All Entries in the "fireplace accessories" Category
Antique Fireplace Accessories
When we think of antique fireplace accessories the Victorian fireplace accessories often come to mind. Yet there are so many other periods of interest as well. There are the colonial and early American designs as well as the Regency, Edwardian, Art nouveaux, and the Art Deco. Many antique fireplace accessories are very ornate and remind us of the splendor of the past. In fact one piece can dress up an otherwise ordinary looking fireplace display.
We also don’t have to break the bank when we purchase fireplace accessories because there are many antique replicas that will give us the splendor and elegance of the past plus the functionality and quality of a new modern fireplace accessory. After our country was founded Americans began to enjoy the new affluence that was created in this country. Homes and home interiors began to be more lavishly decorated and and decorative fireplace equipment became all the rage.
Ornate andirons with cabriole legs or ball and claw legs became very popular. Large shiny brass andirons were great for keeping the fireplace logs in place and above the floor of the fire pit. They also added a lavish decorative touch with shiny brass styling and the many decorative styles. As times evolved the neo-classical influence was evident with decorative fluting. The styles of different regions soon fused together evolving into the ornate Victorian style we all know and love.
The Victorian style gets it’s influences from the French Empire style, the English Regency style, and the Federal in America. The Victorian style also borrowed from the Baroque and Rococo styles and even evolved into the newer styles of Art Deco and Colonial Revival. Whether you are looking for a hand carved fireplace surround or an elegant brass fireplace sculpture all of these styles have been borrowed and fused together to create the most ornate of the antique fireplace accessories.
Some antique fireplace accessories were only for decoration, but most were functional as well. You can find many ornate antique fireplace screens and yet they are also used to keep embers and ash from popping out of the fire and burning your floor or starting a fire. Antique tools may be beautiful to display, but they can still poke and stoke the burning logs and make a quick job of after fire clean up.
Some of the most popular of the antique fireplace accessories and replicas are the fire backs and andirons that are in the shape of animals. These are more than a useful tool they are also a clever sculpture. Whether you are into dogs, cats, snakes or hunting scenes you can find the perfect fire back sculpture to dress up your fire.
Having one or a couple of antique fireplace accessories is a great way to make your fireplace look unique and be the focal point of the room without being to gaudy or over powering. The fact that these accessories are functional as well is just a bonus and a great testament to the creative utility of our previous generations.
Popularity: 13% [?]
Fireplace Supplies
A nice cozy fire can really warm up a winters day. Whether you are curled with a good book or surrounded by friends and family it is nice to have a warm fire burning in the background. Whenever we think of the holidays or a cozy evening most of us also think of having a nice warm fire. It is also nice to come home after a hard day and light a fire and unwind.
Unfortunately fires are not maintenance free, so no matter what type of fire you have you will probably need some fireplace supplies in order to maintain it correctly and use it safely. The only exception is probably the electric fireplace. With this fireplace an outlet and a remote and you can have instant ambiance without the hassles.
The next easiest fire is probably the gas fireplace. Once you have your gas log or fire glass gas fireplace set up all you really need is a blower and a remote and you will be set to go. Of course this depends on your gas fireplace set up. When you first install your gas fireplace you can choose the medium you would like to have in the fireplace. For instance a gas fireplace is fueled by natural gas, but you can have ceramic logs, fireplace glass, or river rocks inside the fire. The flames will come out of the gas burners and surround the medium you have chosen for your fire.
Therefore when setting up a gas fireplace you will need to get most of your supplies during the initial set up. You can go for an inexpensive gas log insert which looks similar to a wooden fire. All you will need for this set up is to have the fireplace plumbed and vented. Then you will need to install the insert with the burners and the ceramic logs. You can use a key to turn on the gas and light it with a match.
A more sophisticated set would have an automatic ignition where you just hit a button. When you have aromatic ignition you will probably have electrical power in your fireplace so you could go ahead and install a blower that will heat the room as the gas burns. If you don’t want the traditional ceramic log look you could also go for the river rocks or colored fireplace glass I spoke of earlier. It is also nice to have a folding glass door that you can shut when the fire is not burning so that cold air won’t come from the chimney or vents into your home.
If you have a traditional wood burning fire the available accessories and fireplace supplies are endless. If you have just moved into a home and need to dress up your fireplace get a nice tool set and a new grate. If you want a super heavy duty heating system you can get heavy duty fireplace tools and a grate that serves as a blower too. You could also add a fire back that is a heavy piece of cast iron that sits in the back of the fireplace. These not only protect the fireplace they also reflect heat back into the room, when combined with a grate blower this can really be an efficient way to heat your room with a wood burning fire. The fire backs also look really cool too.
If you are going for a more decorative look you can redo or dress up your mantle. You can get fireplace surround kits that are upgraded hearths. You can also purchase tile or slate to redo the face of your fireplace. There are an assortment of surrounds, fireplace paints, glass doors, mesh screens, and decorative screens that can change the look of your fireplace and the look of your room. No matter if you are going for function or design having the right fireplace supplies can really make a difference when it comes to the enjoyment of your fireplace.
Popularity: 3% [?]