Scubadoc

Hey Karl,
Hope you had a great weekend - we had snow.and wind,
and cold cold cold.while stuck inside tho I did play with your fireplace a bit.
Today I went back and numbered pics so we can discuss -

1. I put the logs on the hearth, kept the existing mantle, ran a detail board with a landscape relief scene with a deer below the mantle, and put carved corner blocks on a wildside frame above.

However I was not happy with the sharp contrast of the level lines of the frame in relation to the roof line above.

so went to.....

2. Put the logs next to the hearth, (leaving the most rock work exposed) ended them level with the top of the existing mantle, and put a longer shelf board on to cover. Then I ran a carved limb with a leafy branch detail underneath, and used an oval mirror with a matching carving for an irregular shape frame.

3. is a blend of 1 and 2, keeping the existing mantle, setting the 1/2 logs on the hearth, to end underneath the mantle. A single carved branch below the mantle matching the carved arched frame above - leaving more of the mirror open directly above the mantle.

4.keeping the existing mantle, running 1/2 logs up the sides with more of a carved tree detail look - a single branch below the mantle with the rock as background and the trees branching out above to frame the mirror.

4a. I set an additional tree in the corner to allow for a bonfire type wood stack look convenient to the fireplace.

4b. I added shelves between the trees and put the TV back in the corner. Then added an additional tree on the right with a matching set of shelves. Suddenly there is something equal in size and stature to the bears. This carved forest could have all the same or different trees

(we have done an all hemlock forest for another customer)

5. reigning things back in.. I set the 1/2 logs off the hearth, and ran them all the way up to the ceiling, kept the existing mantle, used an oval mirror and carved everything around it to the logs, then used a carved arch detail below to compliment the shape of the mirror.

5a. traded out the carving for a wildside board and centerpiece relief carving highlighting key details in the carving above.