5 Fabulous Fireplace Mantel Ideas from Artist, Matt Tommey

Fireplace mantel sculpture
Ok, so when you're creating your home or cabin fireplace decor or mantel decor, you want something that's unique, strikingly beautiful and easy to maintain.  That's where sculptural art baskets come in.  You see, the mantel and fireplace hearth are the perfect place to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside while giving you that high-end rustic elegance we all want in our homes. Here's 5 great ideas when thinking about designing a beautiful fireplace mantle.

  1. Stones: Gather some river rocks from a local stream or around the lake house. Take a brush and clean them off. Once they are dry, then spray them with a clear, satin finish poly spray ($7 at Lowes or Home Depot).  Stack the stones on the mantle in groupings of 3, 5 or 7.  If they will stack all on top of one another, even better.  Add a couple of branches for some more interest. Make sure your mantle can hold the weight!! Then add a couple of my sculptural baskets to the mix and enjoy!
  2. Twigs and Branches in Baskets: I love a little bit (or actually a lot) of flair when it comes to the fireplace mantel.  Usually they are pretty monochromatic, so uniquely shaped branches and twigs are a great way to add interest.  Simply take one of your favorite sculptural art baskets from Matt Tommey (or even an inexpensive bark bucket) and fill it with seasonal branches.  Stunning, especially if you already have some high-end rustic furniture or twig furniture in the home!
  3. Collections: One of the beautiful things about my sculptural art baskets is that they look best when displayed in small collections in a beautiful mountain house or rustic second home. 3-5 baskets nestled together on a mantle or fireplace hearth brings to mind simpler times walking in the woods or staring at a bubbling brook.  Need help choosing a collection?  Contact me through this website and I'll guide you through the process.  I regularly ship all over the country!
  4. Baskets and Pottery:  Over the years, many of our clients have paired sculptural art baskets with handmade pottery to build beautiful focal points on their fireplace or mantle.  Use a favorite local potter or ask us here online!  I have lots of incredible potters whose work is excellent and also looks great with my baskets.
  5. Nested Baskets:  There is absolutely nothing more striking on a fireplace mantel than a custom-made collection of nested baskets in mountain laurel branches.  They simply become the crowning jewel in a beautifully designed log cabin or mountain home. It's organic, high-end and brings the space to life.  To be sure, each one is always a one-of-a-kind and will be the envy of the neighborhood!

Find out more about how you can have your very own, personalized fireplace mantel sculpture by basketry artist Matt Tommey.
2 Baskets With Branches As Fireplace Mantel Art
Fireplace Mantel Sculptural Collection of Baskets
3 Woven Baskets With A Curved Branch As Fireaplce Mantel Art
Sculptural Fireplace Mantel Arrangement.
Baskets And Branches As Fireplace Mantel Art
Sculptural Fireplace Mantel installation in a new home located in the Western North Carolina area.
8 Baskets And A Large Branch As Fireplace Mantel Art
Sculptural basket installation on stone fireplace mantel.
13 Wovens Baskets With Large Branches In Between Them As Fireplace Mantel Art
Sculptural fireplace mantel installation featuring baskets and mountain laurel.
3 Baskets With Candlelit Branches Behind Them As Fireplace Mantel Art
Sculptural Fireplace Mantel lit and accented with river rocks and nest.