Fireplace & Mantel Ideas: Design, Build and Install Your Dream Fireplace Mantel (Paperback)

by John Lewman (Author) "The fireplace acts as the center gathering place of a home and holds a permanent place comfort in all of our hearts..." (more)
Key Phrases: using firebox, basic mantel, custom mantel, Stone Magic, Rough Parts List, Art Deco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The history, technology, and structure of fireplaces and mantles are discussed in this updated edition. A full discussion of wood- and gas-fired fireplaces helps builders decide which model works best for them. Two detailed projects, carving a western-themed mantle and installing a classic mantle, provide practical direction for constructing a mantle from start to finish. A full-color idea gallery with dimensioned original drawings, photographs, and detailed close-ups offers inspiration for choosing the perfect mantle design. Featured styles include Art Nouveau, Country French, and English Traditional. A helpful appendix of dealers and suppliers throughout Canada and the United States completes this guide to designing and installing a fireplace and mantle unit.

About the Author
John Lewman has been a home designer and craftsman for 35 years. He lives in Lenexa, Kansas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing; 2nd edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565232291
• ISBN-13: 978-1565232297
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #426,892 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to follow instructions, November 6, 2004

By	Tom Place "Tom" (West Coast) - See all my reviews

I recently bought a house in need of renovations. Since hiring contractors are both expensive and often unreliable, I decided to tackle much of the work myself. This included designing and building my fireplace mantel. A previous owner had removed the mantel so there was no indication of what style it was built in. I searced for books on fireplace mantels and found this one. It has a complete detailed chapter on how to build a classic fireplace mantel, step-by-step, with detailed photos using materials I was able to easily purchase at Home Depot. The results were phenominal! I have since had family and friends ask if I would build them a mantel. I almost hate to reveal how easy it was when they are willing to pay a nice sum of money for something that took me the weekend and little cash. I highly recommend this book!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An infomercial?, June 17, 2006

By	Biker Lady "amazon11739" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

When I see a caption for an illustration that reads something like "Experience personal customer design consultations in the tradition of the old mantel masters, Wohners' one-on-one sessions ensure the highest quality of your mantel design and selection," I can't help but wonder at the purpose of the book as a whole. I did find the section on the Rumford Fireplace interesting, and the mantels shown intriguing, but as for actual designs that I could build I found the book lacking. In fact many of the designs in the "Mantels Portfolio" reminded me a great deal of the "mantel" which was on the fireplace of my first residence --- a mobile home.

I did give it 3 stars for the ideas, but practical information given is minimal.