Create an inviting focal point in any room by bringing out the hidden potential and true beauty of your fireplace.  A Fireplace Mantel upgrade or update isn’t hard to do and is an easy way to take advantage of the latest style trends.

The Cambridge wood fireplace mantel is a perfect example of a classic, traditional mantel.

Classic styles are almost always the most popular and are available in a wide variety of materials to suit most any home.  Wood fireplace mantels offer great looks depending on the type of wood, the grain of the wood, and can be painted or stained to your specific color needs.  These mantels are available in either mantel shelf or full mantel surround styles.

A Fireplace Mantel Shelf is a great way to instantly update a tired fireplace or add visual interest to a fireplace with no adornment.  Their unique mounting system make them incredibly easy to install, giving you a great new look with very little effort.

Mantel surrounds, on the other hand, are perfect if you are trying to completely update your room décor.  They are available in a variety of materials – wood, stone, or marble.  Wood Mantels can be custom sized to fit almost any pre-existing fireplace.  They can come either fully finished at the factory or unfinished to be painted or stained at the job site.  Mantels Direct offers custom color matching where your mantel will arrive ready to install pre stained or painted to perfectly match your exiting room color.

A fireplace mantel shelf is a perfect alternative to a full three-sided mantel.

Stone mantels are quickly becoming the strongest trend, and for good reason.  You will be amazed at the variety of styles – from clean and simple lines, to classically ornate or modern and bold.  Stone Mantels can also be customized to fit almost any fireplace size or shape. Elegant stone ages gracefully and will add beauty and value to your home for years to come.

Custom Stone Mantel and Overmantel with TV and Media

For another option, adding an overmantel for height and visual interest is a unique way to finish out a fireplace. An overmantel is basically a mantel or additional framing over the lower mantel surround.   A current trend is to incorporate a television to fit within the overmantel.  There are several overmantel styles available in matching material to stone mantels.  Almost any wood or stone mantel can have an overmantel created to match.

Make the most of your fireplace year round by adding decorative touches that draw the eye to one of the largest features in any room.

Unlike decorative accents such as picture frames or small vases, mantels are major assets and are often the primary showpiece of a room. Because of this, it is important to choose a mantel that fits in with your decor but also makes the right statement. With over 100 mantels and mantel shelf designs, plus a variety of finishes and custom sizing, Mantels Direct is sure to have the perfect fireplace mantel for your home.

Hampton Traditional Wood Mantel, shown in Poplar with white finish, Emperador Marron Marble facing kit

Traditional Wood Mantels Our wood fireplace mantels come in 5 unique collections. The Prestige Collection mantels are characterized by elegant fluting and detailed carvings that pair well with marble or granite facing kits. The Traditional Design Collection includes classic, versatile designs, and the Valueline Collection is composed of value-priced mantels in a variety of basic styles.  We offer adjustable Cabinet and Corner Mantels for unique needs and spaces.  Additionally, the handcrafted Timber Mantel Collection is perfect for a cabin or any rustic decor style.

Marble Fireplace Mantels  We offer 7 high quality imported marble fireplace mantels. Each marble fireplace is hand-sculpted by skilled master craftsmen. They are available in a variety of fireplace sizes and return depths, and they are available in white, black, beige and green marble.  These marble fireplace designs exude culture and class.

Stone Fireplace Mantels  Our stone fireplace mantels are true showpieces and exquisite additions to any room. The Majestic and Classic Series stone fireplace mantels offer over 50 beautiful designs ranging from simple to extravagant, and each is available in 8 stone colors.  They include options for facing, hearths and overmantels. The Builder Series and Standard Mantel Kits include hearths and offer simpler, budget-conscious designs. All of our stone fireplace mantels are lightweight, so installation is quick and simple.

Clark Stone Mantel Shelf

Mantel Shelf Designs  For those who are on a budget, have limited room, or just need extra shelf space, our mantel shelf designs are a great option. We offer traditional wood, Timber, and stone mantel shelves.  Ranging from traditional to contemporary in design, each mantel shelf is easy to install, and each wood and Timber mantel shelf is available in custom lengths.  Many are also available in custom U and corner shapes.

No matter your style and budget, one of our mantels will be a perfect match for your home.  Want more information? View our previous post, and then explore your options at MantelsDirect.com.

Mantels Direct takes pride in offering fireplace mantels to fit all styles, needs and budgets.  For this week’s post, we compiled a short list of some of the most creative spaces to install our fireplace mantels and shelves.

