The existing brick fireplace in this Point McKay home had character, so covering all of it would have been the easy answer and the wrong one. The better move was to keep the brick that worked, simplify the upper section and build the television storage around it.
The Plan
We removed the upper brick, repaired and painted the wall, then built a custom mantel sized to the fireplace. The selected mantel was made from red oak and finished in a custom stain. We integrated LED lighting underneath it so the brick could be lit without adding another visible fixture.
Below the television, we built a four-door maple cabinet to match the colour of the existing kitchen cabinetry. A stained wood top tied the cabinet back to the mantel and other furniture in the room. The toe kick was cut to fit the existing tile rather than forcing an awkward straight line over it.
The Work Behind the Finished Wall
The electrical and data planning mattered as much as the cabinetry. New power was run to the television location and into the cabinet toe kick for the lighting controls. LED tape was concealed around three sides of the cabinet and under the mantel, with dimmers connected to the client’s Lutron system.
We also ran CAT6 from the upper office through the attic and down to the television. A pull-down mount lets the screen sit at a comfortable viewing height, then return above the fireplace when it is not being used.
The Result
The finished wall still looks like it belongs to the home. The brick remains the centre of it, while the oak mantel and maple cabinet make the television and equipment feel planned rather than added afterward.
Fireplace projects can get crowded quickly. Mantel depth, screen height, cabinet proportions, wiring and heat clearances all meet in one small area. Working through those details before fabrication is what keeps the finished wall clean.
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