Well, for those of you that are not really into crafts, I am finally back with a remodeling project. I realized lately that it is very good for my stress levels to have some small projects now and then…. and actually it was just sorta fun to be creative in a different form…
But back to my first love, finishing the big projects! For the moment we are still currently working on the family room mantel. The last time you saw it, this is what it looked like, a big huge hole on the wall!
Later with the TV hung back up this is what it looked like.
Basically it is starting to look close to done, but the TV is screaming for a face lift. Especially since it is sort of the main feature up there.
What’s a girl to do?… pick up trash from another persons yard and build something. ***Correction… her husband is supposed to do that for her! Last spring here in Texas we had some big wind storms and a lot of old fences got blown over. A neighbor down the street had about 10 whole panels just sitting by the curb. So my awesome hubby went and collected them. ( I like that rustic wood look like in this sign art I made a while ago) and a whole bunch of free rustic wood sounds good to me!
He cut some boards off and laid them out to get ready to use them.
He started with a 4 little corner blocks (old scrap wood)
He placed those blocks on the outside corner and nailed the mitered edges in place just directly thorough the front of the frame with finish nails. once it was square.
Here he had a basic square frame, but it was just flat wood, and wouldn't hide the TV edges very well.
He added a small bead of wood in the inside corner, for dimension.
Now because the TV is a bit deep and we need to cover up the edges, we wrapped the whole outside edge with another fence rail, and just nailed it into the block on back. (but you can also see how it comes out on the front to add even more dimension like the center box!)
Next just set it down so that the top of the frame is, well on top... Then drill a few holes along the top for ventilation.
It was done in about an hour! Next we just slid it over the TV…right now it just sits on the mantel… we will attach it at some point I am sure! But here is what it looks like (we think it might be a little too dark, so we might try to lighten up the color a bit… but we also talked about making a few different frames that can be changed out… it did only take and hour after all… and the second time is always faster!
…and yeah, I didn’t move the toy basket for the “pretty pictures”… but at least most of the toys are in the basket and not strewn all over the room!
Well What do you think?
It the frame too dark? Should it be a lighter color?
Pin It
A silvery gray would be nice! But at the same time,I bet IRL, the old wood looks really cool and almost a shame to change it! I saw someone else's tv surround that they had put holes in the top for ventilation. I wonder how necessary that is these days? My LCD doesn't seem to give off much heat. Looks good!
We haven't done it yet, but just to be safe, we are planning on drilling some holes in the top for ventilation! The space behind our surround is pretty open to air, but I am pretty sure all electronics need air circulation! I don't want to burn out my tv prematurely!
This looks fantastic!! I just built one for my friend and I painted it black. It's gorgeous black!
So cool! I love it. We just did a similar project with our tv- except we bought a premade frame from Hobby Lobby and painted it. We had to add some wood so the tv would hang flush with the wall too. I love the new look, makes the tv a bit 'classier'
Yours is beautiful, I'll send you some pics of mine when I get the post done.
Samantha please do! I would love to see what you did!
love it! It looks great!
Blends really well to the decor! The usual awkward TV is no longer a problem in a living room with this method.
That is amazing. I love it just the way it is. What a difference it makes on the mantel, and I thought it looked great before. Cheers!
It is stunning how much that changes everything. Makes the TV a focal point, blends it in.
This is so beautiful. It looks rustic and classic. Gorgeous!!!
I love that!! It looks so original, what a great idea.
Excellent, marvelous.... TV as art!!!
~Bliss~
it is PERFECT! If we didn't have an armoire for our TV I'd be begging my husband to let me do this!! Awesome !!
My husband is worried about heat and air circulation. Is this a problem for the TV?
You can't see the top of the box frame so you can easily drill some holes on top for your TV to breath, then it should be okay. But yes I think it does need to be able to breath!
I think there's too much dark wood on dark wood up there. I like the frame by itself, but not next to the dark mantle. I think you should go super fun with it - like aqua or fushia or something crazy bright. maybe something that will tie in with the curtains?
I know, actually I was thinking that would be fun too! (I may have to make another one in Turquoise to change out for the seasons?
I love the frame! But I agree that there is too much "dark" going on. If there were a slice of white showing between the mantle and the frame it might work, but I don't suppose you want to re-work your careful hanging job
Yeah, I was sorta thinking of white washing the old wood, so you still get rustic, but just a little more light, I definitely have a ton of wood I can test it out on!? Do you think that would work Korrie?
I like that so much I may be willing to upgrade out little 22 inch tv! My hubbs will thank you later, haha
This looks incredible! I have to stop looking your site....so many wonderful ideas and so little time (and talent!)
p.s. i took your no bake crispy treat to school for my son's first grade class....they were a HIT!
Thanks again,
Michelle
Yea! I am glad to hear about the treat, I really liked them too... did you add the sprinkles.. I am not sure why but honestly they just seem to make everything better!
I love the wood you used! I did the same thing a year ago but used crown molding instead. I have received so many compliments on this project. It really makes a huge difference. Be sure to vent the top so the heat/sound can escape.Please stop by and see what we did!
Stephanie at Full of Great Ideas (http://fullofgreatideas.blogspot.com/2011/03/picture-perfect-tv-flat-screen-tv-frame.html)
I love the rustic wood, and would leave it as is. It's such a gorgeous way to treat the black box. Thanks for sharing.
I am with you on the lighter color! The two woods aren't coinciding as well as they could be right now. That is a super awesome idea I LURVE the old wood you used.
I love it the way it is. It looks great - excellent idea.
outstanding!
