Modern Fireplace Mantels

What Is a Modern Fireplace Mantel?

A modern fireplace mantel trades traditional carved profiles and heavy ornamentation for clean lines and minimal detailing. This collection spans several materials, from floating steel and concrete shelves to a full natural stone surround, all sharing the same restrained, architectural look.

Steel, Concrete, and Natural Stone: What This Collection Includes

This collection spans several materials, each suited to a different setup:

• Floating steel shelves offer a minimal, architectural profile in steel for indoor use or stainless steel for outdoor durability.
• GFRC concrete shelves (glass fiber reinforced concrete) bring a smooth, solid-color finish, non-combustible and available in multiple lengths.
• A slim, low-profile concrete shelf is built specifically for linear, minimalist fireplace walls.
• A full natural stone surround rounds out the collection, choose from a range of limestone and marble options in a honed or polished finish, for a more architectural statement than a floating shelf.

Floating Shelf or Full Surround

Most of the mantels in this collection are floating shelves, mounted above an existing fireplace opening. One piece is a full surround instead, wrapping around the firebox opening itself rather than sitting above it, so measure your opening and confirm required clearances before choosing between the two.

Doubles as a Heat Shield

The steel and concrete shelves in this collection are all non-combustible and can function as a heat-deflecting surface above a fireplace, which is why they're sometimes used to support a TV or decor mounted lower than typical clearance would otherwise allow. Always confirm your specific clearance requirements with your fireplace's manual and local code before mounting anything above it.

Installing a Modern Mantel

Installation depends on which piece you choose. The floating shelves install into wall studs or reinforced backing using included hardware, and ship made to order. The full stone surround is a heavier, freight-shipped piece that requires confirming wall support, fasteners, and anchoring methods for your specific wall construction, professional installation is worth planning for.

Explore Related Mantel Styles

Looking for something else? Browse our full range of mantel styles:

• Non-Combustible Mantels for more fire-safe material options
• Stone Fireplace Mantels for more natural and cast stone designs
• Outdoor Fireplace Mantels if you need the stainless steel outdoor variant
• Cascadia Hearth and Stone and Lexington Hearth to shop these collections by brand
• Shopping for a fireplace mantel in general? See our full Fireplace Mantels collection