Hey all!
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This week on the blog, I’m talking about our DIY Shiplap Fireplace!
When we originally bought our home 4 years ago, we knew that one of the first projects to complete was putting in a gas fireplace in the new living room.
The winter’s can get really cold here, and I always joke that I’m cold blooded, because I’m regularly freezing! Sometimes I think that I should have been born in the Caribbean! Maybe I’ll be a snow bird when retire and fly down south for these chilly winters.
But, since I’m not moving there anytime soon, a gas fireplace is the best option to keep our home nice and warm and cozy for the fall & winter months!
Here is the best shot I have of the living room before our renovation.
We were moving from a custom-built home in which we designed & sourced all the materials. Our farmhouse fireplace was made from stacked stone with a barn beam as the mantle (this from from a local dairy farm barn!). It was beautiful- but cost A LOT!
I wanted to switch it up a bit this time and do something that was trending as well as inexpensive. (So that altering the fireplace down the road wasn’t that big of a deal!)
The Inspiration!
SHIPLAP!
Yep, that’s right. A shiplapped fireplace! It totally made sense. We already had shiplap as a feature wall for our staircase, why not transfer the same idea to another part of our open-concept main floor!
To further our Modern Farmhouse Design, I wanted a chunky gas fireplace insert and wrap around mantle too! And scroll to the bottom for some great ideas on how to style your fireplace mantle beautifully!
OK, enough already, let’s get down to the steps to creating the perfect DIY Shiplap Fireplace!
Enjoy 🙂
DIY Shiplap Fireplace Steps:
Materials Required:
- lumbar to rough-in fireplace
- plywood for shiplap strips
- gas fireplace insert
- MDF trim moldings to frame in corners.
- desired wood for building the mantle
1. Measure & Rough-In
OK, a bit of a back track here. When doing the entire renovation, we moved the fan in the living room to another location and installed a black chandelier instead. We knew that the new light fixture needed to be exactly the middle of the fireplace. So measuring was very important!
Once that was taken care of, we could begin building the frame for our new fireplace. We had already purchased our Napoleon fireplace, so we had the instructions on how to build the frame to fit the size of our new gas insert!
2. Install fireplace
Rough-in complete, next up, install the fireplace which was as simple as calling our fireplace installer to come to the house with the insert and hook it all up! Sweet!
Notice all of our tv wires & cable sitting off to the side at the bottom. It’s important to strategically figure out where you are going to put them (especially if you are to mount the tv on the fireplace wall!). We chose to create an inset box behind our tv that allows us to hide all cable wires, boxes, tv mount, etc!
An excellent hiding spot!
3. Plywood & Install Mantle
Once you have everything in place, plywood the entire fireplace and close up any gaps. It’s starting to look complete, and this is exciting!
Next up is the mantle! We chose a beautiful black walnut wood and stained it with a teak color to match our flooring as best as possible. Look at the movement in the wood! Isn’t it gorgeous!!!
I should mention that the mantle was built by my husband in our garage and then installed as one piece…shimmied into place perfectly!
NOTE: **Always check with the fireplace model you purchase to see how much room is needed from fireplace to mantle- it’s based on the heat being pumped out of the insert**
4. Trim & Shiplap & Paint
We are getting to the final stages! Let’s pretty up this fireplace with shiplap & trim! Here is a link to another blog post explaining our process of how to DIY Shiplap!
We find it easier to put up the pieces of plywood and THEN paint the entire fireplace as a whole. We use the color Milk Moustache (kids loved the name!) from Beauti-tone’s Trim & Door Series of Paint @ Home Hardware. It’s a creamy white and the paint comes out silky smooth & extremely durable!
And that’s that really! Besides the actual gas fireplace insert, the entire cost was less than $200 for the exterior finishes (shiplap, trim, paint, and mantle!).
The DIY Shiplap Fireplace Reveal
Final Thoughts:
I just love how our DIY Shiplap Fireplace turned out! The black fireplace is chunky, the shiplap is a focal point, and the wrap around mantle is just gorgeous. It completely adds to our Modern Farmhouse vibe that the rest of our home has too!
I love it & it’s trendy too! And for a pretty inexpensive DIY- it was so worth it! I won’t feel bad if I get tired of the shiplap look in the future and need to switch it out– if that ever happens of course.
Related Links:
- The New Stairs REVEAL; Industrial Farmhouse Style!
- Foyer Entrance Final Reveal
- One Room Challenge Spring 2019- Week 6: Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Final Reveal!
So…inspired to install your own DIY Shiplap Fireplace? Leave your comments below!
Style your Fireplace Beautifully!
The following are affiliate links, for more information, read my disclosure.
What kind of trim did you use wear the shiplap meets the wall? Great looking project!
