More than any other design of fireplace mantel, wood is by far the most time honored and endearing type of material to use.  From the dedicated craftsman to the more fashion-oriented contemporary home owner, wood fireplace mantels carry a special presence and look about them.  There are a variety of ways to utilize wood as your fireplace mantel designs calls for.

Some designs call for the wood to be a simple rectangular cut piece that spans the width of the fireplace itself.  Maybe this piece is made of a distinguished old gnarled and knotty piece from some old tree.  This would yield its very own character to the fireplace.  Other designs call for the wood to be finely crafted with carvings and then incorporated into the fireplace surround and hearth itself.  The timeless essence that wood creates will never go out of style, it just changes with the times.