Fireplace Surround and Mantle

We’ve shared some of our fireplace tools here as well as a variety of custom fire place screens we’ve created over the years. For this next project, we got to go a bit bigger in the world of fireplace accessories.

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Kyle and his crew created this custom fireplace surround and mantle in forged and fabricated steel with a rust patina finish. While rust is usually the enemy of steel, when applied and sealed correctly, a rust finish offers a beautiful warmth and richness. The mantle brackets support an oak mantle that coordinates with the other wood in the client’s home.

(By the way, if you like the mantle brackets, you can find a similar set in our Lucia Metal Studios Etsy shop.)

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Mosaic Inlay Furniture

The work we bring to shows or display in our studio gallery is of course for sale as original pieces. In addition, that work often serves to inspire custom projects from our clients. Here are a few more recent pieces of collaborative custom furniture influenced by our dining room table collaboration, as well as Kyle’s forged bench with cherry seat.

First up is a pair of small custom side tables with forged steel bases and mosaic inlay in tabletops provided by the client.

Next we have a coordinating bench and coat rack. For this set, the client sent photos of the entry area to serve as color and texture inspiration. The gold in these mosaics is drawn from a large gold tapestry hanging nearby in their home. The bench base and hooks are forged steel and the wood in both pieces is walnut.

Finally a set of three maple tables made by our good friend and frequent collaborator Christina Boy Design with custom mosaic inlay by Johannah. This set was created as part of our co-exhibit as guest artists of the month at Crozet Artisan Depot a few years ago. The tables are crafted in three different heights and sizes: end table, side table, and coffee table.

Dining Table Collaboration

We’ve said it before, combining our skills to create original collaborations is one of our favorite parts of the work we do. This custom dining table with benches was a special project we designed and built.

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The bases are, of course, forged steel. The tops are walnut, made by our friend, local woodworker Lee DiJospeh. A line of mosaic inlay in blue, green, and gold extends in a continuous curved arc across the tops of both benches and the table itself.

Kyle first created a maquette, or preliminary model, of the table leg to see how his ideas worked in the real world. He and his team then built the bases to all three pieces. The table base is designed with folded steel legs. A trestle of two mirrored arcs is tenoned into the legs. The bench bases are a simpler curved steel shape that compliments the curves in the table base.

Once Lee finished making the walnut top, he carved a line across the tops of all three pieces for the mosaic inlay. Johannah then created a line of mosaic that flows from dark to light blue, light green to dark, and back again, continuously across all three tops. The inlay waterfalls over the edges for a satisfyingly finished feel.

This custom dining set is available! If you’re interested in this unique and original handmade dining room table set, reach out for more information.