We have chosen to install a stone mantle in our Astoria43 display in Doreen that matches the kitchen bench. Many companies and owners don't bother to install mantles and the void above can in my opinion look a little unfinished. In this particular case we needed to install a mantle due to the fire place producing too much heat for the TV mounted above. With the external fire place I decided not to include a mantle because the tiles became the feature negating the need for a mantle. It's always a balancing act between too much or not enough.