Choosing a fireplace mantel can be overwhelming if you have no set ideas on what you want as there is such a range of types, materials and styles available for the home owner. A beautiful mantel that matches your selected theme is probably the most essential fireplace accessory you can buy as it will always contribute towards the overall look and charisma of your fireplace; so if your intend for your fireplace to be the centerpiece of a room it is important to get it right first time.
Your final choice will depend on several factors including how much time and money you want to invest in adding a fireplace mantel to your room. Of course if you have plenty of cash to splash a custom designed fireplace mantel is always going to be the best option especially if you want a fireplace mantel specifically to enhance the look of the décor in your room.
There are plenty of willing consultants and designers who can work with you when designing a custom fireplace mantel. However, before calling someone in to help you design the fireplace mantel of your dreams, make sure you do some homework by looking at fireplace mantels online, or in magazines, and compare styles and prices. Continue Reading »
Fireplace safety is something that should never be far from your mind if you have any kind of naked flame burning in your home, whether it is gas or indeed the even more fickle open fire. For while there is no doubt that enjoying an open fire is a wonderful thing to experience, along with the beauty of the flames, the crackling logs and the scent of wood smoke there comes something else that is very important – your safety and that of your family.
By following a few simple safety steps, you can ensure that there is no lethal damage or destruction within the four walls of your home.
Open fire safety means ensuring that your fire never gets out of control and that small children and pets don’t get close to the flames or glowing embers. It also means ensuring that smoke and toxins do not leak into your home. The first vital step towards this is making sure your chimney is professionally swept every year to prevent a build up of tar and to ensure that it is not clogged with bird or other animal nests, or other type of debris that could cause a fire. Continue Reading »
Stone fireplaces not only have a timeless appearance that can add both charm and elegance to any room but they are built from a material that is not only durable and lasting but also requires less maintenance. A well-built stone fireplace creates a classic and commanding presence that immediately draws attention making it the focal point of any room and in addition because stone is non-combustible, it is an unlikely fire hazard.
In spite of many different fashion fads over the years this type of fireplace has always retained a high degree of popularity; simply because when you add a beautiful stone fireplace to your home you immediately change both the appearance and the overall ambiance of a room.
Choosing an appropriate stone fireplace means picking the design that is right for your home. Whether it is a vintage or modern design try to imagine how the whole room will look once the fireplace is in situ and above all be honest with yourself about the space it is going to need. Continue Reading »
If you want to get the maximum pleasure and practical use from your fire there are several must-have fireside accessories that are probably essential to enhance your fireplace. These are fireplace companion sets, coal buckets and hods, bellows, fire guards, fenders, decorative screens, match holders, damper pulls, log baskets, log racks and toasting forks.
Companion sets are one of the most popular of all fireside accessories, since they combine so many useful fireplace tools into one piece of kit that all hang on a neat stand. Normally in brass, chrome or cast iron these tools include a brush, shovel, tongs and a poker. The brush and shovel keep the fireside clean and tidy while the tongs and poker are used to push and move pieces of coal or wood around.
Coal buckets and coal hods can be hand crafted Victorian reproductions or modern edge designs that are for practical use or to simply add a decorative finishing touch to your fireplace setting. They are almost always made from metal, usually iron, brass or copper and their purpose has always been to store and carry coal or solid fuel. Traditionally, coal buckets were designed with a curved beak to allow coal to be poured easily onto the fire. These days however with many being bought purely for decorative purposes, designs have changed and become more artistic, with little details and ornate patterns to make the buckets more interesting. Continue Reading »
Historically burning wood is the way that human society, down the ages, has kept warm, cooked food and even driven away predatory animals. Wood fuelled the open fires of the hunter-gatherers, the brick ovens of the first bakers and, until the 19th century, in practically every home.
The ability to burn wood for heat in our home gives us more freedom and options for fuel. We are no longer dependent on large energy utilities and multinational corporations who may or may not be able to supply power and fuel. Even if logs have to be bought in at least this is supporting the local economy.
There is something very cheerful and comforting about burning wood in an open fireplace, especially during the cold winter months. Indeed, enjoying the quiet pleasure of soft flickering flames and the glowing embers of a log fire will almost certainly induce a tranquil and romantic mood. Continue Reading »