| There are few things in life as wonderful as sitting by | | | | mantels. |
| a fireplace. The mere image of a fireplace is so | | | | While handy homeowners may design and build their |
| powerful that President Franklin D. Roosevelt regularly | | | | own wood mantels and wood shelves, many will opt |
| held "fireside chats" to conjure up a relaxed, | | | | for ordering mantel and shelf kits. Those are available |
| comforting, trust-inspiring atmosphere, even though in | | | | in a wide variety of styles, sizes, different types of |
| those days they were on radio and not on TV. | | | | wood, and finishes. Unfinished wood mantels in more |
| When my son was a small boy he often asked me | | | | basic styles start at less than US$300. Spend a bit |
| to "light a nice, cozy fire" so we could sit by the | | | | more and you have a larger selection of decorative |
| fireplace and read stories. Fireplaces have a special | | | | styles. Choose birch if you like a clear, light-colored |
| place in our homes, and our hearts. And that's why | | | | wood. Pick oak if you prefer the darker look with |
| so many homeowners pay extra attention to the | | | | dark-red and red-brown tones. In the higher price |
| design of their fireplaces and fireplace mantels. | | | | ranges (US$1,500-2,000) you get heavier mantels, the |
| Things, of course, have changed since President | | | | highest quality wood and finish, and more intricate |
| Roosevelt's time. Gas fireplaces have replaced | | | | detail. |
| traditional wood-burning fireplaces in most newer | | | | What's the difference between a mantel and a shelf? |
| homes. The massive brick fireplaces with their | | | | Mantels frame the entire fireplace and include a shelf. |
| mahogany wood mantels have been replaced by | | | | If a full mantel is not desired or doesn't fit, a shelf |
| smaller, simpler designs that are often barely more | | | | alone will still greatly add to the look of the fireplace |
| than a cutout in the wall. That's still nice and gas | | | | (and you can display your trophies on it!). Shelves |
| fireplaces can look and feel just like the real thing. | | | | come in the same variety of woods and finishes as |
| However, most people have a vision and idea of | | | | mantels. |
| what a real fireplace should look like, and that's why | | | | Can you be sure that a mantel will fit your fireplace? |
| more and more homeowners are upgrading their | | | | Absolutely. All you need to do is measure the opening |
| fireplaces with a variety of mantels and shelves. | | | | width and height of your fireplace, and also the |
| What are mantels? They are structures that frame | | | | "return depth," which is how much the facing material |
| the opening of a fireplace in a decorative manner and | | | | of your fireplace extends from the wall. Companies |
| usually include mantel shelves. Wood mantles come in | | | | that sell fireplace mantels and shelves usually have |
| many shapes and forms to fit your décor | | | | forms or calculators that let you enter your data so |
| and budget. So whether you favor the classic designs | | | | that the mantel, which are made to order, will fit |
| or go for a more contemporary look, you'll find a | | | | perfectly. |
| variety of styles available. Most mantels are available | | | | So if you have a fireplace and it looks a bit bare, |
| in Birch or Oak that can then be stained or painted. If | | | | make installing a fireplace mantel your next home |
| cost is an issue, there are very high quality fiberboard | | | | improvement project. It's an inexpensive way to add |
| mantels that are resistant to warp, moisture and | | | | style and grace to your home. |
| compression, and make a great material for painted | | | | |