Fireplace Accessories Advisor

Archive for the ‘Decor’ Category

One of the main mental associations triggered by fireplaces is the image of an idealized countryside of yore. The logs burning and crackling on the fire warm our heart and ignite our imagination. Soon, we feel transported to times long past, into an idyllic world where the old ways are still observed and people seek the warmth of the hearth as a refuge from weather and hardship alike.

It is no wonder, then, that rustic designs are by far the most popular among fireplace owners. With the availability of so many different accessories, it is quite easy to find something that is both beautiful and unique — or at least unlikely to resemble similar items in other homes. Fireplace screens are a perfect example of this charming diversity of rustic motifs.

Blending Usefulness and Beauty

Fireplace screens are not just a nice decorative element, they are also useful. Enchanting as it may be, the fire can lead to many problems if you leave it unattended without taking all the necessary precautions. Sparks can fly out of the firebox and damage the flooring around the fireplace; even embers can roll off their grate and fall on the floor, posing even greater danger. All these worries can be easily avoided through the implementation of a fireplace screen. Robustly built and capable of withstanding both heat and pressure, fireplace screens are a must-have for everyone who has a fireplace in their home.

Some might object that a screen blocks the view of the fire. However, screens are often made in such a way as to allow glimpses of the firebox. Moreover, since they have been a traditional accessory for a very long time now, the fireplace would even look strange without a beautifully crafted screen in front of it. Speaking of the way that fireplace screens are crafted, you can be sure to find something that appeals to your artistic taste. Depictions of traditional rural scenery, sometimes including floral and fauna motifs, adorn the fireplace screen, catalyzing the fairy-like atmosphere. You can select from materials such as cast or wrought iron, brass, steel or even glass.

New Perspectives

Traditional rustic patterns are often filtered through contemporary design concepts. The result is a unique blend of traditional and modern elements that will make your fireplace everyone’s favorite part of the home.

Fireplaces have always had an aura of warmth and comfort around them. In addition to heating the house, fireplaces also give people a feeling of coziness and safety. It is only natural that fireplace accessories should receive aesthetic attention as well, even though their primary role is, or at least was, a practical one.

Such is the case of fireplace rails, also called fireplace fenders. Initially used as a means of preventing children from getting too close to the fire and for guarding against other kinds of accidents, fireplace fenders now serve a decorative purpose as well.

While they still protect the area around the fireplace and prevent wood from rolling out on the floor, fireplace fenders are crafted in such a way as to enchant the eye. Ready-made or customized according to people’s preferences, fireplace fenders are often seen even in front of electric fireplaces, where they are no longer a necessity; nevertheless, fireplace fenders do add charm and elegance to the fireplace and the whole room. The materials vary a lot and include brass, aluminum, and wrought iron.

Lets have a look at some kinds of fireplace fenders available.

Edwardian Fenders

Also called club fenders, their name is linked with their initial use in men’s clubs. Placed at some distance in front of the fireplace, these fireplace fenders also had seats attached to them, enabling people to sit and enjoy the pleasant warmth coming from the fire. They are an instant attraction and add a touch of luxury and distinction to the room.

Victorian Fireplace Fenders

Smaller in size than the Edwardian ones, but nevertheless equally stylish and elegant, Victorian fenders are probably more popular than club railings today. They are usually made of some kind of metal and typically have a brass edge, but of course there are many different designs available.

Fenders for Gas Fireplaces

Solid fuel is not so frequently used anymore, since gas and electricity are much more convenient sources of heat. Screens are, however, just as popular. In the case of gas fireplaces, fireplace fenders are probably less popular than glass screens, the latter being airtight and preventing gas from escaping into the room. The vents will make sure that gas doesn’t accumulate inside the fireplace.

If you have a particular design in mind, you can order a fireplace fender to be made to your exact specifications. Whether you choose that or simply buy a ready-made one that matches the fireplace and the room furnishings, it will definitely contribute to the stylishness of your room’s interior design.

Combination is what its all about, some people might say. When you add features to an appliance, youre increasing its value. Whether that is true or not, we wont attempt to decide here. Instead, we’ll have a look at how we can make our fireplace experience more enjoyable by using it for cooking, in addition to heating.

There is no complicated transformation required — all it takes is a fireplace grill above the fire, and you can make your coffee or grill some food while relaxing in front of the fireplace. Fireplace grills can be added to electric and gas fireplaces as well, not only to those using solid fuel. Lets have a look at three types of fireplace grills that you can use.

