Still not over subway tile? Good, we aren't either! Here are three different ways to lay a classic
​3 x 6 subway tile that will give your a space a whole new look! ​

This is a fun twist on how to lay subway tile. It's called straight herringbone and we loved it so much we did it twice! Both of these guest bathrooms had pattern floors that we didn't want to compete with so we gave the showers a fun pattern with all white subway tile that complimented the space. 

 A little more of a modern feel with clean lines in both directions. This pattern is called stack bond. We went with a beveled 3x6 subway tile for this design to give more dimension between each tile. 

In this guest bathroom we combined two patterns to create a unique look. We laid the tile in a classic brick lay pattern for the shower surround and added a large focal point of subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern. This is a great way to add a fun design to an all white shower. We also took the herringbone pattern into the shampoo niche... because it's all of the small details that matter!   

As you can see, each of the projects above feature simple, white subway tiles that made a big impact in these showers.
​Subway tiles also come in a variety of colors so don't limit yourself to white.
Whether you change up the pattern, tile color, or even grout color, there are multiple ways to make a simple tile POP. 

Sometimes no matter how hard we look, we just cannot find that perfect something to add to our home! Price, finish, and size are always factors that can keep us from finding our vision, so why not just MAKE exactly what you dreamt up?

With our latest project, that is exactly what we did. We were looking for a 7' long wood mantel that was the perfect grey but also wasn't over stained. Those were our non-negotiables and it made a lot more sense to just do it ourselves!
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Below are four easy steps to follow to create your dream mantel. 

Using your saw horses, place your piece of wood balanced on the two, in a place where saw dust won't hurt anything (it's messy) and start your sanders! Make sure to sand down all sides of your raw wood, including the ends, until all of the rough spots and edges are smooth.
​This may take a couple of go's! 

After sanding there will be lots of little wood particles hanging out on your mantel's surface, this is where your tack cloths come in handy! These little guys are SUPER sticky, annoying for your hands, but amazing at getting off all of the saw dust for a smooth surface. Run your tack cloth over every bit of your mantel to make sure no wood pieces get left behind. 

I find that using a wood conditioner helps the stain adhere to the wood MUCH better than times I have not used a conditioner. Use one of your stain cloths and dip it into your pre-stain, (don't forget to wear gloves) and apply a generous coat to all sides of your mantel, again, don't forget the ends and edges.
This dries pretty quickly, so no waiting period necessary before step four.   

 The last step to staining your mantel is of course, staining! Use a fresh stain cloth and dip it into your stain  (don't forget to stir it) completely covering the mantel one coat at a time. The more coats you apply, the darker your stain will be and the less natural wood grain will show. 
For this mantel, I only applied two coats of stain to maintain visibility of the wood grain, adding a very light grey tint. ​Wait at least 30 minutes between coats of stain to allow the wood to accept the stain and to see an accurate stain color.

Tip: After deciding what side of your mantel is going to be the back (touching the fireplace), test out your stain here first to make sure you love the color!

TA - DA ~  You have stained your own mantel!
​After allowing it to dry for several hours, you are ready to hang that beauty. This project is a great way to save money and create a one-of-a kind focal point for your home. Enjoy your custom addition to your fireplace friend, tag us on Instagram so we can see your take on this DIY mantel stain tutorial! 
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Stay tuned to see the finished fireplace and how we stage our new mantel!