Modern Fireplace Mantels
Unlike the fireplace mantels of old, modern mantel designs are created to blend in with their surroundings. While the goal during the Renaissance period was to create the most elaborate and decorative fireplace mantels you could, on the grandest scale possible, the look that is aimed for today is sleek and sophisticated. Modern fireplace mantels offer the traditional function blended with modern style.
Antique Fireplace Mantels
If you are ready to invest in a new fireplace mantel, you have several options to choose from. A growing trend is the demand for antique fireplace mantels. Whether your are purchasing an already restored piece or obtaining an antique to refurbish and restore yourself, there are several notable styles to choose from.
Rustic Fireplace Mantels
If you are looking for a unique fireplace mantel and with an air natural beauty, marble or stone mantels may not be the best choice. A rustic fireplace mantel made from wood, however, may fit your tastes perfectly.
Why Rustic Mantels Are So Popular
One of the biggest consumer markets for rustic fireplace mantels are people who appreciate nature even when it's in its more unpolished forms. The charm of rustic mantels comes from the fact they are typically made from lumber that may not appear completely finished, which lends to its handmade charm. They are very affordable and ideal for casual settings, unlike many cultured and cast stone mantels. Rustic fireplace mantels also, almost always, have a one-of-a-kind appearance due primarily to the individual variations within the grain and shape of the wood itself.
Fireplace Mantel Kits
If you're interested in installing a new fireplace mantel but want to try and cut costs a bit, there may be a perfect solution. With some basic carpentry skills, and a little time, you can actually have the mantel of your dreams at an affordable cost. Do it yourself fireplace mantel kits are the perfect way to get a beautiful mantel that you can take even greater pride in because you actually hand a hand in creating it.
Stone Fireplace Mantels
When it comes to choosing a fireplace mantel, there are several choices that must be taken into consideration. The style of the mantel is essential since it must reflect your personal style and taste as well as accent the decor of the room it is in. The size of the mantel will determine how large of a focal point it will become in the room. The most important choice, however, when selecting a new mantel is what material it should be made from. The two most common types are wood and stone. A stone fireplace mantel is not only beautiful, its also extremely durable, and can be found in a variety of designs.
Wood Fireplace Mantels
One of the most beautiful things about wood fireplace mantels is how they can encompass such a wide variety of styles, from simplistic to extravagant. They can be built or found in any shape or size and replicated to mimic the style of any time period. Even for modern styles, the appearance can range from rustic to modern. The wood used for the fireplace mantel can be basic and affordable, such as oak or pine, or it can be exotic and rare, such as mahogany or rosewood, and can also be enhanced with a wide array of finishes.
Wood Types
The most common types of wood used for fireplace mantels today are oak, walnut, and cherry. Pine, hickory, and poplar are also used frequently, as well, primarily in regions where they are harvested. These woods are popular choices because they are all durable, affordable, and easy to care for. Exotic woods are harder to come by and, therefore, much more expensive. Some wood carvers are also not as experienced with the various levels of softness an exotic wood can possess, which makes custom designs more difficult. Pre-made mantels are typically limited to the more basic types of wood unless you are in an area where one of the exotic types is naturally abundant.
Fireplace Mantels
Fireplace mantels serve many purposes. They can be extremely ornate and decorative in design, highlighting the fireplace as the focal point of a room. Mantels can also be functional in design, providing a shelf to display photos or other knick knacks. Of course, as the retail market has deemed appropriate during the holiday season, fireplace mantels are designed to display Christmas cards, be decked with garland, and be hung with stockings. While all of these uses are still rather visual in nature as opposed to functional, the original fireplace mantels were strictly a functional component of the fireplace.
Custom Fireplace Tools
As the consumer demand for unique and one of a kind items continues to grow, the market for custom accessories will remain strong as well. While they used to be somewhat standard in design, over time, more and more homeowners are opting to have custom fireplaces built in their homes. Because the custom fireplaces can vary greatly in size and shape from traditional models, custom fireplace tools are often needed as well.
Why Do I Need Custom Tools?
Most fireplace tools come in three general sizes, specifically designed for small, standard, and oversized fireplaces. The various sizes and lengths of the tools are determined by suing the measurements of the fireplace to create a tool that is long enough to be safe and functional, but does not have any unnecessary length which may make it cumbersome to use. Custom tools are typically needed for custom fireplaces that may not work well with standard tool sizes, especially if the custom fireplace is much larger than the typical oversized designs. Fireplace grates are the one tool that is usually always required in a custom size for non-standard fireplaces. This is due primarily to the fact that the measurements for a safe and efficient grate are determined by a recommended amount of space between the grate itself and the walls of the fireplace.
Fireplace Tools
Fireplaces are things of beauty as well as a source of warmth on a cold winter night. They can be simple in design with clean lines and plain mantels. They can also be extremely ornate with detailed trim work and elaborate mantel designs. Regardless of how simple or ornate your fireplace may be, one of the keys to keeping it functional, as well as beautiful, is with a proper set of fireplace tools. They not only make maintaining your fireplace much easier, they can also serve as beautiful accessories by the side of your fireplace.
The Fireplace Grate Heater
In the Winter months, nothing is more pleasant than sitting in front of a warm, crackling fireplace. The heat that emits from the burning logs sitting atop the fireplace grate warms the entire room, or at least most of the room, actually it really just warms the area directly in front of the fireplace itself. Most of the time, its your air conditioner that is actually warming the entire room, using up an unnecessary amount of electricity and wasting money that will have to be spent on the increased electric bill at the end of the month. There is an alternative, however, in the form of a fireplace grate heater.