Hi Randy- thanks so much! We used MDF boards that were 3 1/2″ wide as our trim, and the shiplap planks were plywood strips ripped to 6″. Hope this helps 🙂
We are building something similar in our living room and my husband and I are not seeing eye to eye on where to put the cable box & other components. Any chance you would share a picture of what your shelf behind the tv looks like? I would love to see how you handled that aspect. Your fireplace turned out gorgeous!
Hi Katy- Thanks so much! I sent you an email with some pictures as requested! We built a cubby area behind our tv that stores all our cables, technology, etc. I hope this helps! Good luck with your fireplace 🙂
It looks great and we too are planning something similar. Could I also see how you did your cubby behind the tv?k
Hi Kelly! Thanks so much. Instead of sending you an email, I thought that it might be better to just add a picture into the post to help out anyone interested in building a similar fireplace! Scroll up and you will be able to see the cubby behind the tv! I hope this helps 🙂
Hi do you mind me asking how much this cost total? Just trying to figure out budgeting! Thank you!!
Hi Rebecca, thanks for stopping by! In terms of budgeting, the framing, shiplap, paint, mantel and MDF trim can to approximately $1000.00. The only other cost would be your fireplace and then it all comes down to what model you choose. We upgraded our fireplace to one with more BTU’s and also added a mirrored background and the thick black frame surround. The link to our Napoleon Fireplace is in the blog post. I hope this helps 🙂
I love this. I can’t wait to build mine. Would you consider sharing photos and tips on how to do the behind tv shelf? I want to place those cords back there too.
Hi Christen- thanks so much! 🙂 Unfortunately, I don’t have any other photos of the process of building the behind tv shelf. My tips are to make sure all your cords are in place prior to building your fireplace area and to measure the height of your tv before building the shelf. We made sure we had enough depth to attach our cable box too. I hope this helps and good luck with your fireplace build!
This is a great project! I really like that dark walnut mantle. Do you have any pictures of the mantle build?
Hi Paul- thanks so much! Unfortunately, I have zero pictures of the dark walnut mantle being built or being installed. This was one of our first projects at the house and I was still underestimating how many pictures I needed to take for our DIY Projects. What I can tell you is measurements were so important to be spot on! Also, We attached a piece of wood behind the mantle that the mantel is actually resting on. Good luck on your project 🙂
Hi! What depth in your fireplace?
Hi! Thanks for visiting Inspired to Revamp. Our Fireplace is 2 ft in depth. Remember to look at the manual requirements of your fireplace that you purchase when building your frame. Cheers 🙂
Hi! We have a TV wall and planned to do the same thing g! However we are totally stumped on how to work with our vaulted ceiling. Do you mind explaining the frame you built, one side higher than the other or no? Also, when you layed your base layer of plywood for the shiplap did you angle that flush with your vaunted ceiling? So confused but really want to tackle this project!
Hi Kelli- I’m glad you love the shiplap fireplace and are looking at putting one in your own home too! Here’s some information that may help you- I realize that the best picture I have is the one under my Step 2. Install Fireplace. First, we built the base that the fireplace sits on. Second, We built the frame up to the lowest part of the vaulted slanted ceiling level to the other side. (this is what you can see in the pic in the blog post). Then, we filled in the vaulted section of the fireplace and made sure that we attached a piece into the ceiling. Next, we added the bracing. Finally, when we added the plywood, we went up to the lowest part of the ceiling and then added a special sloped piece of plywood above that to accommodate the slanted ceiling. The key for us was that we were adding our MDF Trim on the outside of our fireplace as a border which actually hides any imperfections in the plywood 🙂
Hope this helps~ Bry
Thanks for the reply! Could you clarify what you “filled in the fireplace with?” This portion of the reply has me a little lost! -“Then, we filled in the vaulted section of the fireplace and made sure that we attached a piece into the ceiling. Next, we added the bracing.”
Thank you for taking the time to help!
Hi Kelli- I’m going to send you a personal email with some more information regarding the fireplace. Keep your eyes out for it! 🙂
Hello. Love the outcome. Can you tell me the name of the mount you are using for the t
Hi Rose- Thanks so much- we love the final look too- especially the shiplap 🙂 We purchased our mount at Costco and the brand name is Kanto. It’s very heavy duty, but easy to install and we love how it tilts and pulls out with ease! Hope this helps!
Awesome design!!! We love it and would be perfect for our lake house remodel. Do you know the dimensions of the dark border surrounding the fireplace?? My estimate is 3″ on the sides, 4″ on the bottom, and 7″ on the top.
Hi Colin! When we purchased our fireplace, we added the surround as an extra upgrade from Napoleon Fireplaces. The border is 3.5″ on the sides and bottom, and roughly 7″ on the top- you were so close 🙂 Good luck with your lake house remodel- would love to see the final fireplace design you go with!
