Timber Mantels Mantel Shelves Inspired by Nature - In the Style of the Arts

I am often asked..."how does it work"? Well this is one way. If you see a picture or two of a mantel that might work for you or if you have questions about wood, finish, shipping, costs, etc. just pick up your phone and give me a call on my toll free number 1-877-826-3414. If I am unable to answer your call immediately you can be sure I will call as soon as possible.

After doing a few hundred mantels and/or corbel supports it has become apparent that most of you want to discuss specific aspects of your project as it relates to mantel selection.

I love it! I get to speak with folks from all around the U.S. and Canada weekly.

Once I know what type of mantel interests you I will take a couple pieces, shoot some pictures and email them to you for your review. The piece you ultimately select will then be cut and finished to just how you might like it. If it isn't I will make another.

We have done some very unique projects so do not hesitate to challenge us....

How do I hang my mantel and do I need to use corbels(supports) if I do not want them?

The main reason I do not go into the "how to" in print is because there are so many variations. Some are using metal studs in new construction, some are retro fitting to an existing fireplace, some are doing an outside fireplace, etc. I would be writing for a long time to cover all the variations I have dealt with thus far.

Please feel that it is just fine to call me on my toll free no. of 1-877-826-3414 and we can discuss, at length, your specific issues of getting your mantel shelf in place.

It is not necessary to use corbels to hang your mantel. Some prefer to hang the mantle by itself as though it eminates from the rock or brick. We can discuss your options once I have a grasp of your particulars.

The added benefit, to me is that I get to have a feel for the project, design, "look" you are after. I enjoy knowing as we are cutting and finishing YOUR piece of natural art.

This is an often asked question. A satin lacquer is used and for a couple of reasons.

First, it is sprayed with a hot catalyst so the drying time is quick and this is important when working in a dusty space. It reduces the chance of wood particles laying on the surface.

Secondly, it is a clear product that greatly enhances the grain and coloration in the mantel.

Thirdly, it makes me look like I know exactly what I am doing because it is "self leveling" and is perfect everytime. And if it gets nicked or scratched when installing on your end, it is easily repaired in that another touch up coat will melt into the previous coats. Very little sanding, if any, is needed. 

The only downside to lacquer is that it is not as durable as some of the other finishes but not much of a problem when one considers the low traffic on a mantel.

Every once in a while we are lucky enough to uncover natures wonder in wood.

This Pacific Yew mantel(mantle) with Yew corbels/supports is being shipped to our customers with a great deal of delight on our part. It is so rewarding to put three pieces together, like these, that are meant to be.

We feel privileged to participate in providing a piece of nature for our customers. Especially when we know it will bring pleasure and warmth to their home and they are kind enough to share their thoughts with us........

         "They really look good together-it really completes the look I was after when you see the corbels with the mantel. Every piece of wood must be a surprise for you  when you cut it! I love it and I am so pleased to have something unique- we have spent so much time customizing our home to our tastes and details like this make all the difference."                  Joe & Lorelei P.   Sask., Can. 

Makes my day!!     

Pacific Yew Wood Mantel Shelf with Corbels

I have a picture that occasionally shows on our homepage, of a row boat that we are so proud to be able to enjoy. As I stated in the caption....it was built with a number of different types of wood from our mantel shop at Timbermantels.

 These "scraps" so to speak are Pacific Yew, old growth Western Red Cedar, Black Walnut, Oak, Alaska Cedar(yellow cedar), old growth Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce and a sheet of plywood. This was accomplished by a seasoned wooden boat builder by the name of Eric Friberg that lives in Bellingham, Washington in the Pacific Northwest. If you enjoy the comfort and warmth of wood and the special skill it takes to assemble it in such a fashion so as to float and row then you will enjoy visiting our friends site at www.northfjordboats.com  Erics craft is something to enjoy and of course purchase!!

The continued use of the unused mantel wood for special projects by other artisans is especially rewarding for us. You never know who we may find digging in our wood bin for that special piece.    It may be YOU!!

Another group that has been and is so helpful in sending some of you to us are the folks at www.homeexpo.com

We get requests to do our free hand sculpting and are happy to do so. Sculpting is our term for shaping the mantel so as to appear worn or as if it were rubbing on a dock as it is being tossed about by the waves.

