The style and aesthetics of mantel shelves is heavily borrowed from the renaissance and Victorian style of architecture. But for homes that demand elegant, yet modern style of mantel shelves there are transitional mantel shelves. They collectively incorporate aesthetics of different styles of traditional mantel shelves while keeping the architecture simple and attractive.
Transitional Mantel Shelves: Materials and Specifications
Wood and stone are the most common materials used for manufacturing transitional mantel shelves.
Wooden Transitional Mantel Shelves
Most mantel shelves will be made from Asia Choi, American Oak, Birch or Mahogany varieties of fine wood. One can also select from a wide variety of finishing options depending on the decor of your room. Some of the choices available are natural cherry, English chestnut, traditional mahogany or golden oak. A good substitute to wood is MDF, an engineered wood product that is highly fire resistant.
While purchasing a wooden transitional mantel shelves, insure that it adheres to the all safety guidelines specified by the fire department of your state.
Stone Transitional Mantel Shelves
For stone mantel shelves marble, granite and limestone are popular choices. All of these materials have splendor and texture that is difficult to replace but a close approximation is claystone. It is a synthetically generated concrete material that is light and is a cost effective option for stone mantel shelves.
Cost and Installation
Transitional mantel shelves have a very wide price range. Clearly, the cost depends on all of the above mentioned factors that decide the type and the look of your mantel shelf. The starting price usually hovers around $200 and can go to several thousand dollars for high end hand crafted transitional mantel shelves. Potential customers must be mindful of the special offers and discounts that most mantel shelf retailers offer seasonally.
If you plan to install the mantel shelf yourself, insist on being provided a detailed installation instruction manual. An easy, step by step guide on the installation process will insure that you install the transitional mantel shelf correctly and safely.
Safety First for Fireplace Tools
A fireplace can be warm and inviting, but a fire can be extremely dangerous. Many tools you use for your fireplace will be going directly into the fire, so you need to make sure they are fire resistant and safe for you to handle. Obviously, anything that does go into the fire should be made of a durable material, such as wrought iron. But if you don’t like the look of wrought iron, there are plenty of other materials you can choose from that include brass, copper, bronze, nickel, graphite, stainless steel, pewter, and more. In addition, a good pair of fire resistant gloves will prevent your hands from burning.
Fireplace Tools and Your Home Décor
Safety and functionality are key components to choosing the right fireplace tools for your fireplace, but these tools are also decorative pieces that add style to your fireplace and your home. As a result, you don’t want to just choose the first set that you see. There are many different styles available, from traditional to contemporary, that can complement the current design of your home. Use your current home décor as a guide when you choose the look of your new fireplace accessories. If you’re looking for something with an antique feel, don’t buy the sleek stainless steel fireplace tool set. Wait until you find the set that works for you.
Author Resource:
Lisa Becker is an avid home decorator and writes for Fireplace Mantels 123: Shop For Your Perfect Fireplace Mantel and Surround. Check out more useful articles at http://www.fireplacemantels123.com .
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