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Whether you have a historic home or a brand new construction, you should consider using antique fireplaces mantles to add a unique flair and historic feel to your home. These beautiful pieces of bygone eras are the perfect way to provide beauty and style to your home in a unique and unexpected way. If you are completing a restoration project in your home, look to conserving and reusing an antique fireplace mantle that was already in the home. Often, individuals overlook existing mantles, but they make a nice statement to the authenticity of the room’s décor. If the room does not have an existing fireplace mantle, look to one of the correct period in which your house was built to complete the project. Antique fireplace mantles are readily available in a number of locations.
Typically, if you have existing fireplace mantles in your home, then you will not need to do any modifications of the mantle or the surround. Historically, fireboxes were smaller in size than their current predecessors, so all mantles may not necessarily fit. In addition to the authenticity of the home, this is one of the reasons why renovators are encouraged to use existing mantles simple for the ease of installation. If you are planning on enlarging your firebox, though, careful steps should be taken to modify antique fireplace mantles so that they properly agree with the fire code in your area In addition to antique fireplace mantles, consider using reclaimed tiles, bricks, or stone from historic fireplaces. This is especially important if the fireplace in your home had a surround of hand painted tiles or stunningly beautiful stone work. Often, fireplaces focused more attention on the actual surround than the mantle. Furthermore, previous homeowners may have painted over beautifully colored tiles, so consider doing restorative work before you completely begin disassembling your fireplace. Just as with antique fireplace mantles, keeping the fireplace surround intact goes a long way in determining the historical content of your home. If you are interested in using antique fireplace mantles in your home, but do not currently have one available to you, the options are limitless. Look to your local antique shops to find a model that best fits into your design plan and age of your home. Also, salvage or reclaim businesses often save beautiful architectural elements from homes, including mantles, flooring, staircases, windows, doors, trim work, and anything else worth salvaging. Consider scouring your local garage sales and flea markets for a true find or look to the classified advertisements to see if someone in your area is looking to sell an antique fireplace mantle. Finally, turn to the World Wide Web, where you can buy fireplace mantles and anything else under the sun easily—and in most cases, inexpensively. Using antique fireplace mantles in your home’s decoration is a lovely way of creating an authentic feel to your home. Regardless of the age of your home, consider a mantle just like any other piece of furniture. If you have a fondness for antique furniture, then an antique mantle will certainly add a unique and delightful attribute to your room. Antique fireplace mantles can be found in a wide variety of sizes and styles, from French Baroque to Mid-century Modern. |
