mantle shelf or not?
Sam Potter
6 years ago
Hi guys, I'm midway through opening up the living room fireplace. It will be exposed brick all the way up to the cornice, and have an open fire grate in the hole, with no fire surround, just bare brick. The fireplace will have a brass fender with a green leather seat. I love exposed brick , and hanker after the improvised fireplaces of my squatting and caravan dwelling youth. Punk's not dead btw. My dilemma is about having a mantle shelf. Aesthetically they don't seem to 'go' , and break up the column of red brick with a disruptive horizontal. But am I missing a trick? Do I need a shelf to balance the fender and provide a focal point for vases, candlesticks, artwork etc? Images below are various stages of work in progress.
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Comments (16)
Daisy England
6 years agoSam Potter
6 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (2)You could put up a thin stud wall to disguise the triangle then add opening doors to access the triangular storage within maybe a storage shelf/ mantle above for the odd photograph....See MoreKitchen Canopy/Mantle
Comments (8)I like option 1 the best visually, but I'm not sure about how it will look in the corner nearest the window - perhaps it would be better to widen it - up to wall and end of counter and have nooks for herbs/spice jars on the insides. I have found an image that combines 2/3 and the cupboards either side appear to lessen the bulk of the extractor section. My own extractor is more like option 2 to allow more space on the worktop, but mainly limit the light being blocked from the neighbouring window. It is bulky, but have tried limiting this by painting units and walls in one colour....See MoreLounge advice... no alcoves for shelves
Comments (7)Various options to consider in addition to those of bookworm. A mantle shelf (think chunky, but rounded, oak in a driftwood style - could work to help bring the stove area "forward" - alternatively you could work in shelving which has radiused ends which curve gently in towards the stive, keeping a focal point. My own preference, however, would be to frame out around the stove to give a false chimney breast, and possibly add a fireplace or mantle shelve, then add bespoke shelving/cupboards either side. If you size it carefully, you could use standard sized kitchen/furniture cupboards to keep costs down. The fake chimney breast need not be expensive - some cheap timber framing, a couple of sheets of plaster board and two skimming beads plus some paint. And with a little careful thought, you could build in some secret hidden storage as well!...See MoreInterior design help for a blank wall
Comments (15)Sorry, those rugs were both oka and they're not particularly cheap! Would these work as alternatives? They're both from JOhn Lewis and may be worth a look. I agree the tv needs to have something under it. Have you actually found any low consoles and will the tv sit flat once the mantle is up as it looks tight? I know it's the reason you posted but it's tricky to get furniture height to work with mantle height, you also need to make the console is wide enough for the tv to sit on, not too high for tv viewing plus make sure neither of the pieces encroach on the fire! What's the actual distance either side of the fire from the corners? You could try celerygirls idea, moving the tv over a bit more to the left and swap the curtains for Roman blinds hung outside of the recess to add height and not block light? Or go for a corner unit like this with a matching set of drawers or console. Personally I would put some boxes there to trial it before buying! https://www.cotswoldco.com/living-room-furniture/tv-stands/chester-large-corner-tv-unit---up-to-56/...See More
Luciana
6 years agoFor inspiration:
Photography for HFM Architects, house refurbishment, North London · More Info
Exposed Brick · More InfoFor an unusual, but best effect, you could use a live-edge piece of wood.
East London Apartment · More Info
Greenwich Village Loft · More InfoGood luck!
Greenlake Modern Home · More InfoSam Potter
6 years ago
kikiamack
6 years agodelyth price
6 years agoWould definitely go for a mantle shelf, somewhere to display lights and trinkets to complement and soften fire place, have just done the same last week, exposed the stone and knocked out the fireplace, the builders put a shelf up for me, nice and chunky which I am going to paint
Sam Potter
6 years agokikiamack, thanks for the input. I hadn't noticed that images had one or the other. I had noticed quite a few of the shelves just looked 'wrong'. I'd never thought of hanging something with the ability to also display things. This is food for thought. I have a weird vintage glass fronted display case with multiple incredibly narrow shelves. Ideal for displaying thimbles or Matchbox cars, neither of which I do. Now I'm wondering if I could create something interesting with it.
My previous idea ( before I ran out of money) was to buy some original art from this artist:
https://www.georgiacox.com
I absolutely love her stuff. I'm still planning to get a print.
Sam Potter
6 years agoSam Potter
6 years agominnie101
6 years agoI wouldn't add a shelf personally and would add something round or roundish on the chimney breast to pick up the curve of the arch, a mirror, woven bowl, juju hat, faux antlers etc, whatever fits with your style
delyth price
6 years agoSam Potter
6 years ago
Sonia
6 years ago
Carolina