home decor

What’s a fireplace without a fireplace mantel? It would be a lonely hole in the wall were light comes from. Creepy isn’t it? A fireplace mantel is a substantial part of the whole fireplace setup of a home. Without the mantel, there wouldn’t be much to be excited about a fireplace.

Fireplaces have been focal points of attraction in the house. However, it is the fireplace mantel that really brings out the beauty of a fireplace. It serves a fireplace like a frame serves a picture. A proper mantel can also boost up the value of the house as an asset because it brings out the beauty of the house’ centerpiece.

Fireplace mantels have long been around, dating back to the Renaissance Period in Italy. The earliest designs were inspired by the architectural supremacy of the Greeks and the Romans. These designs were heavily embroidered with lavish designs and accessories. During the advent of the Edwardian era, the designs of mantels became more subtle. Today, design and materials come together to determine the overall look of the fireplace mantels.

There are two main things to consider when choosing the proper mantel for your fireplace. An improperly chosen and installed fireplace mantel is as bad as not having one at all.

Here are some important factors to look at:

-Type of mantel

Choosing the right type of mantel for your fireplace is the most important factor to look at. Different house motifs require different types of fireplace mantels. For older houses which are preserved well (which owners would want to further preserve) an antique fireplace mantel would be suitable. We are referring to colonial-style houses. The antique mantels have this certain timeless quality in them that brings back the designs of the older eras.

In determining the right type of mantel, people should first look at whether they would like to have a mantel shelf or a surround mantel (with designs on the side). Mantel shelves work differently in the sense that they accentuate the fireplace like a crown uplifts a king. The shelves are usually holds the prized possessions of the homeowner and display them for the visitors to see. Mantel surrounds accentuate the fireplace by giving dimensions to the sides of the fireplace.

-Material

Choosing the material to be used in the fireplace mantel is as important as choosing the design of the mantel. There are several materials which have become popular in terms of fireplace mantels. Let’s take a look at wooden mantels first.

After the First World War, wooden mantels started gaining popularity throughout the world. The main reason why it ascended in terms of popularity is that wooden mantels are relatively easy to install (as compared to stone or marble). Oak is perhaps the most popular kind of wood that is used in fireplace mantels because of its superior quality. Fiberboard is gaining popularity as an alternative material because it is cheap and elegant looking material.

A good thing about wooden mantels is that one can choose the kind of varnish or paint color that will be used. A downside in using wood as a mantel is that wood is combustible. One should check the local fire department with regards to the regulations in using wood as a fireplace mantel.

Stone mantels are one of the oldest fireplace mantels. The use of stone as a material for mantels can be traced back to the 16th century. The most popular kinds of stones that are used for mantels are marble, slate granite and limestone. However, the use of these stones can be quite heavy for one’s pockets. Cast stone, which is a pre-fabricated kind of stone, is popular today since it is very cheap as compared to the other stones. It resembles the expensive stones at a least-costly price. Cast stone mantels are usually priced starting at seven hundred dollars.

The fireplace mantel is as equally important as the fireplace itself, perhaps not in terms of functionality, but definitely in terms of aesthetics. Properly choosing the right type of mantel and the right materials are the two most important things in installing a fireplace mantel. Mantels can really be costly but they will really bring out the beauty of a house and increase its value.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://fireplaces.home-webzone.com where you can find more about how you can enhance your home with a fireplace.

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Long before I began making candles of my own, I was famous among friends and family for giving away candles as gifts. It became something of a running joke, but I honestly felt - and still do - that candles make the most wonderful gifts because of their simple elegance, usefulness, and uniqueness.

Today, I am glad to see, more and more people share my views. Through my candle connoisseur friend Charlene, I have got to know a wide cross section of people who have a love of candles in common. One of them is Josip Kukolj, who immigrated to the US from Belgrade about 20 years ago and brought his candle-making enterprise with him. Back then, says Josip, candles were strictly something you saw in posh restaurants and homes where the power supply was not always uninterrupted. “In the last five years,” Josip told me, “my business has grown by almost 60%, and the overwhelming majority of orders are for gift candles.”

From a one-room unit in Lincoln, Nebraska, Josip’s business now occupies the entire ground floor of a building downtown, and he is considering a separate unit to meet his online orders. So it is hardly a surprise that web sites selling gift candles have mushroomed rapidly in the recent past. In fact, had I not been too scatterbrained to run a business, I would have considered putting my stuff on sale!

Obviously, aromatherapy candles have overtaken traditional candles in the popularity stakes owing to their fragrance and beauty. Besides, rather than traditional candles, people are increasingly opting for gel and soy candles, which not only look better than wax candles, but also last longer and offer more scope for experiment. They are also non-polluting and produce no soot, which makes them cleaner options as well.

One of Josip’s best-selling items is a pineapple scented set of six soy candles, embedded with seashells that enhance their beauty. Among my friends, I have observed a marked preference for my lemon scented, green-tinted gel candles. Plenty of suppliers also offer such innovative items as floating candles, which make for great outdoor decorations. Then there are the spa candles, which are ideal for lighting next to your bath!

Most suppliers include stylish holders and jars along with the candles. That means in addition to beauty, you get great value for money as well! So the next time you buy a gift, why not try candles? Wouldn’t it be much better than a book your friend may never read, or a perfume s/he may never use?

***You may reprint this article as long as the three URL’s are hyperlinked.***

Tania Penwell is a successful author who provides information on candle gift ideas and candle gifts for Candles 4U - your guide to candles and candlemaking.

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A shower curtain can add the perfect touch to any bathroom. Whether you like simple pastel colors or more elegant designs, be sure to choose the shower curtain that compliments the look of the rest of the bathroom. Fortunately, there are many shower curtain designs to choose from. Patterns of almost all kinds and a full spectrum of colors are available, so be sure to hunt around till you find the shower curtain that is just right for your bathroom.

While bathroom supplies and bathroom accessories are also very important to the way a bathroom looks, a shower curtain will more often than not be the focal point in any bathroom.

Fortunately, most shower curtains are very inexpensive, though some of the higher quality models do tend to cost a little more.

The right shower curtain for your bathroom.

Knowing that there are so many different types of shower curtains, it may seem difficult to choose the right shower curtain. Also, some people know exactly what type of shower curtain they want but don’t know where to find it. After all, finding bathroom supplies and bathroom accessories can be difficult.

However, be sure to keep on looking till you find the shower curtain that is precisely right for your bathroom. Also be aware that are some not so traditional shower curtains available, such as a hook-less shower curtain, shower curtain frog, fabric shower curtain, and many other unusual types of shower curtains available.

When you find the right shower curtain for your shower, it will make your bathroom look so much better you will hardly be able to recognize it.

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

http://www.beforeandafterpage.com/

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