Regardless of the design or architectural style of a room, when a fireplace is present, it is almost always the central element that attracts the eye and invites people to come to sit by it. In addition, the natural stone, brick, or other hard construction materials used in a fireplace make it the perfect place to use a contrasting, organic material such as wood in a custom mantel.
Natural wood has a richness and warmth that can’t be found in other materials. Used as a fireplace mantel, reclaimed wood that has been finished to highlight the natural grain and take center stage in the design can add the right amount of depth and warmth to the room as a whole. This is perfect for living rooms, family rooms, and other areas where you want to encourage people to gather and feel comfortable.
A reclaimed wood mantel is an ideal, versatile feature that can complement virtually any style and decor. Antique wood that still shows the saw marks and nail holes of its original use has an authentically rustic appearance that can blend easily with fieldstone, drystack stone surrounds, and other rustic designs. Reclaimed wood mantels began their lives in another place and time, and still show many of their original marks and signs of age, wear, weathering, and patina. The simplicity of the mantel adds interest and character by itself, or when accentuated with artwork and other decorative elements.
Reclaimed wood comes from numerous sources, such as old farmhouses and buildings, often more than a century old. The lumber can be from many species of wood, and may show marks from its growth, milling, and use, enabling the wood used for your mantel to take on a unique look and characteristics.
At Bingham Lumber, we specialize in reclaimed lumber and often receive truckloads of it, which we carefully separate, clean, and gently remill when necessary to improve its appearance and usability. Our top quality reclaimed mantel wood generally falls into one of three categories of original milling:
Live edge: This term refers to an edge of the wood that has not been cut by a saw blade; this leaves an irregularly shaped edge that is unique to each piece.
Hand hewn: This old style of processing used hand tools such as an adze and slick (a kind of large chisel) that, in the old days, were the only way to turn a round tree into a square beam.
Circular sawn: The circular saw blades used to process lumber back in the day left a unique texture to the wood that we often reproduce on our classic plank flooring because some customers love the textured, old-fashioned look it creates.
The fireplace is one of the most important design features in a room. To highlight yours, make the mantel the focal point with the attractive, dramatic, or soft natural look of reclaimed wood. For more design ideas and help selecting just the right wood and look, talk to our reclaimed wood experts here at Bingham Lumber.