Tuscan Fireplace Grills: Centuries of Tradition

Harking back to medieval Europe, this type of fireplace grill is actually an adjustable rack that will fit above fireplace grates of many different sizes. Tuscan fireplace grills are most commonly used for grilling vegetables and meat. This particular type of fireplace grill usually has three preset heights that you can choose from, depending on how strong the fire is. The material can be either stainless steel or wrought iron, the latter being more durable.

Clockwork Rotisseries

You can add an 18th century look to your home with the help of these rotating fireplace grills. Todays rotisseries are inspired by those originally used in shops selling fresh-roasted meat, with clocks that have to be wound regularly in order for the spit to keep rotating. You can add a drip pan under them, so that you won’t have to clean the fireplace grate after roasting meat.

Coleman Fireplace Grills

Not all grills need to be used inside a fireplace. On summer evenings, you can enjoy grilling some meat on your outdoor patio by using a Coleman grill. It is portable, so you can easily use it anywhere. It is actually more than a grill because it has a stove compartment for the fire. Weather- and heat-resistant, this type of fireplace grill typically has a long life span. The fireplace grate is large enough to be used for roasting meat of different sizes.

Fireplace grills are not meant as a replacement for your kitchen stove, of course, but they do provide sufficient functionality for an enjoyable cooking experience — something more than just sitting in front of the fire.

The best known use of fireplaces is probably that of heating the home and possibly cooking, if a grill is installed inside the firebox. Indeed, it seems that outdoor use does not immediately come to our mind when we think about fireplaces. There are, however, fireplaces specifically designed for outdoor use. Most of the time, these outdoor fireplaces are used for barbecues and other similar events that involve cooking, but the atmosphere they create is similar to that of an indoor fireplace. Lets have a quick look at the various models and the advantages outdoor patio fireplaces can bring.

Mobile Fireplaces

Many of the fireplaces available are portable — they are usually light enough to be moved from one place to another and often have wheels to make it easier for you to change their location. There are obvious advantages to this freedom of movement; if the fireplace is not too big, you can even take it with you when you go somewhere, so that you can enjoy a barbecue wherever you are.

Fixed Fireplaces

However attractive the option of a portable fireplace may be, some people prefer a solid construction that should inspire stability rather than mobility. Besides, a white stone fireplace can add charm to your garden, extending the feeling of snug safety beyond the perimeter of the house itself. Cast iron and bronze are other options as regards the material; building the fireplace from something other than stone makes it easier to relocate it if you ever feel the need for a decorative change.

Other Advantages

Whether portable or fixed, an outdoor patio fireplace gives the impression of good spatial organization. You can arrange a portion of the garden as a guest reception area or a place where you can relax with your family. The heat that your outdoor patio fireplace radiates will make it possible to enjoy barbecues even on cold autumn afternoons, shielded against the bad weather.

Maintenance is easier, especially in the case of portable outdoor patio fireplaces. You won’t have to worry about rust or other forms of degradation, since these fireplaces are usually made to withstand unfavorable natural conditions.

Present-day fireplaces are most often implemented with a different purpose in mind than the mere provision of warmth to a room. Their use is almost always a mainly decorative one, enhancing the look of the room and attracting attention to the objects placed around them. It is therefore obvious that choosing the most suitable accessories for your fireplace can have impressive effects on the overall aspect of your room. What to Look For

Fireplace screens are quite fashionable. Not only do they add beauty and elegance, but they are also useful for preventing different hazards associated with wood and gas fireplaces. Fireplace screens can be made of iron or glass, each of these with their own variations: you can get black or nickel plated iron screens or opt for brass as material, while the glass can be clear, smoked, or mirrored. Some fireplace screens have several movable panels, easing access to the fireplace itself.

Doors can also be added in front of the fireplace. Traditional tools such as coal buckets, tongs, and pokers can be placed near the fireplace for a more classic look. The modular construction of a fireplace allows you to choose any type of surrounds you like. The mantel can be made of stone, bricks, metal or wood, with carvings and engravings according to your taste. It can be bigger or smaller, harmonizing well with the rest of the house.

Fireplaces used to be part of the house structure from the very start, rather than being added to the construction later. Then, for a while, fireplaces seemed to fall into oblivion, as people turned to newer means of heating the home. It didn’t take long, however, before people started missing fireplaces, for the coziness they can bring in the home. If you like the idea of a hearth but your house doesn’t have a fireplace, you can still add it.

