Fireplace & Mantel Ideas: Over 100 Classic Fireplace Mantel Designs [Paperback]

John Lewman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

Choosing the fireplace mantel that is just right for any home, is easy with this comprehensive design, construction, finishing, and installation guide. Dozens of classic designs “from English Traditional to Art Nouveau” are illustrated with color photos, dimensional drawings, and close-up shots showing the finest details. Neophyte woodworkers will find beautiful mantels they can build from scratch, and even the most skillful craftsmen will appreciate the tips and tricks of mantel making provided. Gas fireplaces, high efficiency fireplaces, and nonmasonry chimneys are covered. An appendix of specialty mantel manufacturers and suppliers, complete with addresses and phone numbers, is also included.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Lewman has 35 years of experience designing and detailing products for home craftsmen. He is also the head of concept design for Hallmark Cards. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Product Details

• Paperback: 90 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565231066
• ISBN-13: 978-1565231061
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,421,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for understanding fireplace technology, February 19, 2000

By 

Jim P. (Sioux City, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fireplace & Mantel Ideas: Over 100 Classic Fireplace Mantel Designs (Paperback)

I found this book to be a great resource for both understanding new and traditional fireplace technology as well as helping me to select a mantel for our house. I found the how-to designs useful and built a mantel using common materials and tools using this book as a guide (I also used the book to make revisions to my fireplace in order to to acheive maximum heat efficiency). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in getting a good overview of the technology and anyone who is anxious to take on the project of building an affordable mantel.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for serious woodworkers, April 3, 2001

By 

Richard (West Milford, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fireplace & Mantel Ideas: Over 100 Classic Fireplace Mantel Designs (Paperback)

This is an informative, although rudimentary book. The chapters explaining the different types of fireplaces were well written with a reasonable amount of detail on both gas and wood burning fireplaces. I would recommend this book only for those considering a new fireplace.

If your objective is to build a mantle and your skill sets are greater than operating a chopsaw, you'll be disappointed in Fireplace and Mantel Ideas. The mantle plans lack design details that could be added with simple tools such as a router.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as useful as I'd hoped, August 30, 2000

By 

M. Pass - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fireplace & Mantel Ideas: Over 100 Classic Fireplace Mantel Designs (Paperback)

A nice book but not that useful. I just found a brand-new Better Homes and Gardens book on fireplaces, which I like much better. in contrast tothis book, the BH&G book has handsome photos but lots of tips on making over a dated fireplace (which we have to do), as well as choosing and positioning a new fireplace (which we also plan to do in our master suite). The Better Homes and Gardens Fireplace book shows a wider range of room and furnishings styles, and I especially like the room arranging tips in the Better Homes and Gardens book.