Not just a spot to warm your bones, the fireplace can be an important visual element in a room.
“Mantels are usually a focal point, so make it stand out with wonderful art, a great mirror, or a mirror with art leaned in front of it,” interior designer Janet Estes wrote in an e-mail to the Herald-Journal.
Estes, owner of Estes Enterprises and Interiors in Spartanburg, also suggests decorating the mantel with candlesticks, interesting pieces, pottery and flowers.
“A classic look relies on simplicity and balance,” she said. you don’t have to worry about symmetry when going for an eclectic look — “mix vases with feathers” and choose art that is “either very strong or subtle depending on the look.”
“A modern look could be a white lacquered mirror” with tall, yellow vases, Estes said.
For the hearth, she suggests tall candles, traditional fireplace accessories and large pottery. “Inside the fireplace, I do candles or just magnolia branches for a touch of green, or old tall olive jars, sometimes even large pieces of beautiful porcelain pieces,” Estes said.
In a fast-paced world in which both spouses work, few people have time to chop wood or the inclination to clean a messy, dusty fireplace, said Cathy Marlowe, co-owner of Carolina Hearth and Patio in Boiling Springs. Many would rather turn on gas logs with a remote, she said.
Whether you prefer gas logs or wood, interior designer and Decorators Touch owner Carolyn Marlowe offers decorative tips for the fireplace.
Carolyn decorates fireplaces on display at Carolina Hearth and Patio. she begins the design process by taking into consideration the style of the fireplace — traditional, informal or rustic — and considers the color of the mantel and materials the mantel is made from. And consider your taste. Carolyn said when decorating, use things that are personal to you and define your lifestyle.
She often begins with a piece of art and searches for accessories that harmonize with colors in the art work and make the mantel visually pop.
Carolyn examines the overall space including fireplace, wall space behind the fireplace and height of the ceiling. for example, a rock fireplace made of chardonnay colored rock and set against a sage green wall was accessorized with copper pieces.
With a rustic mantel, Carolyn decorates with less formal pieces that have a rustic feel, such as twigs or a lantern.
For an informal look, Carolyn groups accessories in odd numbers. for a formal fireplace, she recommends grouping accessories in even numbers and balancing accessories on either side of the mantel.
Accessories grouped together should gradually heighten because accessories that are very uneven in height create a visual zigzag that’s hard on the eyes, she said.
Carolyn said design pieces should be adequately spaced apart according to the mantel and wall size. you want the art and design elements to be one visual unit, she said.
She said a lot of people use iron pieces to fill in bare spots on the wall above their mantels. The most popular accessories at Carolina Hearth and Patio are flameless candles and candelabras.
Cathy said many people decorate their mantels for Christmas.
But what about those warmer seasons when a roaring fire isn’t called for?
Cathy said people put candelabras in front of the hearth or use fire screens with candle holders.
To update fireplace decorations for spring and summer, Carolyn and Cathy both recommend fresh flowers.
Flourishes can help make your mantel stand out
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