Building Pre-requisites

Some thought is necessary before starting to build a fireplace. First of all, you need to make sure that the structure of your house supports the addition of a hearth. Next, you need a good architectural plan to ensure that the fireplace will blend harmoniously with the surrounding construction. There are also formalities to go through in order to obtain the necessary permits from the building regulations authorities as well as the approval of other people whom the building of a fireplace might concern. Dont rush to think that since it’s your home, you’re the only one who has a say in the matter; eventually, you’ll want to burn some logs, which means there will be smoke rising from your chimney and some of the people in your neighborhood might not be happy with that.

The Concrete Aspects of Building

As in the case of any stone and brick construction, you’ll have to use many kinds of materials and tools. If the thought of calculating the amounts and proportion of concrete, bricks and stone seems daunting and you don’t want to worry about preparing the chisels, hammers, mortar mix and the rest, don’t forget that there are people who build fireplaces for a living. Even if you do plan to embark on this adventure on your own, it is still a good idea to consult a professional before you start the building of a fireplace. If your house is old, your job might get easier, as there might be traces of an old fireplace, such as a chimney or even a whole fireplace that has been closed into the wall. A building professional can give you quite helpful advice on how you can use these existing structures.

Fireplace Upgrading

If you already have an old fireplace in your home, you might want to upgrade it so as to make it work again, but using gas or electricity instead of fire. Professional constructors and designers can be of great assistance in modernizing your fireplace while preserving the quaint charm it adds to your home.

Screens are among the best known and most often mentioned accessories for fireplaces. While they do have a practical use — that of protecting the floor against sparks or embers flying out of the firebox — screens always come in such lovely designs that their presence graces the interior dcor of the room.

Fireplace screens are painted in a variety of colors. You might feel that satin black is the best chromatic choice for your living room, or you might go for something livelier, such as flowers painted on a light background. There is usually a mesh in front of the fireplace screen, for protective reasons.

Some fireplace screens have a single panel, others have several panels that can be folded. Fireplace screens are often part of a larger set that includes other accessories as well; tools such as a poker, tongs, a shovel, a brush or even a 31-inch stand can be included in the same package.

An Enhancement of Style

Some people — usually those who have never tried a fireplace screen — feel that a fireplace screen limits the view of the firebox. Since the fire itself is one of the main attractions of the fireplace, they say that a fireplace screen takes away half of the charm. This is not at all true, however. Apart from being a necessary protection for the area around the fireplace, the fireplace screen complements the fireplace design and blends with it to form a harmonious whole. Brass floral and fauna decorations often adorn the screen. All in all, the fireplace screen only adds to the beauty of the fireplace.

Glass Fireplace Screens

For those who want a better view of the fire, stained glass could be an option. Stained glass is heat-resistant and can be made up of several panels. The glass fireplace screen is built in a way that allows the hot air from the firebox to be dispersed into the room, while providing thermal insulation for the room when the fireplace is not in operation. Gold finishes and other ornaments are available, lending a luxurious note to the whole room.

Interior designers are constantly coming up with new ideas that will confer a contemporary look to people’s homes. Naturally, new trends apply to fireplaces as well. New shapes and materials can make fireplaces look very modern, even futuristic. Nevertheless, traditional models havent faded out; in fact, theyre as strong as ever.

Most people who opt for installing a fireplace in their home do it with the purpose of creating a classic or antique atmosphere, harking back to the olden days, or at least to the pastoral and picturesque images awakened in our imagination by the mention of those times. Among the accessories that add to the classic elegance of your fireplace, candelabras are a key item.

What Candelabras Can Do

Basically, candelabras are branched candlesticks or electric lamps resembling these. The former category constitutes our focus here. The candles in the fireplace can make the whole room come alive and enable us to enjoy the flickering beauty of the fireplace even at times when the temperature in the room does not justify lighting up a fire.

Preserving all the visual effects of fire while giving out only negligible heat, a candelabra can create a cozy and mysterious atmosphere in the room. Add to that possible aromas that can be released by the burning candles and the color effects they create, and it will be obvious how much a candelabra can contribute to the dcor. As you might expect, fireplace candelabras come in many different shapes and materials, so you wont have an easy job choosing.

Candelabra Features

Candelabras are normally made of iron — cast or wrought — or some other metal, but there are also models from such materials as wood and graphite. There is no need to talk about the range of colors available; you will definitely find a color that goes well with your fireplace and the room around it.

Complex patterns can adorn the fireplace candelabra, giving it an antique look, while other candlesticks have a very sleek modern aspect. The frame of the fireplace candelabra is sometimes adjustable, making it possible to install it in different fireplaces, regardless of size.