A home's fireplace is a hot spot. A natural focal point of any room, a fireplace is a space around which families can chill out, especially during the holidays.

"A roaring fire in a room draws people together," says Chris Muller, senior "fire buyer" of the Omaha, Nebraska-based Hayneedle Inc., an online home store started in 2002. "Instead of having just a hole-in-the-wall for a fireplace, a mantel hung above it completes the picture."

A mantel is most easily described as the shelf above a fireplace. Muller says there are two types of mantels: a free-hanging shelf and a surround, in which the mantelpiece is attached to vertical pieces that frame the firebox.

"With a design movement toward the more contemporary and clean lines, mantel shelves -- without the surrounds -- are most popular," Muller says. "Mantel surrounds require more measurements and tend to be in traditionally decorated homes, which is not the most popular design trend right now."

If you find your existing fireplace design has fizzled out, the easiest way to reignite it as a focal point is to add or replace the mantel. Whether you're renovating an existing space or contemplating creating a new fireplace, it's never been easier to pass the mantle on hot design.

A zero-clearance fireplace -- made of metal with a masonry lining -- is a self-contained fireplace, which allows homeowners to have a gas-burning fireplace that can be directly vented through an outside wall. This option eliminates the need for a chimney and flue, as it is vented through a horizontal pipe that exits an outside wall.

"To install a fireplace in a home isn't the major construction project it once was," Muller says. "Also, if people are painting an existing red-bricked fireplace white, it's time to update the mantel shelf."

The mantel should complement a home's design and style -- so don't place a multi-tiered traditional mantel into a home with a modern, minimalistic vibe.

While mantels can be made of metal and stone, the most popular material is wood. "People are wanting a simple shelf that looks like a rustic piece of pine or barnwood," Muller says. "A simple wooden mantel is the style that can be at home in a contemporary space or farmhouse, alike."

After determining the style of mantel, it's important to select the proper size for the mantel, based on the dimensions of the firebox itself and the hearth room.

Mantels are typically a standard 60 to 72 inches wide. The height of the shelf can vary from 5 to 10 inches tall.

"Rooms with large fireplaces and vaulted ceilings can accommodate a bigger mantel," Muller says. "The mantel is the focal point of the fireplace, and it's important to get the proportions right, without being too under- or overwhelming."

Muller suggests making paper templates of mantel shapes, taping them above the fireplace and stepping back to assess different choices before buying.

To install a mantel shelf requires securing a notched hanging board into the studs or masonry above the firebox. After the hanging board is installed, the mantelpiece then snugly fits onto the secured, customized board. If installing a surround-style mantel, the vertical pieces attach to the hung shelf on either side of the firebox and are secured at the bottom.

Some mantels hold secrets and conceal more space than meets the eye. Pearl Mantels' Abingdon fireplace mantel shelf contains a secret drawer in which a homeowner can stash candles, fire-starters or the television remote.

"Often, people hang their flat-screen television above the mantelpiece, but the decoration of the mantel can be year-round," Muller says. "Even though the fireplace isn't in use in July, you can still display a patriotic theme on the mantel. In the winter, the mantel can be covered in pine boughs and is used as a place from which the stockings are hung."

As families and friends gather around the hearth and home, a warm mood is created with a mantel that matches your house's design aesthetic.

"Starting around $200, a new mantel shelf is a way to give your fireplace a facelift," Muller says. "Add personal touches to the mantel decor, such as photos, candles and small family heirlooms and your fireplace will be glowing, with or without a fire."

Hot Spot

For more mantel ideas, go to Hayneedle.com or visit YouTube and search "Hayneedle Decorate Mantel."

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

More homeowners are claiming the home court advantage. For some, getting court time for a soccer match or pickup basketball game is as easy as stepping into the backyard or basement.

Americans have had a love-love affair playing tennis and other outdoor sports at home since the early 20th century, but today's residential courts aren't just a numbers game for the wealthy, says Anthony Cordova, regional Salt Lake City sales director of Sport Court International, a company founded in 1974 that installs modular multigame surfaces with about 300 certified contractors worldwide. "The evolution of our market closely follows that of families who have backyard pools," he says. "It used to be a status symbol of the wealthy, but our Sport Court growth is spreading to more modest neighborhoods, too."

Friendly competition aside, a homeowner has to plan ahead if the name of the game is family fun on a backyard or indoor court. Before bringing your A-game to home turf, Cordova says have a game plan.

