Need help designing a fireplace wall

[steve_g]

I have been commissioned to make a fireplace wall "stunning". And need some ideas and help from others who do this all the time. The wall is 108” tall and 93” wide with a 36” X 28” fireplace opening placed only 4” off the floor.

My initial question is: what height do you place a mantel when the fire box is so low?

I’m attaching a sketch so you can see the proportions.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=129

This customer saw a mirror frame with Acanthus leaf carvings I did and wants me to include this motif in the design.

Any and all suggestions will be appreciated!

Steve

[bleeth]

Steve:
4" off the floor is not unusual. Many are nearly even with the floor and the hearth in front is tiled right over the existing floor. Every basic full mantel consists of a pair of legs and then the mantel shelf itself. There is tile or stone around the opening inside the mantel. From there you design outwards and upwards. You can extend upwards with an overmantel that reflects the main mantel. Usually the legs and top piece of the overmantel is proportioned a bit smaller then the lower mantel. Going outwards from there people often want some shelves. Sometimes with a lower base cabinet and sometimes all open. 93" is not an extremely wide wall and once you have the mantel in place there is not a lot of space left.
Back in Seattle I ran a company that did these for a living. e-mail me direct (include your sketch) and I can send you a few things. (e-mail in profile).

Dave

[steve_g]

Dave
Your kind offer of help is deeply appreciated, I did not see an email address in your profile, but mine is steve dot glassel at sgmfg dot com.

I’ve attached another image to “tell the whole story”.
93” is the width of the 45 degree area in the corner of a very large room (about 30’X30’) and if appropriate I could spill over onto adjacent walls. The room (and entire house) is very stark (IMHO), all white walls and trim. They would like to add some warmth with wood around the fireplace.

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=130

[wberminio]

Steve

I don't see any attachments

[steve_g]

May be I've used the wrong term. Can you see the image I included in the body of the message?


Steve

[curtiss]

A few ideas here...

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=987&bih=514&q=fireplace+designs&gbv=2&aq=1&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=fireplace&gs_rfai=

[tmerrill]

Steve,

As part of the design process be sure to look into what building and fire codes may exist in your area. If they exist there will probably be guidance on critical dimensions, clearances, etc.

You should also check with your insurance provider on liability issues.

Good luck,

Tim

[wberminio]

Tim is correct.
1st check on the clearances the building dept requires.
That will help to decide where to begin.

BTW I don't see any drawings.
Maybe it's just me.

[steve_g]

Sounds like my first stop is at the city’s building department.

Curtis… thanks for the Google link, I tried that last night and had information overload!

Can anyone else see my images? I up-loaded them to my album and copied the BB address into the body of my message. They show up on my computer just fine, but I notice that the images in my album say “waiting moderator approval”.

Steve

[dlcw]

Steve,

Don't see any embedded images, links to images or attached pictures.

[steve_g]

City says 12” to the mantel and 6” + 1” for every 1/8 inch protrusion on the sides with a maximum of 12”.

To make the design simple I’ll just plan on 12” all around.

I’ll try the photo URL:

www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=130 (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=25&pictureid=130)

[bleeth]

Steve:

Try
DaveR (at) professionalmillwork.com

The drawing isn't showing yet or in the link. You can try to convert it to a jpg and attach if you have the ability on your computer.

[steve_g]

Dave:

email sent

Steve

[myxpykalix]

Steve the best thing to do is attach them to your post here by going down to "manage attachments" when creating a post (below "submit reply")

That way people can see within the post what you are talking about. Your album is at located back under your profile and frankly most probably won't go searching to find it. I looked and in your folder "KS fireplace" there is no images.
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/images/misc/navbits_start.gif (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/#) Let's Talk ShopBot (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/index.php) > steve_g's Profile (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/member.php?u=837) > Albums (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/album.php?u=837) http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/images/misc/navbits_finallink_ltr.gif (http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/album.php?albumid=25) KS fireplace
When you click "manage attachments" s screen pops up and you can load your picture right in your post like i just did.

SEE BELOW

[steve_g]

Jack:
Thanks!
I've never seen that button; I was trying to do it within the reply window.

I'll try it now... sorry if this looks a little like an Escher illustration but I was trying to show the 3D effect.


Steve

[bleeth]

Steve: You have mail.

[tmerrill]

"This customer saw a mirror frame with Acanthus leaf carvings I did and wants me to include this motif in the design."

Steve,

I'm not sure what software you are using, but if it is Aspire and you have upgraded to Version 3, the DVD includes some very detailed project files for a Mantel/Fireplace surround using Acanthus leaf carvings. It was designed by James Booth (VectorArt3D) and the DVD contains all the models.

Tim

[gene]

Here is a wall i did for an electric fireplace looking heater

[gene]

The above photos dont show the details that good. The specs i used on this WILL NOT PASS on a gas or wood burning fireplace . hope this gives some ideas. this one was 78"wx108"h and the ceiling was off by 1 " from side to side . Cheep million dollar plus houses:p

[myxpykalix]

Gene did you make that out of MDF? That looks great! How did you do your columns? And your bowed part on top?

[gene]

Yes thats mdf the column i purchased and split on a table saw. The arch was drawn on aspire and is 3 layers thick . There is the back then on top the part with the cross pattern then the trim arch piece on top of that, just for the depth look. The very top is arched out toward the front with a bunch of small blocks fastened to a backer piece. I am so thankful that i did not have to paint this one.

[steve_g]

Here is what I have put together from many of your comments and some suggestions Dave emailed me. I hope I have interpreted his comments correctly, If not, Dave… let me know.

I’ll wait till about 12:00 noon tomorrow to email this to my customer to allow another round of comments.

The non-combustible area around the fire box is likely slate and the wood background extends 6” around the 45 degree corner on each end.

Tim… thanks for the reminder about insurance

Thanks to all

Steve

[bleeth]

Looks great Steve.
The two leaves on the legs may look better vertical. Try it on your screen and decide.
Dave

[steve_g]

Here’s a follow-up on this post… first photo is a before image, the 2nd is a prototype mantel I made for the clients approval, 3rd how it looks now, and last is a detail.

Originally the entire wall was to be dark stained maple to match their new wood floor. When I made the mantel mockup I used MDF, Pine and pre-primed materials… to give it a uniform look I painted it all one color, primer gray and then used a black wax rub to help show the lines and depth of the carvings. When the client saw the sample she decided on the spot to change the color of the project to match the prototype sample I had made. When I returned for the final step of wax application, she had had second thoughts and painted all a dark brown… we waxed it and she is happy with the results

Steve

[kevin]

Congrats Steve it looks good
Sounds like you bent over backwards to please the customer
I don;t tkink i would have been as patient
The carving looks great