Fireplace Accessories
Fireplace accessories come in many designs and styles. Each accessory for the unit has a specific use. Some of the items are absolute necessities while others may leave you scratching your head. There are even some fireplace accessories that are decorative in nature and are not meant for actual use.
Items that look nice but serve no particular function aren’t as odd as you may think. Some fireplace accessories are purely decorative in nature. I discovered this the hard way when staying with my aunt one winter. I figured that I would clean out the fireplace for her and start a nice, new fire in place of the ashes and burnt wood scraps.
While my aunt was pretty happy with my efforts she did mention that the fireplace accessories on the hearth were really designed for show and not for use. This left me scratching my head but I did finally understand why the fireplace accessories were made of shiny brass.
I just thought that she took really good care of the brass fireplace accessories. I really didn’t think much about whether or not they were supposed to be used. Good thing that I only used them once. There was really little sign that the items had been used at all. This did bring up another question about her fireplace accessories.
What did she use to clean the hearth and fireplace if the decorative items were off the list? She showed me a cast iron set of fireplace accessories that she kept in a cupboard right next to the hearth. I had no idea why she kept these beautiful tools hidden. I thought that they looked as great as the brass.
Her only answer was that she liked to hide dirt. I guess that having fireplace accessories designed for show on the hearth and ones for use in a cupboard was a good idea if you want to keep ashes out of sight no matter what.
Now that I have my own fireplace, I decided to forgo buying fireplace accessories for show. I like to put the tools on the hearth to good use. This could be due to simple laziness or it may just be because I am incurably cheap.
No matter what reasons I have I will always think fondly of my aunt’s brass fire tools. I just won’t ever own a set. I really think that the cast iron fireplace accessories are as attractive as the shiny brass, ashes and all.
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While we all love the sight of a roaring hot fire there are lots of different fireplaces that you will find. These many different fireplace designs are in their own way quite lovely to look at. You will see many great looking designs for fireplaces in old homes and also in stores that design and build these fireplaces.
The main fireplace designs that we are acquainted with are those of the large square fireplace type. You will however find other types of fireplaces. The design shapes of some these fireplaces can be in the modern look of electric fireplaces. With these fireplaces you will find that a small cubicle has been made in the wall. The cubicle is square in design shape.
The various wires that are needed to connect this fireplace to the electricity mains will be located behind the fireplace. You will also find that the front face of the fireplace resembles logs. This is just one of the fireplace designs that will enhance the look of your living room without having to worry about the possibility of ashes. You can also look for other fireplace designs in catalogs for your home.
While looking for various fireplace ideas is one of the best ways to choose the type of fireplace you would like to sit before you will need to think about some other matters first. The first detail you will need to consider is whether you wish to have a wood burning fireplace or a gas fireplace. You can even think about installing an electrical fireplace. This decision needs to be at the top of your plans for fireplace designs.
The next item that you should think about is where you will need a fireplace. Also in what section of the room should the fireplace be installed? While these questions may seem trivial there are good reasons for having these questions answered before you start the building process. The main reason is simply having an idea about the dimensions you require your new fireplace to have.
Sometimes when you are looking at the many fireplace designs that abound you will see brick fireplaces with jutting out mantels made of faux wood. At other times you will see fireplaces that have never been used – these fireplaces are lined with white marble – they are merely for decorative purposes. Other fireplace designs that are now in use are tile fireplaces.
The tiles that are selected for these fireplaces are very beautiful. They help to reflect the fire and the heat in a way that we will find comforting. These are just a few of the many fireplace designs you will find. As you search for the perfect fireplace for your home take a moment to think about the look and feel you want from a fireplace and then you will know which of the fireplace designs to look for.
About the Author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Fireplaces for Years. For More Information on Fireplace Designs, Visit His Site at Fireplace Designs
The winter months can get pretty bitter. And so can you when your toes and fingers are numb. To my knowledge, no one likes to freeze their butt off. It's just not pleasant. I guess the real concern at-hand here is; how do you plan to keep warm? Well obviously you're going to bundle up when you venture outdoors into the snowy mess, but I was referring to inside your home. Are all the rooms warm and cozy? Does the central heat kick-on redundantly throughout the day and night? Maybe what you need is an alternative heating source. Possibly a woodstove or modern fireplace. These make a wonderful addition to any home.
