Real estate staging helps a home seller make their home more attractive and appealing to potential buyers. The goal of staging is to make your home look its best while on the market. This may include repositioning furniture, adding plants or a new rug. While these elements create a warm attractive atmosphere, the buyer will look beyond these soft furnishings to the bones of the house. An investment into the home’s architectural features could have an immediate impact when that buyer walks into the door. Features like crown molding, built-in cabinetry and fireplace mantels are features that remain when your rug is rolled up and moved out.

Studies show staged homes sell for more money than un-staged homes. Where could a short term investment in your home have the greatest impact? The first step is getting buyers to actually come to see your house. Staged houses look better on the MLS pictures. Naturally these photos of your home would include a living or family room. The fireplace mantel is the focal point within a space that draws the eye and makes your home stand out. Beef up or update the mantel fireplace and surround could be what makes your home memorable during a showing.

Review competing listings and compare your fireplace mantel to others found inside homes in your market. This may help determine the extent of work the fireplace mantel needs. Out with the old shiny brass fireplace accessories. A new updated fireplace screen may be the only staging needed. A do-it-yourself update of the fireplace mantel shelf, replacing the facing on the fireplace mantel surround or complete remodel of the wood fireplace mantel with the help of a contractor may be in order. Putting a little work toward to stage your home and make-over the fireplace mantel may be what gives your home the edge over competing properties.

Going green has reached the mainstream culture. If you want to purchase products which cause no harm or inflict the least amount of harm to the environment, you too have joined this movement. There are vented (requiring a chimney) and vent less fireplaces that create no soot, smoke or ashes. The video below spotlights some new environmentally friendly products, click the play button to check out the trendiest, hottest fireplace mantels and other gel fireplaces.

You can add a fireplace, to any room in your house, that has minimal impact to the environment. A ventless fireplace requires no expensive gas hook-up nor contractor for installation. Wall mount fireplaces, which are spotlighted first, blend the cozy romance of a traditional fireplace with a dramatic modern sensibility serving as a functional piece of art. The fireplace mantel pictured includes an electric log insert which has adjustable lighting and sound effects. The Avignon, by Classic Flame, operates with or without heat, so you can enjoy the ambiance of the fireplace mantel all year through. Gel fireplaces available in mantels and personal fireplaces utilize gel fuel made from isopropyl Alcohol which burns for one to three hours. The table top fireplace, Red Rock by Real Flame, is portable making it usable both indoors and out. Lastly, the video features another modern fireplace, similar to our Insight also by Real Flame, that incorporates glass into the clean line design.

No wood needed, no open flame, no toxic smoke or fumes released into your home nor up the flue, as these fireplaces are all vent less. Contact our team if you are ready to “go green” and need assistance in choosing a eco-friendly ventless fireplace!

Timber frame construction is often seen in period homes and lodges, so appealing it is increasingly being used in newer homes. Incorporating the natural elements of rustic decor into your home will balance out the modern elements such as home electronics and kitchen appliances. Introducing the contrast of a rustic fireplace mantel to the smooth, thin, shiny elements is what prevents your room from being too serious or boring. Post and beam style mantels and shelves, proudly made in America by a family owned company with three decades of experience, are available in four types of solid wood. I am thrilled to see craftsman producing mortise and tenon joinery, secured with oak pegs, still exists.  Specially formulated finishes that they use definitely enhance and protect the character and natural color of the wood, whether you select Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Oak or White Pine. A solid wood fireplace mantel combines perfectly with river rock or stacked stone, easily found at your local home and garden store. Other natural stones such as granite, marble or travertine would be suitable facing; these kits could be shipped to your door, along with the timber mantel. You need a few simple tools and basic skills to install the rock surround facing and wood fireplace mantel, bringing texture from the outdoors into your fireplace mantel surround.We also have a variety of wooden fireplace mantels in addition to these timber fireplace mantels and rustic fireplace shelves. Home interiors have glass, mirror and now granite and stainless steel seems to be the “go to” surface choices. These hard edged materials call out for textural relief found in a rustic wood fireplace mantel.  We can have the guys in the shop begin cutting and prepping materials for your fireplace mantel today.

We have just introduced a few new Custom Wood Mantels. Like all of our Traditional Wood Mantels, these designs are available in standard as well as custom sizes. You may change the Inside Width ‘C’, Inside Height ‘B” or Return Depth ‘G’, to accomodate your firebox size, amount of fireplace facing you would like to show, or room space limitations (see diagram below).

Each design is available in several wood types and optional finishes.

We have a several new wood mantel designs that I can’t wait to share! Note: these are not online yet, so please inquire via phone at 1.888.493.8898 or via email.

These mantels are available in standard and custom sizes in your choice of wood type and finish. Here are a few of the new designs:

Please note, these beautiful sets where designed and propped by good friend and outstanding interior designer Paige Thornton – you can learn more about her by visiting her shop at The French Basket.

Every day we work with homeowners looking to upgrade their fireplace area with a wood mantel. Wood mantels are a nice choice for remodeling because they offer size flexibility. Opening widths and heights, as well as, return depths can be customized to fit almost any situation. The first step in determining your mantel size is to measure your existing fireplace area. Once you have determined the size you will need, make your style selection. Installation of a fireplace mantel kit is quick and easy and can be done without any special skills or tools.

One of the quickest and most cost effective upgrades that you can make to your home is a new fireplace facing kit combined with a wood fireplace mantel. Facing kits are precut and are made of marble, granite, travertine or slate. The kits are easily installed using construction adhesive and can be placed over existing brick, drywall or almost any substrate. Our wood fireplace mantel kits can be put together in a few minutes and slide over (and overlap) the facing kit. Once the mantel is secured to the wall, you will have completed your project!

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