What do you think of my wood burning stove and mantelpiece??

[refinnejk]

We have had a stove fitted and the mantelpiece is higher than I envisaged (it has to be this high as it is wood and combustible) and also it is not as deep as the one we chose so can't put anything on it, eg photo frame. I think it will look better when the wall is painted and we have a mirror above etc but I don't know if I will be happy with it and would appreciate your honest opinions. Should we have mantelpiece at all or just change the wood. I'm hoping the shop will change it if we want as they have made a mistake, although they may not admit it and I have paid in full already. I'm aiming for a contemporary style and will be painting the wall a warm grey.

[MelanieCheeks]

Hmmm, the fireplace and surround don't say contemporary style to me. And the non-functional bit of wood above it just looks odd, sorry! Hope the company can sort it out for you.

[scarletforya]

It would look better if it were deeper so you could put things on it. At present it looks a bit like a plank just stuck there!

[wowfudge]

The dark areas are wet plaster? I think the mantelpiece needs to be deeper front to back, thicker from top to bottom and wider in order to be in proportion. I also don't like the gap between the mantelpiece and the fireplace as it looks odd.

[DelGirl]

Nice stove but I'd replace the mantel for something deeper or have nothing at all. The shop has given you the wrong one then ?

[refinnejk]

I appreciate your honesty thank you. I also think it looks odd. I'm not going for a very contemporary look, I suppose just simple and not fussy. I'm happy with the stove and hearth but the wood... Not so much. I like this, and was aiming for a similar look: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ba/07/75/ba0775fcc38818349830d6a24b36d152.jpg

[JillBYeats]

Is that wet plaster around the stove?? If it is and the end result will be a plain wall all around the stove then I would suggest you paint a border of 2/4 inches around the fireplace opening (sides and top) - it will make it more chunky and help it sit with the mantelpiece better. With a warm grey maybe a dark grey border? Hopefully it will balance it out and if not well, tis only paint you can always paint over it.

[DoreenLethal]

We have a deep wooden lintel over our woodburner...sorry but that looks like it has had a fright. Get them to redo it properly.

[JillBYeats]

that's not two quarters - rather 2 or 4 inches.....

[travertine]

My personal opinion is that you have a more riven edge on the surround and straighter on the mantel, they clash. Whichever you choose, which are both nice, they should be the same. And (probably the photo) it looks like different wood.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Sorry but I think it looks odd.

Will try and find a picture of mine. Mine is much lower and I can put stuff on it.

[refinnejk]

Yes the dark areas are wet plaster, it was installed yesterday. And yes the shop has fitted the wrong one. But I can't remember exactly what the one we chose wall like, we're always in such a rush trying to do things in rare child free moments!

[BerylStreep]

Yep, looks odd. It would look better without the wooden surround, and just with the wooden mantlepiece.

[VivaLeBeaver]

If they've told you it has to be that high because it's flammable that's bollocks. My fitters told me to keep a 20-30cm gap between the stove and any firewood.

I guess my fireplace is a bit taller than yours, maybe they should have made the hole taller on yours? But it still looks more than 20cm

[travertine]

God am such an idiot, on my phone I thought it looked like a wooden surround, it's plaster! No that mantel is way too high. Did you sign this off before they fitted it?

[refinnejk]

So it seems the photo it not clear. There is no surround, that is just the plaster drying out, there is just a neat square inglenook opening and that we will paint around.

[BerylStreep]

I think looks much nicer

Even the mantlepiece looks all wrong, like they stuck a bit of 2 x 4 there as an afterthought.

[JillBYeats]

Painted border around stove

[VivaLeBeaver]

Is there a wood surround? I just thought it was plaster?

[tigerdog]

Not sure about the mantle being above the opening but it looks nice in the example you also shared. I think sometimes it is hard to judge when something is first put up, but I'm sure once it is painted it will look nice. Our builder made the alcove for our stove too big and high. I went nuts at the time...yet now I like the height! Will see if I can find a picture.

[refinnejk]

The hole couldn't be made any taller or wider

[VivaLeBeaver]

X post. Thats what I thought. The mantel is what I think looks odd.

[SwedishEdith]

I think, aesthetically, it needs to be at the level of the top of the wet plaster. I'd definitely have one - our first xmas with a stove and no mantel was very annoying. Nowhere to put cards or drape fairylights. We made ours.

[VivaLeBeaver]

A closer shot of mine.

[travertine]

Viva, you're right they talk such crap. We have customers that say you can't put a wood burner on porcelain. It's fired at 1300 degree fgs.

[BerylStreep]

Ooops - sorry, I thought the dark bits were a wooden surround