which way shall i hang this mirror above mantle..pics on profile

[ggirl]

dh says he doesn't care
it was a bargain
there is still plastic round the mirror
it's oak
it doesn't go that well with the mantle but i am past caring now..

I think we will hang it so it is about 6" above the mantle if portrait and a bit higher if landscape

Landscape, not too high. I have to stand on tiptoe to look into mine.

i think prolly landscape and 6" sounds too high.

the fireplace is pretty low so portrait might make the it look a bit dwarfed

our kitchen fireplace is quite similar to yours. ours is original (30s - 40s? the house is much older so that doesn't help age the fireplace) and it's grown on me since i found that out.

Mine is portrait, resting on mantle......best mirror in the house -I can see all of me if I balance on the back of the couch

lol cardoon ...but what about mine >

thanks season and coco yes will make sure it's at right level
dh says much easier to hang portrait cos the fixing is already there for that...but he did say he didn't care as well

It has to go landscape. I'd put it about 2" above the mantle.

Can you not get some thin Oak and lay it over the mantle (make a cover).

hmm or the lady in shop said paint it cream??

is it massively expensive to replace a mantle with a new one?

looks nicer portrait

i quite like the bricks, would add some palms to make it look more exotic

now I want a new oak mantle!!!

palms ??
have bought a nice firescreen from ebay ..I like it but not sure if I am losing my taste
it's embroidered flowers

My first reaction was portrait, definitely portrait. I could live with either though.

Landscape...always landscape above a fireplace.

Landscape and paint the mantle cream it would make a huge difference.

hmm don't think I have ever seen a cream mantle

I can't believe anyone would say portrait over a fireplace - that's just weird.

If you own, not rent, then I'd find out how much it would be for a new mantle. If you rent or can't afford the new mantle then making a cover (or having one made if neither of you are 'handy') shouldn't be too expensive and can look really good.

Or... what is the mantle made of? Could you strip it right back to it's natural state??

Lots of mantles are painted - white/cream/etc

portrait IS done over mantle..have researched and there are loads of portrait hung mirrors

painting it would be easier than stripping
and I don't know what the wood is or what it would look like underneath

what kind of paint?

I think to get a good finish you would have to strip, then paint if it is varnished. Although there may be tutorials online for how to paint varnished wood. If it is varnished!

Portrait generally used to make a room look tall and grand (if that matters to you) Above those fireplaces I think large round looks best

think it must be varnished because there are bits where it appears to have worn off

Looking again I actually think portrait might look more interesting. It's slightly off centre on the pic but central and portrait would look lovely.

portrait just looks elegant

am liking the elegant idea

also the idea of painting the mantle

if it's a failure we'd have to replace with a lovely new one wouldn't we

would love to replace the whole fireplace as well but need to come into some money to do that