Photo: Adrienne DeRosa © 2015 Houzz Although the original plan was to refurbish the existing mantelpieces in the living and dining rooms, the Williamsons opted for a complete change of perspective. “One thing led to another, and they came out,” Catherine explains. “First, we removed them to check if the pest problem that had hit the rest of the house had hit the mantels, and it did.” After removing the original pieces, the couple fell in love with the brick arches underneath. Flexing their skills as DIYers, the couple designed and built a floating mantel to highlight the fireplace. Its modern lines play against rich grain and warm tones to embody the marriage of Bryan and Catherine’s diverse styles. “Our style is unique because we tend to mix elements of different design styles,” Catherine says. “We love mixing old and new, masculine and feminine, and so on…. He tends to gravitate toward contemporary, sleek designs, where I gravitate toward more eclectic, feminine elements.” Instructions for creating a mantlepice like this one can be found on the Williamson's blog: www.beginninginthemiddle.net/2014/12/30/i-just-want-brick/