A fireplace and mantel design is usually the focal point of a room. Use a mantel to further define the shape of the fireplace or as a place to highlight special objects, photos or artwork. Create unusual designs by updating an existing fireplace design, ordering a brand new one to install, or by recycling an idea from a favorite design or decorative period. Does this Spark an idea?
Choose a Decor
Look for a design era that fits the rest of the home's decor. Gather ideas by searching for photographs, drawings or actual installations of that era. For example, farmhouse-style fireplaces were generally made of stone or brick that was made or found in the surrounding area. Mantels were made of the same brick or stone, and created as a ledge or a wood cap attached to the top of the fireplace surround. Arts and Crafts-style fireplaces were usually stone or brick surrounds that encased the firebox. The mantels often extended the full length of the wall through the installation of built-in bookcases.
Order a Complete One
Fireplaces, complete with mantels, can be ordered from a catalog. These fireplaces do not usually include the firebox. With a firebox installed, the fireplace is attached directly to the wall with the firebox centered in its opening. Sometimes these items are referred to as the "mantel and surround." They can be found in wood (walnut, oak, mahogany), stone (granite, marble, travertine), or painted in a faux finish to look like wood or stone. Makers of fireplace surrounds and mantels can be found through the Thomas Register. Thomas Registers can be found in any public library reference section or online at www.thomasnet.com.
Update Existing Designs
Existing fireplace and mantel designs can be updated by attaching a new mantel to the front of the old or by building over the old. Building over the old fireplace surround can add further depth to the mantel and firebox area. A design can be created as a box shape that is placed over the old and then attached to the wall with decorative elements added to it---molding, trim, trompe l'oeil or faux finishes. Some catalog mantels and surrounds can be attached directly to the front of a more traditional fireplace to create an Art Nouveau look. Begin by making scaled elevation drawings of the existing fireplace. If unfamiliar with make elevation drawings, contact a local drafting school or college architecture department for a list of students who may be available to do so.
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