The Country Cottage Natural Oak Fireplace Beam

Our Country Cottage style beams feature carefully handcrafted rounded edges which introduce an elegant touch to traditional and contemporary styled rooms alike. Our Country Cottage style is defined by its natural, authentic charm. The oak displays its deciduous origins with unique grain patterns, splits and knots. Each beam is carefully selected from a collection of wood sourced from FSC certified forests ensuring that it is sustainable as well as beautiful! When you purchase a Country Cottage style beam you will be getting a one-of-a-kind, solid oak mantel. Known for its stylistic as well as practical characteristics, natural oak adds a rustic feel to the cottage style. Have your Country Cottage style beam hang charmingly above your log burner or fireplace, ensuring that your room is not only literally but aesthetically warm too! We know how essential it is to add depth of character to properties, which is why we have our Country Cottage style beams in a variety colours to suit your preferences. Our beams are available in dark, natural, warm or white. Please be mindful that due to the nature of picking a unique beam, each mantle will be original and display its own beauty as well as features of age individually. Allow for some further cracking as this beam becomes
accustomed to its new home.

Natural oak looks wonderful all year round, but if you’re wondering how to style your new Country Cottage style beams with complimentary pieces then consider:

Dark oak- perhaps you’ve chosen dark oak to tie together a coherent look with more
traditional looking furniture within your home. If you’re creating a cosy atmosphere then
consider cherry, mahogany and maple woods to compliment your dark oak fireplace beam.

Natural Oak- natural oak has warm undertones, from subtle reddish hues to deeper
yellow. If you want to create uniformity within the space then consider matching
natural oak with furniture pieces made from similar materials.

Warm Oak- if you want to further enhance the yellowish hues within warm oak, consider
honey oak as a matching wood.

White Oak- blonde-maple furniture pairs well with White Oak as it brings out the natural
yellow tones within the wood.

At Cottage Beams, we prioritise sustainability by sourcing oak from responsibly managed forests certified by PEFC.
We are proud to collaborate with two tree planting partnerships, one being the Goosemoor Nature Reserve and the other is called One Tree Planted.

Oak Characteristics

The oak we use, which is either naturally air-dried or kiln dried, possess certain inherent traits. These are the result of the oak's reaction to environmental shifts and forces over time. These traits lend a distinct appearance to the oak and infuse a sense of "character" to every item we manufacture. As a result, each beam or shelf possesses its own unique set of traits and there will be variation between individual pieces. The following are the traits that are naturally found in our products:

Cracks (Checks)
Checks, or cracks that form in the wood, are typically the result of tension stress. These are less common in our kiln dried products and smaller cracks may have been filled.

Knots
Knots, often distinguished by a darker centre and a resin outline, stand out from the grain. They add unique character to the wood and lend authenticity to the timber boards as no two knots are identical.

Medullary Rays
These markings, known as "medullary rays", are a natural feature that enhances the rich character and beauty of all our oak products.


HANDCRAFTED AND UNIQUE

It's crucial to understand that since each of our products is handcrafted, there will be variations between each piece. Each beam or shelf will have its own unique grain pattern, cracks, knots, and splits that add to its natural traits. Please expect some further movement if placed above a heat source.

ITEM DIMENSIONS


Beam sizes might vary slightly due to the machining and sanding process. Please allow for a 1.5cm variance. These minor differences are not considered defects.

Weight Guidelines

We recommend that each concealed rod fixing for solid walls can hold approximately 15kg; however this will depend on the depth of the shelf purchase and the integrity of the wall which it is installed on. We may use 12mm round bar for any beam over 14cm in depth and 200cm in length

Plasterboard fixings can be installed onto standard12mm to 16mm plasterboard

PRODUCT COLOURS AND FINISHES

We offer a variety of colours however our most common colours are Natural, Warm, White and Dark. Please note colours may have slight differences from one piece to another. Although we try our best to match all colours and finishes, these variations are normal and not considered manufacturing defects.