I've always been a wood burning kind of guy myself. When it comes to the modern fireplace, I still avoid gas and electric models. Maybe it's because I grew up with a woodstove in my home, and enjoyed how well it heated our large house. Then again, I could prefer a wood-burning fireplace over a gas one simply because I've had both, and the gas version put out less heat. This is a big deal, if you ask me. Naturally I want my fireplace to warm the place up. But that's not all I want it to do. There's also the ambience factor. Not much compares to sitting next to a crackling flame with a marshmallow stick in-hand. I can watch the wood burn furiously, while I enjoy a smores or roasted hotdog. That's living folks! And just because you prefer a modern fireplace, doesn't mean that it can't be a traditional wood-burning fireplace. Much has to do with the hearth. You can have one installed with the rock, stone or brick texture and color of your choice. There is really no limit to the possibilities now days.
Although the wood-burning fireplace is a blast for some of us, it won't be for everyone. Many will prefer a more modern fireplace that can be lit at the flip of a switch. Well, with a gas or electric fireplace, you can have this. It's just like switching on a light. And just so you know, an electric fireplace will cost you less than most gas models. You can pick up one of these modern fireplaces at Lowe's or Home Depot. Enjoy the warmth.
There's nothing quite like a traditional fireplace. Sure, you have to chop and stack the wood, if you don't purchase it by the cord, and you have to scoop out the ashes regularly, but the maintenance is well worth the pleasure. I have had a wood-burning fireplace for a couple of years now and have to admit that I love it much more than a gas fireplace or and electric one that plugs in. Those new-age conveniences are missing something crucial. They lack the coziness of the whipping flames and crackling wood. I need these things when I lounge before the fireplace. The only problem with my wood-burning fireplace is the exterior. It's marble with brass trim. This does not appeal to me and my family. And that's why were looking into granite fireplaces.
I love the way we have so many choices today. You can get things exactly the way you prefer them; and you can easily alter the ones you already have. This is the way it should be. After all, we all like and prefer different things; therefore variety is imperative in our world. While some folks may enjoy a marble hearth on their fireplace, my wife and I do not. We are totally enamored by the granite fireplaces. Especially the dark and rustic looking ones. That's right up my alley. I guess you could say that I'm not a modern-day male in some ways. I don't go gaga over gas fireplaces, fashion, men's jewelry, and sports. Give me the rustic elements and Mother Nature any day. I want to be able to split wood and roast marshmallows on my wood-burning fire. These are things you can't do with the gas and electric fireplaces.
After some web surfing, I realized that granite fireplaces are totally feasible to add on your own if you're dealing with contemporary kits. This is the key! You can check out what all is available on your laptop and then purchase the granite fireplace kit of your choice. Install it on your own and save some serious cash. That labor cost may be more than what you're willing to part with. It often is for me. I have found that most of us can install so many things and make altercations to our homes without professional assistance. There are even websites to walk us through it. Don't be afraid to check out granite fireplaces and kits on your own. As I'm sure you're already aware, the costs of granite fireplaces will vary.
How do you stay warm during those harsh winter months? Do you hide out under a massive wool blanket with a cup of hot cocoa until the snow has melted? Hey, don't laugh; my eldest daughter does this. Or at least it seems like this is what she does. She's always shuffling around the house fluffy slippers on and a thick blanket draped around her shoulders. I prefer a slightly simpler approach. It's called an indoor fireplace. Yeah, you've surely come across this concept at some point or another. Heck, you may even have an indoor fireplace of your own. There are so many variations to pick and choose from now days, I really don't see how anyone can go wrong with this wonderful house-warming amenity.
I absolutely love an indoor fireplace. Now, just so I'm clear on the matter, I'm not referring to a new-age gas fireplace. Don't get me wrong. I can go on all day about how convenient these are and how enjoyable they can be during the cold season. However, I don't feel that they're quite what I'm looking for. I'm really into the old-school method of heating a home. Therefore when I mention an indoor fireplace, I am talking about wood-burning. Have you ever had the pleasure of dealing with a wood-burning indoor fireplace? It's gratifying on many levels. There's definitely a certain nostalgia to the process. You get to chop the firewood, stack it and prepare it for winter. You get to build and nurture a warm crackling flame each time you want to use it. Hey, you even get to routinely scoop out the ashes. Okay, well that's the only irksome part in my book. The rest of it I love. This of course pleases my wife as well. Although she is partial to a wood-burning indoor fireplace, she doesn't care for any of the work involved. That's okay, because I find it gratifying.
