Since I believe that the fireplace should be the focal point of a room I have for the last twenty years taken the forgotten and forlorn fireplaces of Minnesota into my focus and revitalized them with a vibrant new look using all the principles of good design; proportion, scale, contrast, wood choice, integrated styling, and workable flanking bookcases when needed. A mantel is more than some commodity pulled out of a box, it has to work with the size of the fireplace, surround material, fire codes,
and a deep enough top to put all your prized artifacts, Van Goghs and pictures of loved ones.