Faux Fireplace and Shiplap wall

When we were in the design process for the house I thought skipping a fireplace would be a area that we could cut back, because we live in the south and how much would we ever use it. Function over form, however when we moved in the big wall was so empty and the tv looked awkward without some sort of centerpiece. So my handy husband built me a faux fireplace to use as a decorative focal point for the room. The fireplace may have been his idea but the shiplap was all me. 😉 For the mantle he purchased slabs of raw, live edge hickory. We currently have 7+ in our garage awaiting more projects. Here is the entire process in pictures from start to finish.