Depending on the geographic location of the homeowner, fireplaces are a highly regarded feature of a home. They are highly sought after by many homeowners, especially those living in colder northern climates. Fireplaces come in all styles. Even those people living in warmer climates enjoy a good fire, even fake ones. The warmth and comfort that an evening fire brings to the home is matched only by good cooking and a hot bath.
Homeowners with fireplaces can bring the biggest change to the appearance by focusing on the fireplace mantel. Spelled as both mantel and mantle, this is the area above and around the fireplace, which is often ornately decorated. They are most often a warm wood tone, but can also be granite, tile, or rock. These styles can be created using truly organic material or completely artificial, whatever suits your budget and needs.
The fireplace mantle actually had a working purpose once upon a time. It was used to warm the food when the fireplace was used to cook it. With the advancement of food cooking technology, the fireplace was shifted from the kitchen area to the living room, so the mantel became used for things like hanging Christmas stockings and collecting trinkets, and photographs.
Today’s homebuilders have a thousand options when it comes to fireplace and mantel design. Some will opt to eliminate the mantel altogether and just leave the opening flush with the walls. Depending on your surrounding decor, you may choose a tiny unobtrusive mantle or one that is large and boastful (like a hunting trophy).
You can buy fireplace mantels at a home improvement store, but your best choice would probably be a specialty woodworking shop. There, you can get a fully customized mantle in your choice of wood, with your exact design. Prefabricated mantles do look extremely nice, but there is a difference between prefab and custom-made. For the finicky homeowner, customized is the way to go.
The mantels work around pretty much any type of fireplac, including electric and gas units.
Choosing your Facing
In addition to the fireplace mantel, you need to consider the facing materials (if you’re building from scratch). Which materials you choose will have a large impact on how the fireplace affects the room. You can use the same materials as the mantel or go with a complementary option. You should also consider how the fireplace is constructed. If the unit is built flush with the wall, you might want to use a facing material that gives your fireplace more depth and dimension, such as a rock or faux rock material.
Most people end up with brick material due to its versatility and plentiful supply. Common brick is rougher than face brick. You may need to use one or both to achieve your desired look. If the room is informal, you could get used brick (consult with your local road department or home improvement store on where to get these) as they will have a more weathered, rustic look.
Look through the rest of the site for more information on the various fireplace options available.
