Dear Julie: Building a mantel is not a difficult do-it-yourself task. If you think adding a complete wood surround is beyond your skill level, try just cleaning the bricks first. With a good cleaning, ...

Whenever we finish a big project - in this case, a privacy fence in our backyard made out of doors - I think, we need to chill out for a while before we start something new. But then I read blogs or ...

Most of us have fireplace mantels, but we don’t know what to put on them. And that’s a shame, because the fireplace is a room’s focal point, and the hearth is the heart of a home. The best mantel ...

Decorate your Thanksgiving fireplace for fall with cozy seasonal accents. From the mantel to the hearth, these fireplace ...

If you're spending time near your fireplace these cold days, you may have noticed that your mantel -- cleared of all holiday decor -- could use a winter makeover. And why not? "I think a fireplace ...

One of the best parts about “decking the halls” for the holidays is getting to decorate your Christmas mantel. Whether you’re picturing it styled to perfection with boughs of evergreen or you’re ...

The holidays have come and gone. Yet winter lingers, and we in the Pacific Northwest are left with several more months of cold rain, early sunsets and gray days. To lift your spirits and escape the ...