The holiday season is upon us once again. Thanksgiving has just passed and, with the sighting of Santa Claus at the end of the Macy's parade in New York, the season of decoration is upon us, with all the electric lights and holly it can muster.

The exterior of a home is usually the focus of the decorating. Fathers across the globe risk life and limb to hang wreaths under second floor windows and encase gutters with multi-colored strands of lights. Every tree, bush, and rock is wrapped with lights. It has even gotten to the point of big business for people to be hired for these projects.

During this time, another area of the house is usually focused on as well: the fireplace. It must be an unconscious urge to make Santa's entry as beautiful as possible. Or it could just be the focus because it is winter time in the northeast, and the best place to curl up is on a couch by the fireplace.

This is why so many home-owners rush to redesign their fireplace mantels around this time. The idea is to make that little brick flue in your den or living room a part of your home’s design, and not an exception to it. ZCI Woodworks has designed many varieties of these fireplace mantels. Some mantels are simply a wood ledge, sometimes from reclaimed timbers to give the mantel that authentic, rustic appearance. Other designs are more expansive, with multiple cabinets and shelving encompassing the fireplace, and a space to center a television above the fireplace opening.

Whichever direction the design of your fireplace may go, keep in mind that it is a space for congregation and family, and should exude that warmth throughout the year.