Given our natural attraction to fire, it's no surprise that a fireplace almost always acts as the focal point of the room it occupies.  Even when no fire is burning, mantels naturally draw attention.

Download Fireplace Mantle Project Plan

Originally used as convenient place to store cooking utensils and fire-tending tools, mantels today serve mainly decorative purposes, adding character to otherwise ubiquitos gas fireplaces.  They typically fall into two basic categories, surrounds and shelves, with endless design variations ranging from rustic solid timbers to elaborate combinatioons of custom moldings.