What a great idea!!! I have a whole pile of weathered fence just like that in my garage. I wasn't sure what to do with it. Thanks for sharing!
What a fantastic idea! It looks awesome!
Looks fantastic, but I have a question.
I have been wanting to mount our flat screen on the wall above our mantle....BUT where does the DVD player go?????
Stephanie, for a long time we had our DVD player on the old mantel but we just built this mantel so that the wires go through the mantel into the built in unit on the side... which is not much help if you aren't building a mantle anytime soon! I wonder if there are any wireless units around the bend!
I really like how your whole family room is turning out! I could seriously use some of that built-in power in our living room. The frame for your TV is fabulous!!! In the pictures it looks like it blends with the other wood on the mantle. It would be fun to have other frames you change it out with! I pinned this. Thanks!
I don't think it's to dark. The tv should blend in and become part of the art work/decor and not to steal the show. I love the way you have creatively done that. It defiantly adds to your look you have created.
Karen E.
Beautiful, gorgeous, stunning!! LOVE IT!! Please come to my house
I like the frame as is, but maybe for spring/summer do something fun to match or coordinate with the curtains. Or maybe a metallic for a little bling?
NO, it's not too dark, it looks AWESOME!!! I love the reclaimed wood.
I like this idea, but what about the sound quality? If you're using a home theater system it probably doesn't matter, but if you're not... wouldn't the wood drown it out?
Jordan,
That is a good question, and just to clarify,we actually don't have surround sound, and if you look really close the frame is below the speaker portion of the t.v. (in fact an annoying feature of out tv is that the bottom is a curved line, so the two bottom corners are above the opening of the frame, but you can't see it unless you are right there) We made sure that we built the frame big enough that it wouldn't cover the speakers... my husband dreams of surround sound. Maybe someday! ...but for now we can go on watching any shows without issues!
Wow this is amazing!!! I love it!
I think it is gorgeous and I wouldn't change a thing! Great Job
It's beautiful; however, I also think it might be a little too dark. I'm not so much a decorator, but when you hang it on the wall, that might help a bit. Is there a way to lighten up the frame or the mantel? Also, some of those $3 fake plants from IKEA lined up between the TV and the mantel might help. Thank you for sharing your creative craftiness with us!! You are an inspiration!!
Wow love this idea! Plus we actually have wood that looks about like yours. I like it because it would help camouflage our cable and electrical cords. We're too afraid to cut into the fireplace wall to poke them inside. Thanks for sharing your idea!
JoAnn
Love. Love. Love!!!
WOW, this is fabulous! We were thinking of doing this for the upstairs loft but we weren't sure about the tv sticking out too far. Love how you incased it!
thank you for linking up!
XO
Kristin
Yea! if you do it, please let me know I want to make sure i check it out!
I hope you don't change it!! It's amazing. Love it!
rustic & beautiful!!! great solution to the tv-on-mantle issue.
You should look into a one way mirror to hide the screen, saw it on TV and it looked amazing
I absolutely love this! I am featuring you for the Crafty, Scrappy, Happy Link party!
This looks great! I know a lot of people wonder what to do with a TV and this is a perfect solution!
Love this! We just posted our 2nd Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday Link Party and would love for you to share this! http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/02/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link_16.html
Nice!!! My husband and I say "strong work". Give yourself a pat on the back. Pinned and tweeted.
Love this project- You have been featured in today's Saturday Spotlight Talent Show. XO, jen
Pinning this in case we ever get ours mounted LOL. Thanks for the inspiration
This is so seriously clever I could DIE. Fabulous execution. It really looks stunning!
Shared on FJI Facebook and pinned for SNS 121.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150656189336141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater
Donna
YEA! Thank you Donna that just totally made my night!
This is a beautiful project! What a fabulous way to frame out a tv.
Shannon
Wow, what a fantastic project, I just love it! Thank you!
Love this! You just made my hubs happy b/c I told him that NOW he could get a wall mount television...if he framed it up really cool like y'all've done!
I completely and totally love your tv frame. It is perfection. And by the way I am still drooling over your fireplace as well! Thank you so much for linking up at my place---it is an honor to have you!
Jaime from crafty scrappy happy
Hey, just wanted to let you know that I featured you over @ Southern Lovely. Thanks for linking up to Show & Share!
http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/2012/02/show-share-27-features.html
Oh, so nice! I want to give it a try! Will you, pretty please, consider sharing with my readers at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/02/sasss-sunday-salvation-show-12.html ?
Hugs,
Kathy
This turned out fantastic! Your TV looks so classy now
Thanks for linking up to Your Whims Wednesday, I featured this on my blog tonight! Come stop by and grab a button 
http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2012/02/your-whims-wednesday-47-and-features.html
This looks amazing! Thanks for joining us on our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We hope you come back next Saturday. We would love to have you share more wonderful ideas! -The Sisters
Ummmm.... this is INCREDIBLE. Found you through My Girlish Whims. Newest follower
Kelly @ livelaughrowe.com
this is amazing!! pinned this on pinterest! http://pinterest.com/pin/162340761537814822/
Cassity, this is SO fabulous!!! I LOVE the look of the old pallet with the new tv! I think it is just PERFECT this color! Featuring you at Homemaker in Heels today! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a wonderful weekend!
For another frame idea, why not include doors to cover the tv screen when not in use. They could be made of the same wood as the frame and painted, stained or covered with fabric or a photo of your choice. They could have a top track or side hinges. Your original is beautiful.
That is a great idea too! I will have to think about that one more!