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Shanna 30 October 2008 Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas 1,146 views One Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

Adding Flair to that Flare!

In cooler climates, fall is well underway, bringing with it not just changing leaves but also the need to bundle up and find warmth. Thus, one home feature that becomes increasingly valuable with the changing seasons is the fireplace. Long a source of treasured coziness, fireplaces offer crackling flames that invite friends to gather round and find comfort. After all, what’s more welcoming than a cozy fire in the middle of a cold autumn night?

Today, fireplaces are not primarily a source of warmth but rather stylish centerpieces in family rooms, often with mantels for displaying cherished photographs or hanging Christmas stockings. And if you already have a fireplace, chances are you’ll want to make the most of it this coming fall and into the winter. Here is a list of fireplace accessories you might want to check out:

To cradle the fuel and accelerate burning:

Grate: Essentially, a grate is a frame of iron bars that holds logs in place. Shaped like an open basket, the grate allows air to circulate beneath the fuel. Grates come in a variety of styles and sizes. To determine the size of grate needed for your fireplace, you should measure the front and back widths and the depth from front to back

Andirons: Andirons are made of a horizontal iron bar that holds logs in place, usually connected to an upright guard. The guard can be embellished with a variety of ornamental patterns or designs and is usually made of strong metals such as steel, iron, copper, bronze or silver.

Pellet baskets: Converters are available to make pellets an option for regular fireplaces rather than just pellet stoves. A pellet basket holds wood pellets inside your fireplace and allows you to heat your home in a more cost-effective and cleaner way.

To add decoration or to help with tending fires:

Poker: A poker is a short rod used to adjust coals in a fireplace. Often metallic and preferably fireproof, the poker can also be called a stoker.

Bellows: Used for adding pressurized air to the fireplace, a bellows is a deformable container with an outlet nozzle.

Fireplace screen: A great way to dress up a fireplace is with a fireplace screen, showcasing a distinctive architectural style. To determine the size of fireplace screen needed, measure the width and the height of your fireplace opening. The screen should be at least 10 to 12 inches wider and 1 to 3 inches taller, to allow room for folding the screen.

When it comes to fireplaces, options truly abound. In addition to those defined above, you could accessorize with fireplace candelabras (an alternative to roaring fires), a hearth safety gate (to keep guests or pets from getting too close to the fire) and hearth rugs (fire-resistant rugs that protect your flooring and add decorative flair).

Related Reading

• Clean/Update Your Fireplace
• Declutter: Taking the First Steps
• Embrace Outdoor Living!
• Remodel the Right Way