Published on May 29th, 2020.
The mantel is one of the major attractions of a fireplace. It serves as an accent to the structure and gives it a unique appeal. This can show a simple style or it can have elaborate designs as well.
This part is what you see on the upper portion or the entire frame of the fireplace opening. It is often used as an area to display artwork pieces and decorations such as huge scented candles, figurines and picture frames. Wood Fireplace Mantel designs vary in so many ways today. They feature versatile and attractive materials that suit every home’s interior or exterior design theme.
Materials
Wood Fireplace Mantels can be made from wood, cast stone, ceramic tiles, marble or limestone. Depending on your budget, they can be mixed and matched to achieve the design you want. And as most of them are fire resistant, these mantels can fit any type of fireplace whether it uses wood or gas for fuel.
Cast stones dominate many modern Wood Fireplace Mantel designs today due to their light weight. As they’re not the bulky and heavy type, they’re easier to work with. Another reason for their popularity is the fact that they can disguise as a limestone, granite, marble or slate because of the availability of various colors that simulate those other durable materials.
Focal point
As a fireplace can be used as the focal point of a room’s interior design, the overall theme of the space can start from this structure. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to make your Wood Fireplace Mantel design a standout.
Wood Fireplace Mantel designs can be the frame type or the shelf type or the cabinet type. It can just cover the entire opening of the fireplace or it can extend up to the ceiling. Styles that go up the ceiling can be used to display large art pieces such as paintings to make it a real attraction in the home. The shelf and cabinet style can be used to display home decors as well as smaller art works that complement the overall interior theme of the room.
Design styles
Popular traditional Wood Fireplace Mantel design styles you can choose from are the Classic, Renaissance, French, Italian, Victorian and Gothic among many others. These styles are known for their intricate designs such as the carvings that are a cut above the more modern designs.
The best part about the Wood Fireplace Mantel design is it can be customized to suit your particular style. Many manufacturers have brought their business online these days which means great convenience on the part of the customers.
The fireplace of the past has greatly evolved through the years. Today, this structure does not only serve its major purpose of heating a home but it is also recognized for its aesthetics. Some homeowners actually prefer to have a fireplace in their home primarily as a means to enhance the beauty of their interior space. The heating function is only secondary.
So as a reminder, never forget the mantel when planning the design of your fireplace regardless of the place where you will be placing it in your home. This part can give your fireplace added value and beauty.
The mantel is one of the major attractions of a fireplace. It serves as an accent to the structure and gives it a unique appeal. This can show a simple style or it can have elaborate designs as well.
This part is what you see on the upper portion or the entire frame of the fireplace opening. It is often used as an area to display artwork pieces and decorations such as huge scented candles, figurines and picture frames. Wood Fireplace Mantel designs vary in so many ways today. They feature versatile and attractive materials that suit every home’s interior or exterior design theme.
Materials
Wood Fireplace Mantels can be made from wood, cast stone, ceramic tiles, marble or limestone. Depending on your budget, they can be mixed and matched to achieve the design you want. And as most of them are fire resistant, these mantels can fit any type of fireplace whether it uses wood or gas for fuel.
Cast stones dominate many modern Wood Fireplace Mantel designs today due to their light weight. As they’re not the bulky and heavy type, they’re easier to work with. Another reason for their popularity is the fact that they can disguise as a limestone, granite, marble or slate because of the availability of various colors that simulate those other durable materials.
Focal point
As a fireplace can be used as the focal point of a room’s interior design, the overall theme of the space can start from this structure. If this is the case, it would be a good idea to make your Wood Fireplace Mantel design a standout.
Wood Fireplace Mantel designs can be the frame type or the shelf type or the cabinet type. It can just cover the entire opening of the fireplace or it can extend up to the ceiling. Styles that go up the ceiling can be used to display large art pieces such as paintings to make it a real attraction in the home. The shelf and cabinet style can be used to display home decors as well as smaller art works that complement the overall interior theme of the room.
Design styles
Popular traditional Wood Fireplace Mantel design styles you can choose from are the Classic, Renaissance, French, Italian, Victorian and Gothic among many others. These styles are known for their intricate designs such as the carvings that are a cut above the more modern designs.
The best part about the Wood Fireplace Mantel design is it can be customized to suit your particular style. Many manufacturers have brought their business online these days which means great convenience on the part of the customers.
The fireplace of the past has greatly evolved through the years. Today, this structure does not only serve its major purpose of heating a home but it is also recognized for its aesthetics. Some homeowners actually prefer to have a fireplace in their home primarily as a means to enhance the beauty of their interior space. The heating function is only secondary.
