My clients fireplace mantle, made from pine stained a dark color, no longer complimented work being done on the other side of the room. Replacing the mantle could have damaged the shiplap and caused extra work with remedial repairs.
I suggested making a sleeve to fit over the existing mantle, changing the aesthetics without changing the overall size significantly. The sleeve was made from European white oak veneer, the same veneer being used as accent pieces in their kitchen facing the fireplace, visually tying the two areas together.
A simple and effective solution.