In the Nursery, in the Kitchen (or any any room on any wall) Modern electric fireplace technology offers safe-to-the-touch heating options. You can now provide the soft glow and warmth of an electric fireplace mantel package. Set-up is simple and no venting or special wiring is necessary. Just plug in and enjoy the flickering flames and the on demand heat option.

On the Patio Mantels and shelves look great above an outdoor fireplace such as the Napoleon Outdoor Gas Fireplace Insert or any of our Rockwood Outdoor Fireplace Kits.  Our line of Timber Fireplace Mantels offers a rustic, natural feel that is the perfect addition to your outdoor fireplace.

Above an Entryway Fireplace mantel shelves such as the Madison or Hunter Fireplace Shelf models look fantastic above an entryway. If you are thinking of installing a mantel shelf in this space, you’ll want to order a custom shelf size to ensure that it fits into the entryway seamlessly.

Mantels Direct customer Pat Todaro installed a Madison Custom Mantel Shelf above this entryway. How creative!

Part of the fun of purchasing a new fireplace mantel from Mantels Direct is decorating it once it’s been installed.  Here are five creative suggestions to keep in mind when planning your mantel decor:

Make it seasonal. The fireplace mantel is a natural family gathering place that is easy to reach and accessorize, making it a great spot to celebrate the season. Reflect an upcoming holiday with simple touches such as lining the mantel’s edge with seasonally-appropriate ribbon, or placing holiday items like ornaments or Easter eggs in a tall, clear vase.  Another way to add a seasonal touch to your mantel decor is to incorporate accents from nature.  For example, welcome summer by enhancing your mantel with seashells, starfish, and a lantern.  Also consider purchasing a natural timber mantelto achieve a year-round natural look.

Timber mantels make for wonderful holiday decorating in the right setting.

Embrace the fire, even in the summer. Just because it’s summertime does not mean that you have to ditch the fire.  With most electric fireplaces, you have the option to activate the beautiful flame feature without the heat.  These products provide four-season enjoyment and have options to fit every style and budget. So remember to light your electric fireplace to complement the mantel and add a soft, welcoming ambiance to your home.

Try layering. Layering the decor on your mantel is easy to do and works on just about anything, whether it is frames, candles, vases, or other accessories. The trick is choosing items that represent a variety of sizes and share some characteristic such as color family or basic shape. Then, place (or lean) the smaller, more detailed accessories in front of the larger, plainer items. This picture demonstrates how proper layering can transform a cluster of objects into a lovely, consistent design.

Be bold. Use the fireplace mantel to make a statement and set a fun tone for the rest of the house.  The simplest way to do this is to use bold colors.  For example, frame the mantel with an orange and yellow wallpaper, or paint vintage vases a bright blue and set them on a contrasting white mantel.  You can even paint the mantel itself! Purchase an unfinished mantel shelf from Mantels Direct (select “unfinished” option at checkout) and color it however you’d like.  Be sure to coat it with a protective sealant once it’s been painted.

Get personal. Your mantel is a centerpiece of your home, so use it to tell your personal story.  Incorporate vintage family photos, frame heirloom jewelry, or place a stack of favorite books on the shelf’s corner. These possibilities are endless, and they give an instant dose of character to your fireplace mantel.

For a truly rustic feel to add to your new or existing home, consider installing a Timber fireplace mantel shelf. MantelsDirect.com offers New England Timber Works designs exclusively. The company has been working with timber for over 30 years and is a leader in the Timber mantel industry. Their distinctive timber fireplace mantel shelves are handcrafted, following the tradition of authentic timber framing.

Finishing Options And Wood Types

Each mantel shelf design is available in your choice of four unique, solid wood types and comes completely finished in your choice of stain color. Available in custom sizes, below are the available wood types:

• Hemlock
• White Pine
• Douglas Fir
• Oak

Colors available are Fresh Sawn, Autumn Leaf, Pinecone, Clear, Honeytone, and Birch Bark. Colors may vary with the type of wood chosen. TimberJack® is a specially-developed product used for the application to interior and exterior log and timberframe homes. Formulated to add beauty and protection to your investment in wood, TimberJack conveys remarkable natural hues to augment the rustic character of most types of logs and wood surfaces.

Installing a Timber Fireplace Mantel Shelf is one of the easiest ways to add a rustic centerpiece to your home. When considering updating your home with one of these mantel shelves, contact MantelsDirect.com to provide their expert advice on all-things fireplace for your home.