So as a reminder, never forget the mantel when planning the design of your fireplace regardless of the place where you will be placing it in your home. This part can give your fireplace added value and beauty.
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Published on February 11th, 2011.
Atop a fireplace, a stone wood mantel beckons. Its timeless look and natural elements is as close you’ll get to the great outdoors.
Actually, stone was one of the first materials used around the 16th century. As fireplace history will have it, stonewalls were cut and fireplaces were formed. Among the choices of stone today are marble, granite, slate and limestone.
There are a lot of prefabricated versions of the aforementioned floating around but you may also want to consider cast stone. Dubbed architectural concrete, cast stone has been around since the 1100’s.
Cast stone, a type of fine concrete created by scientists that gives you the look of expensive stone, in different styles, color and length, minus the hefty price tag.
It has the appearance of limestone and if you look closely at it, you will see that it contains small amounts of crushed limestone.
The advantage of using cast stone for a wood fireplace mantel is endless.
It possesses a neutral look that can work with any design. In other words, it is hardly likely that you will have to replace furniture to accommodate your new cast-stone wooden mantel shelf.
Cast stone brings with it an unspeakable elegance, whether alone as a shelf or partnered with a surround in perhaps granite or even limestone.
One thing’s for certain, a level of coziness will be achieved. Before you decide on choosing cast stone, we suggest you search through magazines or visit your local hardware or fireplace store so you can get an idea if this is the material for your home.
In most stores, the price of stone wood fireplace mantels starts at $700.
Remember, a wood mantel should be a reflection of your personal taste and style and is intended to complement your décor.
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Published on February 11th, 2011.
A cozy fireplace is the central fixture in many homes, but because of the drawbacks to keeping a fire burning; unfortunately many fireplaces serve merely as decor – a place for family photos on the wood fireplace mantel. Traditional wood-burning fireplaces are inefficient sources of supplemental heat and can be fire hazards if extreme caution and constant supervision aren’t followed. Gas also poses a danger of spreading odorless yet deadly carbon monoxide through the home.
You can have all of the benefits of a fireplace while keeping your home safe and warm. An electric fireplace can easily be retrofitted into the space where a gas or wood fireplace sat unused. Electric fireplaces provide supplemental zone heating, and can help keep energy costs low while providing the ambiance of a fireplace that can be enjoyed year round.
Out With The Old
By replacing an outdated fireplace with an electric fireplace, the home becomes more energy efficient. Since there is no flue or vent in electric units, the heat produced by an electric fireplace stays in the room, providing a good supplemental heat source. Compare that with traditional fireplaces where up to 90 percent of heat may escape through the flue, and it’s evident that your old fireplace is doing more harm than good.
By adding electric heaters throughout the home, zone heating can be an effective way to save on heating bills. For example, during the day, electric heaters can heat the living room, dining room and family room; all while the thermostat for the central system is set a lower temperature. Unoccupied rooms, like a mudroom or the bedrooms, will not use up as much heating energy in this way. Overnight, heating can be directed to the bedrooms as the family sleeps.
In homes that already have a beautiful built-in and wood fireplace mantel. there’s no need for expensive demolition. Wood and gas fireplaces can be easily converted to an electric model. An electric log set inserts easily into the fireplace by replacing the existing wood grate, gas grate, burner or log set. The only installation required for converting a fireplace to an electric alternative is that the fireplace damper needs to be sealed off. Electric fireplace inserts can be plugged in to a nearby outlet, but for permanent installation, it’s more aesthetic to have electric fireplace inserts hardwired directly into the home’s electrical system, or having an outlet wired to the inside of the fireplace where the cord will not show.
In With The New
Homes that don’t have an existing fireplace can still have the grand look of a fireplace with a stand-alone electric wood fireplace mantel package. There are several models to choose from very formal traditional wooden fireplace mantel packages to more modern units. Other options include freestanding stoves, small foyer fireplace mantels entertainment centers that accommodate both a TV and fireplace or wall mount electric fireplaces. Installation is a straightforward as plugging the unit into a household electrical outlet.
It’s All In The Flame
Converting from wood and gas fireplaces does not mean sacrificing the ambiance of a dancing flame. Today’s electric fireplaces feature the latest flame effect technology that provides for a very realistic fire experience.
The realism of an electric kit starts with hand carved logs and glowing embers that pulsate for the look of a fire that is fed by oxygen. The realistic flames, heat and working glass doors with screens make it virtually impossible to distinguish that what you are seeing isn’t a real fire. And the big difference in electric versus gas or wood fireplaces are that the heat can be turned off while still enjoying the realistic flame, so the fireplace can be enjoyed year round.
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Published on February 10th, 2011.
