How-To

-Ideas for Great Fireplaces, Sunset

Certain "extras" that you can add to your fireplace will contribute toward its output of heat and also add to its safety and its decorative appeal. Numerous other accessories, from pokers and tongs to match holders, can help you store fuel, kindle and manage a wood fire, and beautify your fireplace area all at the same time.

Shop for screens, firebacks, and grates at your local fireplace store, custom order them, or search on the Internet for "Fireplace accessories" or "Fire screens." Tools and other accessories can also be found at home improvement stores, stores specializing in forged iron, crafts fairs, and open studios; antique pieces are always a serendipitous find.

Fire screens
Glass doors, wire mesh fire curtains, and attached or freestanding glass or metal screens all share the same basic function: they provide protection from flying embers and safeguard children and pets. Glass doors also keep warmed air from escaping up the chimney.

Glass doors
Made to fit neatly in a firebox opening, glass doors come in a variety of styles for traditional masonry fireplaces. (Some local and state regulations require glass doors for masonry fireplaces.) Most manufacturers of prefab fireplaces offer doors with their units, and you can also purchase them separately.

If your fireplace has a standard-size opening, you can often buy arched or rectangular glass doors ready-made; otherwise you can have doors custom-made. The glass must be tempered; it may be clear, smoked, or tinted. The sturdiest frames are constructed of brass or steel (less expensive models may be aluminum). Frame finishes range from polished or antique brass to copper, nickel, or brushed steel.

Doors may be cabinet-style, bifold, or full-fold; models with no center bar give a clean, all-glass look and a full view of the fire. Some glass doors come with integral wire-mesh curtains, and some have top and bottom louvers for fire control.

Mesh curtains
Wire-mesh curtain screens installed on the top edge of the firebox opening keep sparks from flying out into the room. You pull them open and shut with a pull chain, like draperies. Mesh curtains should be made of heavy-gauge wire, and they should glide smoothly. They work best in tandem with glass doors, but you can install the curtains by themselves.

Freestanding screens
The easiest fireplace option, screens don't usually need to be fitted -- they just have to be big enough to cover the firebox opening. And a screen can be an important decorative accent as well as an effective barrier to sparks.

Ready-made or custom-crafted, fire screens come in a dazzling selection of designs and materials. You'll find hinged folding screens and single-piece standing screens on legs, in tempered glass or wire mesh, in styles ranging from ornate Victorian to Craftsman to minimalist contemporary.

Frames may be made of iron, steel, or cast brass. They should be heavy and stable. Sometimes you can find antique examples in good condition; just be sure they're the right size for your fireplace.