews. We have a local shop here in my hometown that sells it, so I tried it out. And .. I love it! You can also purchase here. It was very easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of prep or top coat. (They do make top coat products if you need it for extra protection!) I didn’t do any sanding, scraping, or deep cleaning. It has several chippy spots, but painting straight over them just adds texture and character that I like. I gave it a quick wipe down with warm soapy water and then painted with two coats. I used the color Coal Black. There are so many pretty colors, so I’m looking forward to doing more projects with it.

I also gave my wooden candlesticks a makeover. I got these from Harp Design Co a few years ago. Remember the episode of Fixer Upper where Joanna makes candlesticks with Clint? We visited Waco soon after that episode aired, and needless to say the candlesticks were on major backorder. At the time, I was into turquoise-y blue decor, so I purchased two chippy blue ones and a few weeks later, they showed up at my house. But now, I want a more simple raw wood look. I didn’t want to get rid of these because I love the quality, handmade design, so I set out to try to strip off the blue paint. It started out ok, but because there are so many nooks and crannies it was going to be impossible to sand it down.

Plan B: Use different layers of paint, wax, and stain to get the look of old wood. First I did a coat of creamy white chalk paint, then some beige craft paint, then white wax, and finished off with Early American stain. I think they turned out pretty good!