Fitting Our Living Room Mantel Beam

Fireplace Mantel Beam

If you came to visit our home, you’d be forgiven for thinking the style is quite minimalist. Our living room is a classic example – no shelves, side tables or many trinkets. I just can’t be bothered when there’s still so much to do in terms of ‘structural’ work like a new ceiling which will finally happen this year, and then new flooring and skirting.

Back in 2015 we fitted a log burner to replace the ugly gas fireplace which we inherited from the previous owners and I spent a year looking at it, using it and loving it but somehow feeling that something was missing. It looked sleek and stylish, exactly what I was looking for. We’d purposefully chosen a Scandinavian-manufactured stove to get a larger glass pane and because we didn’t want anything fussy or over-branded but it now crossed my mind that perhaps it looked too bare.

What we inherited from the previous owners. Turn the tap on the right and lob a match in, fingers crossed for the best!

Last Christmas really reinforced the feeling we needed to create a mantel above the fireplace, somewhere we could decorate for the festive season especially with so much Pinterest and Instagram inspiration flying around. So I began researching but it always felt fruitless – either not the right look or too expensive or some of our other home projects for 2016 getting in the way.

Christmas 2015, pre-beam and organisation

Intervention came just as it always does, right on the verge of giving up hope. A company called Traditional Beams had started following me on Instagram and making a beeline for their website, we realised they had exactly what we were looking for – a range of beams which could be customised in a variety of sizes and finishes at such reasonable prices.

We’ve got a good track record so far of finding some great companies via Instagram, at the end of October Woodson & Son built our logstore on the patio, another company I’d come across via the social media platform and been so impressed with their craftmanship and attention to detail. I love supporting smaller independent businesses wherever possible, so far so good.

In the end we opted for a rustic finish beam to match our hallway mirror and console table, measuring 3.5ft long, 6 inches high and 3 inches deep. Pete was sceptical as to how easy it would be to fit but with helpful instructions and internal brackets fitted to the rear of the beam, it was a case of drilling holes into the wall and slotting the beam on which couldn’t have been more simple. And the cost of the beam? £75 including delivery.

Now it looks as though our beam has always been there and it’s amazing what a difference this little finishing touch has made – it’s added even more of a focal point to the living room whilst still somehow being clean and minimal in style. Now all that’s left is to work out how to decorate it once Christmas is over but needless to say we’re absolutely delighted. On to the next project…

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5 Comments

  1. January 4, 2017 / 2:03 pm

    This looks AMAZING! – I’m actually going to pin your images as I really want to do something similar with our fireplace. Off to check out that company too. Thanks lovely x

    • Lins
      Author
      January 5, 2017 / 10:12 pm

      Ahhh thank you SO MUCH Donna, that’s made my day!! I’m really glad you like it and always happy to share our finds and companies we use 🙂 I’m eagerly awaiting the next pictures of your extension, it will look so stunning when it’s finished Xx

  2. January 9, 2017 / 2:07 am

    interesting…. we are looking at doing something to our fireplace area this year so this was an informative post with some relevancy to us. Thanks

  3. Keith Trigwell
    June 19, 2017 / 10:38 am

    Very interesting process and I get the apprehension. My wife and I are keen to do something very similar with our fireplace and gas burner solution once our extension is complete. Our lounge is quite small and being stuck with bottled gas (we live in a village with no mains gas) we are quite limited in our options, but to be honest I’m up for a log burner as starting the thing seems touch and go every time. We see some other people in the village have fitted quite large exterior vents so we are probably going to have the same kind of solution as you with the new fireplace, depending on where exactly it goes. We really like these brick and traditional designs https://www.oakfieldbeams.com/fireplace-beams-mantels/ by a local company (I think 4th photo down). I’ve popped round to their workshop already and seen the difference between what you get fro a real craftsmen and somewhere like B&Q and there really is only one way to go. I just have to see what exterior flume options we get left with once the lounge is changed around.

    • Lins
      Author
      June 19, 2017 / 3:37 pm

      Wow Keith that all sounds great! Yes I’d thoroughly recommend a log burner, we have been overjoyed with ours since fitting it and adding the mantel was the final icing on the cake. I’d totally recommend sourcing from a local smaller company if you can, or at least one which can accommodate bespoke designs. Good luck with your plans!

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