Framing the fireplace brilliantly as the decorative focal point is the wood mantel surround. Situated at the top to include the wood mantel and at each side of the fireplace, it has the ability to stand out in a room, even with a simple design.
Architects in Greek and Roman history are the ones responsible for the earliest surround wood fireplace mantels designs were used with the help of carved figures and moldings to marble and tiles.
Even picture panels were used as it is today.
Fast-forward to today and some of the design style and materials are still maintained. A wood fireplace mantel surround is indeed a major construction task. That’s why you will want to take your time in selecting the right material that would enhance your living space.
If you are building a wood fireplace mantel surround to suit your decor for instance, it would be best to have it custom-made.
The most costly materials you will find on the market for such a wood fireplace mantel are oak and cherry and other hardwoods.
So, too, are marble, granite oak and even brick. You will then have to decide whether you want a simple design or something more extravagant reminiscent of the Victorian era.
If simplicity is your thing, we suggest ceramic tiles, glass and even mirrors for a subtle yet effective wood fireplace mantel. course there are easy do-it-yourself surround fireplace mantel kits available in unlimited designs to fit your specifications and needs.
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Published on February 10th, 2011.
All interior decorators have their own way of decorating. They have their practices and their ways of doing things in order to make everything in a room correspond together and look good. However, you don’t have to hire an interior decorator in order to learn how to decorate your wood mantel over your fireplace. There are many Decorate Fireplace Mantel suggestions that you find all over the Internet. Some that may be too traditional to ones that seem out of this world. You just need to take these tips and roll them up into your type of style in order to give you the prefect decoration for your fire place mantel. will find that there are so many ways that you can decorate your wood fireplace mantel piece. Rather it be on the holidays or just an everyday decoration that you want to keep. One main Decorate Fireplace Mantel tip that you will find on the Internet is the “Three Plus One” tip. This refers to the placement of objects that you have on your wood fireplace mantel. These interior decorators believe that you should have three smaller objects on one side of the wood fireplace mantel that are of different sizes.
Then you should have one main object on the other side of the fireplace mantel that should be larger and taller than the three objects parallel to it. This type of decorating will bring the eye to the fire place mantel to see its beauty but will not over shadow the actual fireplace mantel so it will be overlooked. Most decorating ideas for wood fireplace mantels involve hanging large mirrors or scenic pictures at least 5 inches above the fireplace mantel. This is totally up to the preference of the home owner. You can see many different Decorate Fireplace Mantel designs that people have used by accessing the Internet.
There is even one homeowner that installed hands coming out of the wall, as if they were reaching down for the warmth of the fire. It sounds pretty gruesome but it actually looked pretty neat. You can find these types of ideas as well as many more Decorate Fireplace Mantel suggestions just with one search on the Internet. The main idea that you want to think about when decorating your wood fireplace mantel is you do not want to over power your wood mantel so that it is not seen. You want to show off the beauty of your wooden fireplace mantel and your fireplace and putting too many items on top will just take away from that.
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Published on February 9th, 2011.
A fireplace adds so much to a room. But when you top it off with a mantle, then you have a space in your home that will be hard to keep people out of. You will want the mantle shelf to be wide enough for those extras, like pictures and clocks. Or even your favorite knick-knacks. Your choice of varnished wood or painted. In looking at a wooden fireplace mantel design, there are so many to choose from. The Auburn Mantle Shelf is a customer favorite. It is available in 60 and 70-inch lengths, with a 10-inch shelf depth. The distressed look helps make it look more like an antique. They come in a cherry finish or you can get the shelf unfinished.
The Shenandoah Mantel Shelf, which is a best seller, also comes in 60 and 70-inch lengths. But the shelf depth is 9-inches and not 10. This one has a distressed, rustic wood finish. Not to mention, the unfinished option. Another one that the customers seem to appreciate and is a best seller is the Homestead Fireplace Mantle Shelf. Along with the 60 and 70-inch shelf and 10-inch shelf depth, this one is made from solid Choi hardwood. And that is a very durable wood. The design is simple, but very elegant. So, as you can see, the wood fireplace mantel design has so many styles, that it will be hard to make a choice.
Another fireplace mantel design that is made out of Choi hardwood is the Devonshire Fireplace Mantle Shelf. This one has accents that are beautifully hand-carved. The choice this time is 60 and 72-inch lengths. Which is two inches long then the other shelves mentioned. These are finished and unfinished as well. The unfinished option is ready to stain or paint. The Lindon Mantel Shelf has the same length as the Devonshire. It also has the 10-inch depth length. But this one is made out of Mission Oak. All of these shelves are enduring solid wood construction. Whether distressed or not. Whether finished or unfinished, painted or unpainted. The right mantle will enhance any fireplace and turn the ordinary into a charming and cozy room that will not be easy to resist.
