DIY Faux Fireplace

This project has a bit of backstory...
The wall opposite my bed was totally blank, and as usual, I wasn’t sure what to put on it.

I had been mulling over some ideas about picture frames and candle sconces, but nothing seemed quite right. Then one day, an idea struck me… I truly have no idea where it came from… that I should put a faux fireplace there.

I perused Google and Pinterest, and I concluded that building a faux fireplace was within my skill set. I pinned a few inspiration pictures of what I wanted the fireplace to look like. After measuring the wall and deciding on dimensions, I began to contemplate how I would build the fireplace. I was assembling boards in my mind when suddenly I remembered I had this bathroom cabinet (which I had set aside after the frustration of two failed paint jobs).

Of course! An over-the-toilet bathroom cabinet would make a great fireplace! Okay, so that connection is a bit of a stretch... but it's how my mind works sometimes. :)

I began by rearranging some of the cabinet parts. The thing was essentially two pieces – a top cabinet and shelf sitting on a bottom framework which functioned as legs. What I needed for the fireplace was mainly the bottom framework.

First, I took the top off the framework and placed it on the bottom to serve as a sort of hearth.

Next, I switched the back and front pieces, putting the smaller piece on the back and the larger piece on the front.

Then, I took the top from the cabinet and placed it on top of the framework to serve as a sort of mantel.

I added two 1" x 2" boards to widen the facade.

Then, it was time to add decoration and make this thing resemble a fireplace. I pulled all sorts of boards and wood trim up from my basement. I also brought in some decorative onlays and two balusters which I had purchased for about $1 at the reuse store.

I played around with the bits and pieces until I got a look I was satisfied with.

I put it all together with construction adhesive and a few screws. Then I painted the whole thing black.

To make a back, I covered a board with "tin tile" style textured wallpaper and painted it black.

Two benefits of using a bathroom cabinet: It's fairly shallow and doesn't block the path past the bed, and it has a notched area at the bottom so that it fits neatly over the base molding. :)

I finished by adding candles and decor.