It’s no secret that I am obsessed and endlessly inspired my Parisian Apartment design. The most defining feature being those gorgeous marble mantels. Since we can’t all live in Paris with a grand fireplace, I’m diving into how to obtain that look in your own home or apartment (in rental friendly ways).

NOTE: ANYTHING IN BOLD IS A LINK, CLICK IT AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A WEBSITE!

As always, my first recommendation is to go thrifting. I’ll give you fair warning though, vintage marble mantels can be VERY expensive, I’m talking anywhere from $4,000-$30,000. If you’re not feeling that price, wooden ones are lot cheaper and can be painted over with Plaster of Paris to mimic the look of stone or marble! Both marble and wooden mantels can be found on websites such as Facebook Marketplace, Etsy and online auctions like Ebay and Live Auctioneers. If you’re not having luck finding an old one, I’ve linked a few new ones in this post!

Let’s take a look at some inspiration photos of how to incorporate a mantel into your home…

Inspo #1

Don’t worry about it looking obviously faux, play into it by layering books, statues, vases and framed art.

• 

• 

Shop similar mantels here:

• 

• 

• 

Inspo #2

I love the warmth of this classic dark wood mantel, it’s lightened up by the gold leaf detailing. Painting the wall inside the mantel black is a great option to add depth and create the illusion of a real fireplace. Here is the link to some fantastic gold paint.

• 

A similar mantel is linked below:

• 

Inspo #3

I love the simplicity of this painted white wooden mantel. It’s classy, timeless and looks super realistic. Attached to the wall behind it are decorative ceiling tiles, a lightweight material designed to mimic tin ceilings often found in old brownstones. Used in a mantel, it closely resembles a cast iron fireplace insert.

• 

Similar mantels and ceiling tiles linked:

• 

• 

• 

Inspo #4

Believe it or not, this fireplace is faux! The tiles were placed (using normal tiling techniques) on top of a masonry board like this. This is also a great idea if you have baseboards that cause the fireplace to sit away from the wall and will give it the appearance of being more flush.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more interior inspiration!