Like the staircase, a mantel is a prominent millwork element that may define the style of the house, if not its date. If yours is original and fits the house, wonderful! Be respectful in any upgrading.

Technology, fittings, and finery to warm the hearth, the room, and thee

Design ideas for an informal and beautiful vintage mantel.

From simple to dramatic, here's a look at holiday mantels by period and style.

They still make Victorian mantel scarves.

In search of a clever way to seal up fireplaces during warm weather, early homeowners came up with a delightful form of decoration that’s still with us today.

The fireplace, like the staircase, is a focal point and key element of style.

Four fireplace inserts that will give you comfort and efficiency without sacrificing the beauty of flame.

The fireplace is a sparkling focal point in historic homes.

Architect Benjamin Walbert designs beautiful mantels modeled after the past.

A scrapbook of fireplace surrounds from the Victorian and Arts & Crafts eras sparks ideas for today. Also, important steps to take before installation.

A look at the wide array of Arts & Crafts-era fireplaces.

Strip, ribbon, vented, or flueless: The new go-anywhere fireplaces aren’t necessarily traditional, but they’re ideal for retrofits.

A new breed of historic-minded fireplace inserts can help you get the home fires burning again, efficiently.

Adding a historically inspired mantel to your reproduction fireplace offers a period look for your home.

The stylistic history of mantels.

The pleasures of the hearth are both ancient and varied. Yet in colonial America, the fireplace was valued more for function than aesthetics—a fact reflected in its utilitarian appearance.