"The minimum space requirement is 900 square feet, for a 30-by-30-foot court," he says. "Indoor courts are new construction, because they ideally require a 30-foot ceiling." The most common court space is one that is at least 30 feet wide by 60 feet long, according to Cordova.

It's easier than ever for family and friends to play in the zone with a multigame court, as long as long as homeowners have secured the proper permits before construction begins. "Before assembling your dream team, you need to apply for local building permits, which often means disclosing to neighbors your plans for an outdoor court, or construction can become a nightmare," Cordova says. "Landscaping, fencing, netting and lighting add to the aesthetics of a court and are often part of the construction plan."

While prices differ from region to region, Cordova says expect to pay at least $8,000 for a small 30-by-30-foot court, with costs that can exceed $100,000 as courts become larger with more sporty extras.

While homeowners don't need regulation-size courts to enjoy backyard sports, it's imperative the site be smooth and graded away from a home's foundation to drain properly, so rain doesn't pool on the court surface or run into the basement.

"After the size of the outdoor court is determined and graded properly, the site is prepared by pouring a concrete pad, on which we build the court," Cordova says. "For optimal play, you want a stable subsurface."

At the same time concrete is being poured for the court pad, Cordova says homeowners may also pour on creativity with hardscaping that may include lights, fencing and seating courtside. Indoor, below-grade courts need to have a vapor barrier installed before the court flooring goes down.

As for court surfaces, forget the indoor-outdoor carpet image. For the look of a grassy Wimbledon court or a putting green without the upkeep, synthetic turf is a less labor-intensive alternative. Today's fake turf is made of knitted nylon with tufted fibers colored to look and play more like the real deal. Indoor court flooring can also be made of wood, but is more expensive in terms of upkeep and maintenance.

Today, the residential court market is dominated by a surface made of high-impact interlocking polypropylene flooring tiles with an open grid design to provide cushion for athletes. Because of the court's design, there are no cracks in the playing surface, so an athlete doesn't have to worry about balls bouncing unevenly.

The popular multisport game court accommodates different net systems, adjustable basketball hoops, and multi-colored basketball, volleyball and tennis lines printed onto tiles that are durable and fade-resistant. Other residential court companies -- like Flex Court and VersaCourt -- have their own proprietary synthetic tile systems.

Cordova estimates at least 20 game options can be played on the multisport court, which can also include badminton, paddle tennis, pickleball, roller hockey, lacrosse and shuffleboard. "Little kids also have a nice, flat surface on which to ride their bikes and scooters," he says. "Falling down on a Sport Court surface is better than taking a tumble on concrete or asphalt -- for both athletes and little ones."

A Sport Court surface comes with a 15-year warranty, according to Cordova, and only requires keeping the surface cleared of tree debris, through the use of a leaf blower or broom. "If a tile should happen to become gouged, the beauty of this modular system is that it can be removed and replaced," he says. "Some homeowners in northern climates create a rink and flood it during winter for ice hockey and skating."

Friendly and familial competition on the court can also be fun for spectators. A home court can serve as a congregating place for those who "got game," and if you build it, folks will come, says Cordova.

"It can be said, the family that plays together, stays together, and good-natured sporting competitions are a way to build closer relationships," he says. "Even though the court surface on which people play games at home has evolved, it's still about creating a field of dreams."


The Home Team

For more information, go to SportCourt.com. For a local dealer, fill in zip code in the "Contact Us" prompt.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)

Investing in short-term rental properties is proving profitable for some homeowners' long-term financial goals.

Websites like Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO make it easier than ever to market short-term rental properties to travelers seeking a home-away-from-home, says Fred Miller, president of Consumer Specialists and a consultant for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, based outside Memphis, Tennessee.

"After the housing market bubble burst in 2008, some people saw an investment opportunity to buy desirable properties at a great price," Miller says. "Now, people have the option to rent their guesthouse, spare bedroom or entire home on a short-term basis for more money per night than if they were landlords of a property with a traditional long-term lease agreement."

Miller says the No. 1 rule of real estate -- location, location, location -- also applies to purchasing a property for short-term leasing. Also, before acquiring investment rental property, know local regulations regarding short-term leasing, as cities -- New York, New Orleans, San Francisco and others -- are embroiled in ongoing housing controversies.

