Help me decorate this fire place area

[Hopetogouni]

I am looking for ideas to decorate the wall above the wood burner area in our new build home. Any help would be appreciated. Should I get a fire place surround/ mantle and what would look nice in a the area above the fire place? Ideas please. Thanks 😊

I’d just get a rustic length of wood and attach as a mantle . Something like this

www.oakstoredirect.com/solid-oak-beam-rustic-character-mantel-shelf----reclaimed-20916-p.asp?_=&variantid=27730

Thank you for your reply. Also do u think a mirror will look better on top rather than a painting or wall art?

I agree, get an oak beam. Try and get one that has a bit of width so you can have ‘things’ on it. Especially handy at Christmas.

Mirror, painting or clock would look good on the wall above.

Get a chunky mantelpiece fitted with a mirror above. Then a fire tools set on the right and a log basket on the left. You could add a couple of candles on the mantelpiece.
Bit of advice though - don't put decorative logs either side of your burner. It doesn't let it ventilate and is a fire hazard (my chimney sweep advised this when one of his other customers did it)

Thanks both- sorry I don’t know how to tag your names.

I would leave it as it is. We're used to seeing mantles because of traditional fire places, this isn't a traditional fireplace and can stand on its own!

A mirror and the oak beam would look great

I’ve got a similar fire place. We have a large Oak beam mantle over it. Not deep enough to put anything on it, but it does somehow make more of a feature of the fire place.

we have a TV over it. I wouldn’t choose to normally but it is the only sensible place for the Tv….so I got one of those TV that look like a picture in a frame when it’s off.

Imho it would look very bare if left without a beam/mantle or surround of some sort.

I'd definitely add either a simple oak (or similar) beam or one with uprights. Then put a large mirror or artwork over it. I think it's best - if possible - when the beam/mantle is deep enough to place items on top.

We recently added a beam (and wallpaper) to our kitchen chimney breast where we have a wood burner in the opening. It looks so much more finished now!

I'd go with a wooden beam too, we got ours from Celtic Timber

www.celtictimber.co.uk/

Also, if you are using the wood burner then there are certain requirements for the beam height and fittings etc. We got the company who installed our burner to mount the beam for us.

I'm going to go against the grain and say I think these kind of fireplaces look best without a mantle, with something large above either art or mirror.

Thanks everyone- lots to think about. I was initially thinking of a marble/ limestone fireplace surround however the oak ones look beautiful.. will have a look at the Celtic timber website. Thanks.

I'm sure you know this but thought I'd say it anyway - you can have just a mantelpiece. You don't have to have a surround. Unless you want one of course 🙂

Yes mirror above and not art. You can also put some nice stuff on your new mantle shelf if that’s what you go for. I do think it needs something and don’t agree with the pp it can stand on its own like that. Well it can, but would look much better with a mantle shelf, up to uou if you want the upstands/ surround as well,it will all look lovely

www.amazon.co.uk/Celtic-Timber-French-Surround-Upstands/dp/B01I1RXZVE/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=oak+fireplace+mantels&qid=1668341792&sr=8-28

I tried a mirror above mine but the reflection from the window opposite was awful. I chose to have a simple mantel with a few small ornaments on it and large clock above.

thanks so much everyone. I am going to get in touch with the people who installed the wood burning stove and will probably go for a mantle and surround too. Mirror on top. And log basket and tool kit on sides. Mayb some ornaments on mantle:-))