Some of the examples are in the following pictures from our gallery. such as these old growth cedar mantel and this Sitka spruce fireplace mantel. Each is very custom and is accomplished by us beginning to shape and then shoot some pictures and e-mail them to you for approval. At times customers have said that they want us to do more and give somewhat specific directions.

It is very much a collaborative effort that is most often satisfying for all involved.

If you have a request of a particular sculpting that would fit for your plan then by all means lets do it!  Here are some more examples of sculpted fireplace mantels:

Old Growth Cedar: Old Growth Cedar Mantel #9 , Old Growth Cedar Mantel Shelf #20, Old Growth Cedar Fireplace Mantle #25, Fireplace Mantel Shelf #28.

Sitka Spruce: Sitka Spruce wood mantle #9, Sitka Spruce fireplace mantel shelf #10, Sitka Spruce timber mantel #11, Sitka Spruce fireplace mantle #12, Fireplace Mantels #13.

Second Growth Cedar:  Cedar fireplace mantel #13, Wood fireplace mantel #20.

Snow, Snow, Snow! Our shop sits only 4-500' above sea level but yet is in the foothills of the North Cascades. Today it was quite white with wet heavy snowflakes that covered the ground very quickly. So much so that our mantel logs can't be taken to the mill for sawing.

Its ok in that we get to stay inside and work on the mantel orders  "on the board". Even though we are all seeing a big slow down in the construction trades our orders are slowly making a comeback. Not to worry! It has given me time to improve the shop i.e. we built a mock fireplace for our mantels to sit on for their photo sessions. Soon to be visible for you all to see will be our wooden fireplace mantels, wooden fireplace mantles, log mantles (if I can lift them into place), rustic mantles, log and beam mantles and natural edge mantle shelf and shelves.

Received new Pottery Barn catalog today. They are selling short pieces of logs for end and coffee tables. If it sparks an interest....let me know. We have plenty to go around. May not be as expensive. A yew one would look good to go with the mantel....sell...sell...sell. Sorry-----

 Its my entre'manur'ial spirit.

A t-shirt script I read----"Department of Redundancy Department"

Today I was informed by a customer that he searched for us using the term "mantel shelf". He got  a number of sites that showed the complete surround style when he searched just "mantels".

I am happy that he found us and that we are able to provide him with a Cedar fireplace mantel shelf. I suppose that the term "mantel shelves" or "mantle shelves" would work easily as well.

Also I need to add that we have crafted some Pacific Yew fireplace mantel surrounds. It was accomplished by adding beam legs as supports to the custom wood mantel shelf.

They are stunning and if you would like to see pictures you need only ask.   

If you would like to see one of our cedar mantel shelves and if you live in the Bellingham, Washington area you can go and see our friends at www.innovations-fql.com/contact.html. At their website you will find an address for the brick and mortar. Their display room is outstanding......good people! If you would like to visit us, at our shop, then give a call and I will give you directions for your drive to the "up river" area.

Enjoy the week! 

So that you can find us by searching via one of the engines it is necessary for us to put keyword search terms on our site. If you use one of those words for your query we may come up.

If we have an outstanding ranking then we may come up in the "organic" listing instead of the "pay per click". Which is very good for us in that no cost for us!

Some of our key words are mantel, fireplace mantel, mantels, fireplace mantels, rustic mantels, timbermantels, timber mantel, fire place mantel, wooden fireplace mantel, custom wood mantels, wood mantel shelf, wood mantel shelves, mantel design, cedar mantel, yew mantel, natural edge mantel..... on and on.

I need to ask you when you call which term you used. This will help as to our marketing campaign. So if you read this blog entry please help my memory and tell me.

It will help to put us in front of those who are still looking for us.

Thank you for finding us and if you want....call us.  1-877-826-3414. 

One of the perks of creating custom fireplace mantels is the opportunity to collaborate with artisans working with other materials.

When one of our customers asks for specific designs regarding their corbels and if the request is to be created in metal then we turn to our good friend---Ken Williams at www.wildwoodforge.com . Ken has the uncanny insight/creativity to mate the hard metal world with the soft wood world. Visit his site and see for your self.

If you do not see what you may like to do with an addition of forged metal to your custom mantel then by all means ask Ken directly or call and discuss it with me and it will get passed on to him.

Ken and I are looking forward to jointly creating some new offerings in the marrying of custom metal forging with custom wood mantels. 

Stay tuned and check back with us...... Could be very interesting!