While some urban areas may be scrambling to regulate short-term rental properties, Ryanne Hodson of Luray, Virgina, says her community welcomes the influx of visitors. Hodson and her partner of 12 years, Jay Dedman, bought a 1,300 square-foot, 1850-era farmhouse in 2011, which is a vacation destination located two hours from Washington, D.C., nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is a gateway to Shenandoah National Park.

In 2009, Hodson and Dedman moved from San Francisco to Luray after buying a home that was in foreclosure and began to renovate it.

"After we finished work renovating our home in Luray, we found the farmhouse property on two acres and knew it was special," Hodson says. "We bought it with the intention of renovating it and using it exclusively as a short-term rental property."

Miller says when considering buying real estate as a rental property, a homeowner should invest in a structure based on its livability, not just its affordability. "After ensuring the property is in a good location for short-term rentals, make sure the house has good bones," he says. "If a property appeals to you as a homeowner -- in that you could live there -- chances are, it will also appeal to renters, as well."

With three bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths and a small cottage, the Luray farmhouse was a total renovation that took about three years to complete, Hodson says. "We wanted to really know the house, and took the time to renovate it room-by-room," she says. "We needed to change the space, without changing its charm."

Years of neglect and so-called "improvements" by previous owners -- plastered brick walls and covered old-growth pine wood flooring -- had to be stripped away to reveal the farmhouse's inner beauty. "I can paint, clean up garbage and lay tile, but when it comes to plumbing, electricity or taking down a wall -- like we did between the kitchen and dining room -- you better have trusted contractors," Hodson says. "Jay and I were the general contractors on the farmhouse, working hand-in-glove with professionals to keep the old-world appeal, while bringing in modern conveniences."

If a home's walls could talk, they would reveal the secret inner workings of a house, Miller says. "It's not only imperative for a home to look good, it also has to work well," he says. "Nothing can kill your stay in a home quicker than an overflowing toilet or a heating/cooling system that doesn't work."

When it comes to walled-in systems, there are four different contractors who install the labyrinth of wires, pipes and ductwork: heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals; plumbers; electricians; and specialty electrical contractors, who install refined systems such as Wi-Fi and security. Generally, as the pipe or wire becomes smaller, those are the professionals who do their work later in the construction process.

Hodson and Dedman spent an estimated $80,000 on the farmhouse renovations. If the budget is tight, Miller says to spend money wisely in a home, so you get "more bang for the buck."

Create curb appeal

Drive up a home's street appeal by focusing on the front entry. The first impression of a house can start at the driveway and sidewalk as visitors make their way to the front door.

The Luray farmhouse has an inviting wraparound porch that leads to pavers in the yard, which are flanked by gardens. "To create a special place outside, we also had an outdoor masonry fire pit built," Hodson says. "This extends the living space of the home out into the yard."

A first-impression foyer

The foyer of a home is a nonverbal welcome to houseguests and should make a statement about what lies inside. "We love when our renters say, 'Wow!' when they first walk into the home," Hodson says. "We spent a lot of time renovating the kitchen–dining area, which is what you see when you enter the house, with the hope that people will feel at home cooking and eating together."

Bedroom-bathroom benefits

Miller says the creature comforts of a clean bedroom and bathroom can never be underestimated when it comes to short-term rentals. To brighten and lighten the full bath of the Luray farmhouse, Hodson and Dedman installed a window, which meant cutting into three layers of brickwork on the outer wall.

Removing a wall to an adjacent room created a sitting area and opened up the master suite.

"I have an art background, and furnishing this home was like curating a practical, livable exhibition," Hodson says. "Details such as the farmhouse table with an antique wool rug underneath and making sure there's enough olive oil in the kitchen for cooking make the stay in our house feel like a home to the visitors."

Short turnaround can be a long-term investment

Miller says owning and renting property can still be a wise investment, as long as you've done your homework and know the local market. Hodson and Dedman are in the process of renovating a second home for another short-term rental property in Luray. "We're deciding what to do to a 1973 A-frame home we bought earlier this year, and if building an addition is a good financial move," Hodson says. "At the end of the day, we own the property, and any improvements we make must make dollars and sense."

On the Short List:

National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), NARI.org. To find a professional contractor in your area, click "Consumer," then drop down to "Find a Pro."

To listen to Ryanne Hodson and Jay Dedman's podcast on the adventures of owning properties for short-term rentals, go to: ShampooandBooze.com, so named, because renters are most likely to leave these items after their stay. To view the renovated 1850s Luray farmhouse, go to: LurayModern.com.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com.)