A Fun Mid-Century Modern Home Is Hiding a Cute DIY Faux Fireplace Idea

published Oct 26, 2018

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Living room with green sofa, colorful rug, modern chairs, and dining area in the background, featuring vibrant artwork and plants. — (Image credit: Chelly Tavss)

Name: Chelly Tavss, my cat Sheridan, and occasionally my canine brother Sunny
Location: Athens, Georgia
Size: 1,600 square feet
Years lived in: 10 months, owned

I am a photo archivist, and relocated from Charlotte to Athens a year ago for a position with UGA Libraries. It was difficult leaving my home of five years and all of the friends that I had made, but it allowed me to move closer to family. Buying a home right off the bat was risky, but I knew that having a place I could completely make my own would help me settle into my new life easier.

(Image credit: Chelly Tavss)

It is just me and my cat, Sheridan (a.k.a. the little monster); my home is on the east side of Athens in a mid-century neighborhood aptly named Green Acres! All of the homes were built between 1940 and 1970. My home is a traditional mid-century ranch home, with a double carport and long hallway leading to each bedroom on one end of the house.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: MCM Inspired Fun and Inviting

Spotted: A \faux\ fireplace art piece hanging in Chelly’s dining room. This could be a great way to add architectural interest to a space that doesn’t have any built in. (Image credit: Chelly Tavss)

Current wall configuration with an IKEA Lack shelf used as a hearth, in my previous home in Charlotte NC, circa 2016. (Image credit: Chelly Tavss)

Chelly DIYed the faux fireplace art piece: “It’s a piece that has grown over the years with subsequent moves; I actually have a project in the works to turn it into a full wall cabinet soon.

It is made up of six individual wood ‘canvas’ panels, with a wooden deer head that I found years ago at HomeGoods, a vintage mirror, and an assortment of art that I love. In the small painted rectangular frame I rotate photo booth pictures of myself and my friends/family.”

What is your favorite room and why? The living/dining for sure! It’s a great, big room but is cozy and inviting; the eight-foot long tufted sofa is the best place to curl up and binge watch Netflix, while the dining table is a great place for DIY and art projects. The tiki lounge in the basement is a close second though!

(Image credit: Chelly Tavss)

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? A ceiling fan for the living room; I am definitely a design snob, and believe that form is just as important as function! So when I decided that I needed a fan it was important that it fit within my aesthetic and complement the existing light fixtures in the room.

(Image credit: Chelly Tavss)

Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t buy place-holders! Furnish and fill your home with pieces you absolutely love, not things to fill space until you find what you love.

Thanks, Chelly!

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