Fireplace Mantels Define The Theme of Your Room

Fireplace mantels help to enhance and define the theme of any room your fireplace is installed in. So don't just look at your mantle as a place to store your pictures or nick knacks, but take advantage of the numerous finely crafted fireplace mantels available and create an area worth being proud of. Whether you are trying to achieve that southwestern feel, old world Italian, traditional gothic or modern classic lines you will find these and many more styles available from the resources found on this and other sites.

Fireplace mantels are simply defined as a protruding shelf or ornamental facing installed around the fireplace. Typically designed at a depth of 10” – 20” and constructed from materials that allow it to handle the heat displaced from the fireplace. Materials used include: high-density fiber board, wood, stone, granite and marble are very popular. In addition to the materials available, mantles also are available in sections or may come in one piece. Some mantle shelves come complete with matching mantle legs offering yet another look to your fireplace.

Choosing the appropriate material will better aid in setting the theme you are trying to achieve, such as a rustic look found in a log cabin would be complimented by a wood mantel. There are a number of manufacturers that make fireplace mantels from custom design and styles that generally cost much more to mass produced mantles that are more reasonable priced. Another option is, if you’re having a home built, is to ask your home builder or local contractor to make a custom mantel. This may require a little more work on your part as you will need to relay to them in fairly specific terms what you want your mantel to look like. If you decide to do this I suggest you do some research by going through magazines and visiting various websites, taking notes of any styles you like.

Gas and wood burning fireplaces produce a lot heat and this heat is transmitted directly towards the mantel. For this reason I recommend that you review the manufactures guidelines to ensure that they conform to local building and fire codes.