Kitchen Floating Shelves
Solid wood shelves sized for dishes and daily use.
Plan open kitchen shelvingFloating Shelves Beside Fireplace Walls
Floating shelves beside the fireplace turn empty alcoves into a finished feature wall. Chava Grain & Beam by Chava Home Design builds them in solid wood in its Indian Trail shop, in the same species and stain as your mantel and beams, and install them level and symmetrical on both sides.
One wood, one stain, one design across the whole fireplace wall.
- Built in pairsmatched heights and thickness
- 5-year warrantyon materials and labor
- About 2 weeksfrom production to install
Measure Your Fireplace Wall for Free
We call or text to book a visit and measure both alcoves.
Why Shelves Beside the Fireplace Work So Well
The alcoves beside a fireplace are natural frames: shelves there balance the chimney, add storage and finish the wall without covering the fireplace itself.
Most living rooms are built around the fireplace, but the walls beside it are often left empty or filled with mismatched furniture. Shelves built into that space make the whole wall one composition, and they are one of our solid wood floating shelves services.
Alcoves and Side Walls
An alcove is the recess between a projecting chimney and the side wall. If your fireplace is flush with the wall, the shelves can sit on the wall on each side instead.
Made to Match the Mantel
Shelves and the mantel work best in the same species and stain. If you are keeping your mantel, we match it; if not, we build both together.
Symmetry Without Identical Walls
Alcoves are rarely the same width. We build each side to its own space while keeping every shelf the same height and thickness, so the wall reads as symmetrical.
When Fireplace Shelves Are the Right Choice
Add shelves beside the fireplace when the wall feels unfinished, when you need display space, or when a new mantel deserves a frame.
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Empty Alcoves
Two blank recesses beside a chimney leave the main wall of the room unfinished.
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A TV Over the Fireplace
Shelves on each side balance a large dark screen in the middle.
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A New Mantel Going In
Shelves built at the same time match the mantel perfectly.
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Family Photos and Books
A place for the things you want on display, not in a drawer.
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Built-Ins Feel Too Heavy
Floating shelves give storage without full cabinets and doors.
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Beams Overhead
Shelves in the beam wood connect the ceiling to the fireplace wall.
How We Plan and Build Fireplace Shelves
Five steps with one team, and about two weeks from material production to shelves on both sides of your fireplace.
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1. Measure Both Sides
We measure each alcove or side wall, the mantel height and the distance to the opening.
At your free visit
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2. Sketch the Layout
We plan the shelf count and heights so both sides line up with the mantel and each other.
During the same visit
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3. Match the Mantel
We match your existing mantel's wood and stain, or choose both together.
During the same visit
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4. Build in Pairs
Both sides are built and finished together in our shop for identical color.
Production to install: about 2 weeks
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5. Install Level on Both Sides
We mount every shelf, check level and height across the wall and clean up.
Install day
What's Included With Your Fireplace Shelves
Your quote covers the measurement, layout, shop build, finish and installation, with a 5-year warranty on materials and labor.
Included
- Free visit and measurement of both sides
- Layout sketched around your mantel
- Wood and stain matched to your mantel
- Written quote
- Shelves built and finished in pairs
- Hidden support built in
- Installation, level on both sides
- Protection and cleanup
5-year warranty on materials and labor
Not Included
- Electrical work for lighting
- Chimney or masonry repairs
Electrical and masonry work belong with their own trades. We plan the shelves around them.
What Changes the Cost of Fireplace Floating Shelves
The price depends on the wood, how many shelves and how long they are, the wall they mount to and the finish.
| Factor | How it changes the price | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wood species | Premium species cost more | Walnut to match a walnut mantel versus pine |
| Number of shelves | Both sides double the count | Three shelves per side versus five |
| Width and depth | Wider alcoves and deeper shelves use more wood | A 48-inch alcove versus a 30-inch alcove |
| Wall type | Stone and brick take more mounting work | Stone chimney sides versus drywall |
| Finish | Matching an existing mantel takes sample work | A stain matched to a mantel already in place |
You get a written quote after the free visit. Measure your fireplace wall for free.
