What would you suggest for a mantel here?
We're building a Craftsman styled/inspired house and trying to figure out what to do for a mantel here in the library living room. For reference, the hearth is 72 inches wide and about 16 inches high. The ceiling is vaulted - at the walls it is 10 ft high and about 14 ft high at the center of the vault.
Upon entering the house, one walks a couple of steps, turns left through an arch opening from the foyer and this is what you see. I like to do something with the mantel and fireplace such that it makes an immediate impact to someone walking in. But in keeping with the rest of the house and the way we live, we want something that is a little understated (ie not over the top). I was thinking something "hefty" and substantial looking but very simple.
I've seen mantels where it is just the shelf and I've seen ones with the legs as well.
We looking to use Kotah Blue (more green than blue) limestone for the surround. Most likely going to use honed absolute black granite or leathered absolute black granite for the hearth seat.
But not quite sure how to think about this. I would appreciate your always helpful advice.
Thank you in advance.
Upon entering the house, one walks a couple of steps, turns left through an arch opening from the foyer and this is what you see. I like to do something with the mantel and fireplace such that it makes an immediate impact to someone walking in. But in keeping with the rest of the house and the way we live, we want something that is a little understated (ie not over the top). I was thinking something "hefty" and substantial looking but very simple.
I've seen mantels where it is just the shelf and I've seen ones with the legs as well.
We looking to use Kotah Blue (more green than blue) limestone for the surround. Most likely going to use honed absolute black granite or leathered absolute black granite for the hearth seat.
But not quite sure how to think about this. I would appreciate your always helpful advice.
Thank you in advance.
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The room has beautiful bones. It's going to look great!
You should google Greene and Greene , who created some of the finest examples of Craftsmen work ever. Craftsman style is low and linear with Japanese influences.
The fireplace box would be larger and low and wide if you were doing Craftsman work. One has to design the whole fireplace wall as a unit.
That said you could do something rustic with what you've got it you don't want to continue the Federal thing.
I am attaching a contemporay craftsman influenced fireplace mantel because that is what I have a photo of, though I grew up in a bungalow with a true one. Just don't have the photos.
I like the fireplace in the attached photo and can see a similar look in your living room setting.
To reply to everyone's questions
@anthony - haven't thought of concrete tiles. When I think of concrete, "gray" immediately comes to mind, although I recognize that you can get it in whatever color you want. Does it give a more contemporary look?
@yarbro - the built-ins are fir, stained English Chestnut and 2 coats of "conversion varnish". The fir matches the fir wood windows as well as the two old base cabinets that came out of an old home.
@basil - we thought about having no raised hearth. One of the nice things about it is that it does provide additional seating, as we're probably not going to put a lot of furniture in this room - maybe 2 couches or 4 chairs in front of the fireplace (in the past, we've always had too much furniture for a room). We also have a 13 ft wide window seat in this room, (left of the mantel) which is not shown, although it is on the edge of the room and not in the "conversation" area in front of the fireplace.
@lizabeth - great comments! We were going for the "library" look with this room (we love books and reading), and hence the taller bookcases (in fact, there are another two bookcases flanking each side of the arched opening, opposite the fireplace). We have the same fireplace in the family room, and there we have flanking bookcases more in line with what you describe. The mantel in your picture could work well there.
@christine - that's an interesting look and could be a statement look! Hadn't thought of the mantel-less approach before. Do you think the thinner stone gives it a more contemporary look, vs the larger stone, which is more rustic (or maybe traditional)?
@darzy - do you have any links to pictures showing what you described? I've seen some slate at the tile store and the ones I've seen are square or rectangular tiles. Were you thinking of some that were more randomly cut?
@welcome - that's a very unique mantel - very simple and elegant.. I love the "heft" of it, which was what I was thinking of originally.