Mantelpiece wall design question

[Joe Elsesser]

I'm making a full wall mantelpiece. The top portion will have solid oak framing with inset veneered panels. Not really knowing what is considered correct or incorrect, I was going to make a typical rail and stile type frame for the panels.

Last night I saw a program where they made a blanket chest and used full length rails with muntins. It looked good and made me wonder if I should do that. When I laid it out, I wasn't sold on it.

Is one method (...or an entirely different approach) considered more acceptable? I've attached a pdf of the mantelpiece so you can see what I'm talking about.

Thanks for any help.

Joe

Mantelpiece.jpg

[Josiah Bartlett]

Visually, I prefer B. A seems busy to my eye.

[Don Alexander]

B is a better look A is too busy with too many horizontal lines breaking into the flow

[Michael Mezalick]

It depends on the style you are looking for.
A is more Arts and Craft style ( Greene & Greene ) while B is more colonial

[Joe Elsesser]

Thanks everyone. After some research and input from the better half, B came out on top.

Now that the design is "complete", I'm getting pressure to get it done! Geez, took 6 months to get this far...

[Jamie Buxton]

You can buy turned half-columns from Matthew Burak (http://www.tablelegs.com/Columns.aspx), Osborne (www.osbornewood.com) or Adams (www.adamswoodproducts.com). Buying rather than buildiing might help relieve that time pressure.