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Published on February 9th, 2011.
Two of the determining items of purchasing electric fireplace will be the look and feel that the electric wood fireplace mantel and the electric fireplace logs will give to the room. The electric fireplace mantel is more then just supporting trim and looking good around the fireplace, it can also have the need to be functional so you can use the shelves for example. And you would not want to bring any electric fireplace logs into your home if they had a fake, cheap look.
These are also just a few of the issues the major manufacturing companies of the electric fireplace has already addressed. They want you to feel good about bringing their product into your home. With this in mind they have developed a wide array of materials, tones and colors that the electric wooden mantel can be designed out of. If you want the look and feel of wood fireplace mantels there is several options to choice from. With the look of pecan, walnut, cherry, oak and mahogany there is a wood look for your needs. If you want the white or black colors, it is there also. If the stone look is what you have always wanted around your fireplace, there are many different stone looks and colors as well.
Some of the wood fireplace mantels are designed to be used as extra shelving. The TV and Media Consoles will have adjustable shelves for your entertainment system, DVD’s and CD’s. There are outdoor electric fireplaces with planter in them for you to plant your favorite live plant if you like. As you can tell, the wood fireplace mantels can be a lot more then just looking good.
The electric fireplace logs will also add to the overall effect of the live fire. Some of the manufactures will add real live logs. These can be real oak or birch. With the placement of glowing lights or even fiber optics, the flames will have that moving and dancing look that every one likes to see in a fireplace. The addition of the crackle sounds also gives a real sound to the effect. With a remote control that can control most of these features and even allow for the flames with out the heat will allow for enjoyment of the fireplace all year long if you like. Some of the electric fireplaces will even allow to adjust the brightness of the flames.
The electric fireplaces have come a long way from the little, ugly, boxed looking things of the past. The electric fireplaces of today with add a touch of elegance to each room. It will soon become the place where every one will migrate to. And what better way to add a warm and cozy feel to a get together with family and friends.
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Published on February 9th, 2011.
The hunt for the perfect antique wood fireplace mantel for your home can be surprisingly fun, especially if you’re at all adventurous. While it’s possible (and a bit expensive) to shop around online for the perfect restored period antique fireplace mantle, you’ll find many gems in the rough sitting in dusty, crowded salvage shops and yards. And while restoring and fitting fireplaces is a job often best left to professionals, restoring antique wooden fireplace mantels can be done by an avid do-it-yourself handyman with a good deal of skill. Even if you do opt for a professional restoration job (and chances are good that you should), you can save a great deal of money – and get a great deal of satisfaction – from discovering a hidden beauty in the back of a salvage yard, unnoticed. Just think of the stories you can tell!
If you’re considering going on a hunt for antique wood fireplace mantels for your home, take the following tips and advice to help you in your search.
1. (For antique wood fireplace mantels Check local safety ordinances to find out the required distance from firebox to wooden fireplace mantel. This may rule out taller antique wood fireplace mantels with over wood fireplace mantels and elaborate shelves if your ceiling is low.
2. Consider the period of your home. If you’re determined to be historically accurate in a restoration, it will limit your choices of available wood mantels On the other hand, mixing architectural details from differing periods can create visually stunning rooms – if it’s done with a careful eye for detail and design.
3. Study the wood working and detail in your home for repeated motifs. In fact, do yourself one better – take photographs of details that are especially striking and take them with you on your hunt. Many of the carving details found in crown mouldings and door lintels were repeated in antique wood mantels It’s not unheard of to find a wooden or stone wood fireplace mantels with carvings that exactly match your existing wood working. After all, there were only so many architectural designers working during any one period.
4. Take into account the overall dimensions of your room. You want the wood fireplace mantel to be a focal point, not an overpowering attention grabber.
5. Measure the entire width of your existing fireplace, but don’t be strictly bound by it. Especially if you are choosing to hang a free standing wood fireplace mantel on the wall, you can get by with a wood fireplace mantel that’s considerably wider than your hearth. In fact, you can incorporate it into a striking design statement.
6. Dress in scruffy clothing. Salvage yards can be dusty places. You might also want to take along a torch to make it easier to study details up close.
could be a sign of prosperity for you now.
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Published on February 8th, 2011.
Before you start shopping for fireplace wood fireplace mantels and surrounds, you need to know the measurements of your hearth, fireplace facing, and a few other key elements. With those figures in hand, you can find a wooden fireplace mantel or wooden mantel and surround that will suit the scale of your fireplace and the look of your room. Determine What to Measure. If you’re replacing your current wood fireplace mantel and/or surround, then you should measure that. If you are installing a new fire place mantel or surround around a fireplace that has none, then you will need to make different measurements.