Would it be possible to have you send me the same info on how you framed with a slant vaulted ceiling? I have a very similar setup and would love some direction.
Hi Avery- for sure! Keep your eyes out for an email in the next few days and hopefully, I will be able to help you out with your project 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Love this. Great idea for the shelf behind the tv for boxes. I want to do that to ours but my husband thinks the remote won’t sensor the cable box. Do you have a cable box and does the remote reach it back there pretty well?
Hi Kat- we thought the same thing as your husband and then did lots of research- turns out that the remote has infrared signals that bounce off all the walls, doors, cabinets, etc in your home and find the cable box behind the tv with ease. We have had NO issues with our remote control in the last few years since we’ve done this reno- Hope this helps 🙂
Hi! My husband and I are working on something similar right now. I am mostly concerned about the tv size to fireplace size ratio. Do you mind me asking the size of both that you use? Last think I want is to have things look disproportionate. Thanks!!
Hi Lauren- I would advise to either have the tv and the fireplace the same size or have the tv larger than the fireplace. Ours is wider than the fireplace and our measurements are:
Fireplace–40 inches wide
TV–is a 58″ inch
I hope this helps, Good luck 🙂
~Bry
What is the height from floor to bottom of mantel ?
Hi Caroline- Thanks for the question- I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone ask that one yet. The height from the floor to the bottom of the mantel is 47 1/2 inches. We have approximately 10 inches from the top of our fireplace to the bottom of the mantel too (as per the requirements from our fireplace we chose). I hope this helps 🙂 ~Bry
Did you have an existing fireplace before doing this or did they figure out how to vent it to add a gas one in? We would love to do this with a vaulted ceiling
Hi Amanda- There was not a fireplace before we moved here. Luckily for me, I have family members who own a roofing business and they were able to fix the roof after the vent was installed. I’m sure the company you purchase the fireplace from will be able to give you all the instructions on how to vent a new fireplace with your vaulted ceiling! Good luck- you will love having a fireplace 🙂
It’s beautiful! What is the black material surrounding the fireplace?
Hi Sharon- Thanks so much 🙂 When we bought this fireplace, the black surround is an add-on that you could buy to enhance the look & style of the fireplace. You can view all the possible options when picking out a gas fireplace at Napoleon Fireplaces.
What is the width, depth and height of your whole unit? Also what were the dimensions of the box for cords behind? We’ve started this project now haha
Hi Amanda- thanks for stopping by! I sent you a private message on Instagram with the details you are looking for. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know! I’m excited for you and this project 🙂 Good luck!
Hi there, love the finished product of your shiplap fireplace! We also bought a Napoleon Fireplace with the 3.5″ border face plate around the insert.
Did you put the shiplap on after the fireplace was completely installed? And how did you address the emergency shut off switch on the side of the border frame?
Hi Rebecca- Thank you 🙂 To answer your questions…We had our local fireplace installer hook up our fireplace. Once it was installed, our shiplap was bordered up to it, and then the thick black frame was set on top hiding any imperfections in the finished shiplap cuts. Our emergency shut-off switch is not on the side of the border frame, but with the other dials on the front of the fireplace under the frame. I hope this helps 🙂
Your fireplace and mantel is BEAUTIFUL! I will be creating this beauty over Christmas break. I just purchased a 36 inch insert and was wondring your dimensions for width and height of your fireplace? I know you said in a previous post that you used 3.5 trim what was the width on each side of the fireplace? Thank you for any guidance and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Again great work
Thanks so much Ron! Good luck with your project…what a great project to complete before the winter cold is upon us! 🙂 Our fireplace is roughly 3.5′ in width by 3′ in height. I hope this helps (that includes the thick black trim surround). Merry Christmas to you and your family as well! Let me know if you have any more questions, I would be happy to help~ Bry
Where do you live, do you know if there is a code as far as using shiplap on a fireplace. I want to do this but am worried about code?
Hi Sherri- We inquired with the fireplace company on whether or not this was going to be an issue around a fireplace and due to the BTUs on the fireplace we chose for our living room, it was acceptable to use shiplap as a surround. There were no issues with code here in Ontario. Something to check in for sure if you are considering for your own home though 🙂
~Bry
Gorgeous! What depth is your mantle!? I didn’t see that detail anywhere, help! Ha!
Hey Crystal! Glad we could connect on Facebook 🙂 Good luck with your fireplace project…would love to see the end result! ~Bry
Is ok to use wood near the gas insert? We are wanting to do this but we get a lot of heat from the top of the insert. Ours is a vented fireplace.
Hello. It’s always a good idea to inquire with a professional. Our gas insert could handle having shiplap as the surround, we made sure to research and discuss with the distributor of our Napoleon Fireplace as we were a bit hesitant with the heat as well. Good luck!