Layout Rules for Shelves Beside a Fireplace
A fireplace wall looks right when the two sides mirror each other, line up with the mantel and leave the fireplace as the center of attention.
Five Rules We Design By
| Rule | Why it matters | How we apply it |
|---|---|---|
| Same count on both sides | Uneven sides make the wall look lopsided | Equal shelves per side, even if the alcoves differ in width |
| Same heights on both sides | The eye compares the two sides directly | Shelf heights measured from one level line across the wall |
| Relate to the mantel | The mantel is the strongest line on the wall | One shelf aligned with the mantel shelf, or a group centered on it |
| Even spacing | Random gaps look accidental | Equal gaps, with the lowest shelf above any furniture or base cabinet |
| Leave breathing room at the top | Shelves to the ceiling compete with the chimney | The top shelf stops below the ceiling or any beams |
Measure Before Your Visit
Each Alcove
- Width at the back wall
- Depth from the chimney face
- Height to the ceiling
The Fireplace
- Height of the mantel shelf
- Width of the chimney
- Distance from opening to alcove
The Room
- TV size and height
- Furniture below the shelves
- Beams or crown overhead
Pulling the whole room together? Read matching beams, mantel and shelves, and if a TV is involved, planning around a TV.
Why Homeowners Choose Our Fireplace Shelves
We build the shelves, the mantel and the beams in one shop, so matching them is part of the process, not a gamble.
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Built and Finished in Pairs
Both sides come from the same boards and the same stain batch.
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Matched to Your Mantel
Same wood and stain as the mantel, existing or new.
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Each Alcove Fit Separately
Uneven alcoves still get shelves that fit edge to edge.
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Planned as One Wall
Shelf heights, mantel and TV laid out together before we build.
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Solid Wood
Real wood on every face, never a hollow shell.
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5-Year Warranty
Fully insured, with a 5-year warranty on materials and labor.
What Clients Say About Their Fireplace Shelves
[PREENCHER: one sentence summarizing real client feedback on fireplace floating shelves]
[PREENCHER: real testimonial about fireplace floating shelves]
[PREENCHER: first name, last initial][PREENCHER: area] · Fireplace floating shelves
[PREENCHER: real testimonial about fireplace floating shelves]
[PREENCHER: first name, last initial][PREENCHER: area] · Fireplace floating shelves
[PREENCHER: real testimonial about fireplace floating shelves]
[PREENCHER: first name, last initial][PREENCHER: area] · Fireplace floating shelves
Fireplace Shelf Questions, Answered
Straight answers to what homeowners ask us about shelves beside the fireplace.
Can you build floating shelves beside my fireplace?
Yes. We build solid wood floating shelves for the alcoves or side walls on each side of a fireplace, sized to the space and matched to your mantel.
Can the shelves match my mantel exactly?
Yes. We build shelves and mantel from the same wood and stain so they read as one design.
How many shelves should go in each alcove?
It depends on the alcove height and what you want to display. Most walls look balanced with three to five shelves per side, spaced evenly, with the same count on both sides.
Should the shelves line up with the mantel?
Often, yes. Aligning one shelf with the mantel shelf, or centering the shelf group on it, makes the wall look planned. We sketch the options with you.
Are shelves near a fireplace safe?
Shelves in the alcoves usually sit well outside the clearance zone around the opening. We check the distance for your fireplace type before we plan them.
Can you add lighting to fireplace shelves?
Tell us if you want lit shelves when you book, so we can plan the wood and the wiring path with your electrician.
What if my alcoves are different widths?
That is common in older and remodeled homes. We measure each alcove and build each set of shelves to fit, while keeping heights and thickness identical so the wall still looks symmetrical.
How long does a fireplace shelf project take?
About two weeks from material production to installation.
Related Services
Fireplace shelves pair with a matching mantel, or with a full surround, and the same wood can run into the kitchen.
Mantel Surrounds
Legs, header and shelf that frame the fireplace between your shelves.
Consider a full mantel surroundMeasure Your Fireplace Wall for Free
Tell us about your fireplace wall anywhere in the Charlotte area. We will call or text to book a visit, measure both sides, sketch the layout and match your mantel.
- Free measurement of both sides
- Installed about two weeks from production
- 5-year warranty on materials and labor