Selecting the Best Mantel Style for Log Homes
Close your eyes. Picture a log home. What are some features that immediately come to mind? Soaring trusses? Yes. Warm wood walls? Of course. A roaring fire in the fireplace? Absolutely.
While all of these are quintessential elements of log home design, the fireplace is often at the heart of a log home. Not only do fireplaces add warmth, they also create endless decorating opportunities — particularly around the holidays. And it’s the fireplace mantel that helps frame this popular design element and transform it into a focal point in a home.
A Brief History of Fireplace Mantels
Mantels date back to medieval times when fireplaces served purely utilitarian purposes: to provide heat for comfort and cooking. Mantels were mainly functional as well, helping to collect smoke before it spilled into a room. But now, with the advent of modern appliances and HVAC systems, fireplaces and fireplace mantels have moved from a living necessity to a design choice.
Choosing a Mantel Style for Log Homes
Fireplace mantel styles vary significantly. They can feature curvy, carved scrollwork or simple, straight lines. Some fireplace mantels are small and understated. Others are far more grand and extend all the way to the ceiling.
In many log homes, mantels are mounted to “float” above gas, electric or wood-burning fireplaces that are wrapped in stone. Sometimes mantels also are set on top of brackets to finish the look. But there are a number of mantel styles that suit the style of a log cabin home. Here are examples of some popular options for homeowners:
Natural Face Mantel
Who it’s for: Homeowners who are craving a one-of-a-kind design that brings the best of nature inside the home.
What it looks like: This is an especially popular option that complements reclaimed style. To create this mantel, craftsmen remove the bark of the log to reveal its natural shape and imperfections, including knots.
Square Face Mantel
Who it’s for: The homeowner who’s trying to achieve a more traditional look.
What it looks like: This mantel features sides that have been cut flat to create a clean, square finish.
Hand-Hewn Mantel
Who it’s for: A great option for homeowners who want to add a hand-crafted look in their log or timber frame home.
What it looks like: This mantel style is rough in all of the right ways and is built without power tools. Instead, wood is kiln-dried and then hewned and sanded entirely by hand.
Heartwood Mills Mantels
Our skilled craftsmen can build a custom log mantel and brackets for your next project. Let’s discuss your needs, and we’ll work together to bring your design to life.
