Fireplace Mantels
Fireplaces are less of a necessity and more for show than they were one hundred plus years ago. Fireplace mantles provide an outlet for style. The fireplace can be the focal point of your interior design. There are several different materials and styles to choose from when building or installing fireplaces mantles.
Wood fireplace mantles may be the most common. Wood can be fairly inexpensive, but still provide beauty. Wood can be left in its natural color or stained or painted to achieve the color you desire. The softer nature of wood also allows it to be carved with more ease than other materials.
Within stone fireplace mantles, many different styles can be attained. Whether you choose marble or limestone, stone can be a solid option. Stone stand up to wear well. The weight of stone will affect its installation and price. There will likely be supports to be placed before the mantle itself can be installed.
Antique fireplace mantles make a beautiful and valuable option. Antique mantles can be found in marble, or various types of wood. Antique mantles that have been worth preserving may have beautiful, hand crafted carving, and will certainly be unique. The Internet provides a great opportunity for you choose from a large variety of antique chooses. These mantles will likely take some restoration, unless someone else has already done that for you. The end result, however, can be stunning.
Another style you may want to consider is contemporary fireplace mantles. Concrete can provide a very contemporary look. To assure the look is truly contemporary, consider more than just the material, but the shape of the mantle.
Rustic fireplace mantles provide a cozy attraction to a home. Rustic mantles could be made of some types of wood, or of natural stones. If using wood, consider leaving it unfinished, or for a cabin look, use logs.
If you are putting the mantle in a room that already has an existing style, stick with it. You want the mantle to complement, not compete with the look of the room. If you are starting a room from scratch, consider your personal style, and what you would want to look at every day. Often fireplace mantles become the focal point of the room, many people arrange their furniture so it is facing the mantle, it seems only natural.
Not only should the mantle itself be beautiful to look at, but carefully consider the objects you choose to decorate the mantle with. You may choose memorabilia, and other items you treasure, or simply items you feel are beautiful. Leaving a mantle to stand on its own, it may look like something is missing, but on the other hang, you don’t want to overcrowd the mantle and distract from its beauty.