Measuring an Existing Mantel and Surround
Shelf Width – Measure the total width of the top of the wooden mantel at the widest part.
Shelf Depth – Measure the depth of the wood fireplace mantel from the front edge to the wall.
Total Height – Measure the height of the wood fireplace mantel from the top of the hearth to the top of the shelf.
Total Width – Measure the entire width of the fireplace surround from end to end (if you have a surround). If you don’t have a surround, measure the total width of the facing.
Projection Depth – Measure the depth of the side of the surround from the outer edge to the wall.
Opening Width – Measure the width of the fireplace opening.
Opening Height – Measure the height of the fireplace opening from the floor or the top of the hearth surface to the top of the opening.
Side Distances – Measure from the edge of the hearth or surround to the nearest light fixture, window, corner, or door on each side.
Measuring for a New Mantel and Surround
If you have a fireplace without a shelf or surround, then you would follow these measurements. These measurements assume you have a facing, which is a decorative material like brick or stone surrounding the fireplace opening. If you don’t have a facing, skip those measurements. If you don’t have a hearth, which is a raised decorative surface on the floor beneath the fireplace opening, then measure from the floor and skip the hearth measurements.
Facing Height – Measure the height of the facing from the top of the hearth to the top of the facing.
Total Facing Width – Measure the total width of the facing from end to end.
Facing Width – Measure the width of the facing on one side of the fireplace opening.
Facing Depth – If the facing projects out from the wall, measure the distance from the outer edge to the wall.
Opening Width – Measure the width of the fireplace opening.
Opening Height – Measure the height of the opening from the floor of the fireplace, which is at the same level as the hearth, or the floor of the room if you have no hearth.
Hearth Height – Measure the height of the hearth from the floor to the top of the surface.
Hearth Depth – Measure the depth of the hearth from the front edge to the wall.
Hearth Width – Measure the width of the hearth from end to end.
Side Distances – Measure from the edge of the facing to the nearest light fixture, door, corner, or window on each side.
If you don’t currently have a fireplace mantel and surround, please check your local building codes or fire safety department for the minimum distance from the fireplace opening to the fire place mantel and surround.
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Published on February 7th, 2011.
Wood has always been a top choice for creating wonderful furniture and fixtures in the home. Whether for a cabinet, stair railing, shelves or a fireplace, this material has never let homeowners down.
The classic look and feel of wood is its unique characteristic. It’s warm to the eyes and cool to the hands.
For fireplaces especially the built in type, wood is often used for the surround and wood fireplace mantel parts with the firebox made from a different and more fire-resistant material such as stone or stainless steel. With the surround, various beautiful wood fireplace designs can be created. From the simple to the more ornate ones, homeowners have a lot to choose from today.
With wood, people can experiment with a variety of great designs not only for the surround but even for the wood fireplace mantel component. They can have a plain and simple framework around the opening of the fireplace with moulding or carving. Another option is they can come up with a cabinet on both sides and a shelf for the wood mantel. These designs are well suited for people who love to display pieces of art work, picture frames, books, plants or other valuable accessories.
You may be surprised as well that many modern and stand alone fireplaces these days are made from pure wood or combined with other materials such as glass and metal. This type complements a contemporary interior design theme and is perfect for small spaces where a permanent fireplace is not possible to build. So its main advantage is you can move it from one place to another where it suits you best.
Types of wood that are durable and ideal for building fireplaces are the high grade ones such as pine, oak and mahogany. These three are more preferred by manufacturers because of their hardness and durability.
Wood is perfect for use in any interior design theme. It can be used as is showing its natural color or it can be painted to go with the room’s overall color theme. Either way, wood will stand out on its own and add to the beauty of the space.
For a modern look, wood can be combined with other materials such as tiles. A good example is to use wood for the main outer framework and the tiles for the inner part as well as for the extended flooring of your fireplace opening. There are many ideas for achieving a contemporary wood fireplace design and you can also mix complementary colors if you wish.
You should know as well that a wood fireplace or its outer components can be custom made today. There are many manufacturers doing business on the internet that provide an easy to order shopping experience on their websites. Just give your exact measurements and pick your design and your fireplace kit or wood fireplace mantel is ready to be shipped to your home in a few days.
Wood provides endless possibilities for design. Just remember to always consider what you like and the budget you can afford. It would be a good idea to create a fireplace that you can afford instead of going beyond your budget and regretting doing it later.
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