How do you choose which indoor fireplace concept is right for you? Well, I suggest you consider a few things. I already mentioned what is involved with a wood-burning fireplace. Now, with a gas indoor fireplace it's simpler. As long as your pilot light is lit, you only need to flip a switch and start your fireplace. Oh, and don't forget to pay that gas bill. Furthermore, you'll also want to consider the fact that a wood-burning fireplace works regardless of whether or not your power is out, and you can cook on it if you should need or want to. This is important to me when it comes to the indoor fireplace.
There is nothing that brings memories of winters gone by better than a wood burning fireplace. The atmosphere a simple item like this can create is one of nostalgic warmth and comfort. Not many homes have a wood burning fireplace but there is a move towards recreating this traditional element in homes across the country.
Generations ago people did not have any other way to heat their homes aside from their wood burning fireplace. As advances in technology and home construction took hold fewer and fewer homes came equipped with this necessity of years gone past. Furnaces made the wood burning fireplace practically obsolete.
Some homes still had the element in their structure because they were built during a time when fireplaces were necessary to heat the rooms of the home. In fact, many older homes had a wood burning fireplace in nearly every room. As the need for this heating source dwindled so did the production of such elements.
When I was a child my family moved into an old Victorian home. At the time I didn’t know why certain part of the wall in some rooms stood out. My mother explained that there used to be a wood burning fireplace in many of the rooms. This was how the original owners kept the house warm.
Later, a furnace was placed in the old Victorian home that served to heat the entire house without the nuisance of having to start a fire and keep it going all day and all night long. The owners of the home had each wood burning fireplace filled and covered with plaster. The magnificent fireplaces stayed behind the plaster for many, many years.
That is until we moved into the house. My mother decided that we should enjoy the appearance of the wood burning fireplace in our living room. She took a hammer to the plaster and began chipping away. My brother and I were more than happy to join her as her wrecking crew.
We found that the wood burning fireplace was made entirely of brick. The previous owner poured cement into the chimney to close the space. We would never be able to have a fire but we could enjoy looking at the beautiful brick structure. My parents built a lovely mantle for the non-working wood burning fireplace that really brought the whole look together.
We moved out of the old Victorian home years ago but I remember dreaming of the original owners sitting in front of their wood burning fireplace.
Fireplace mantel surrounds offer wonderful options for your interior design. There is a wide variety of choices that you can browse and there are also some choices to make in the kind of fireplace mantel surrounds you purchase. Some units are user-friendly while others require some skill.
I thought that we were going to have a really hard time finding a product to suit our needs. Our fireplace mantel surrounds need to accommodate tile settings already in the unit. I really wasn’t keen on the idea of losing the beautiful tile just because we needed a new fireplace mantel surrounds. While this did limit our options just a bit, we didn’t have any trouble finding a great product to suit our home.
The next obstacle was agreeing on whether we wanted to paint our fireplace mantel surrounds or whether we wanted hardwood. Considering that we have hard wood floors all through the house, the latter seemed like the appropriate choice. However, we found that painting our fireplace mantel surrounds would be a better option.
Even though the place we were buying from offered unfinished wood, we found that this wasn’t the best approach. Matching the hardwood flooring to the wood used for the fireplace unit would be too difficult and we really wanted to add some unusual color in the home. We already have wood beams on the ceiling and wooden baseboards. It seemed as if adding more wood in the fireplace mantle surrounds was just overkill.
The third thing we had to consider before choosing which of the many fireplace mantel surrounds would suit our space was which kit to buy. There are two basic types offered by the store we browsed: the Homeowner and the Builder. Just by the names of these kits, I had a pretty good idea that we were going to choose the Homeowner kit for our home.
The major difference between the two types of fireplace mantel surrounds kits is the skill required to put the pieces together. Considering that the Builder kit requires a miter saw, we immediately opted to buy the Homeowner’s kit. I’m glad we did.
All we had to do was put the preassembled pieces together and attach them to the wall. Everything we needed was included in the kit and we had the whole thing up and running in little time at all. The instructions were a breeze to follow and I would recommend this option for anyone who is interested in fireplace mantel surrounds.
