Fireplace Lowdown

More Modern Fireplace Tools

If you're looking for a set of fireplace tools to complement your modern living room and the no-nonsense clean and simple lines of your contemporary fireplace, then here's another set that might fit the bill.

The Fuego cast aluminum fireplace tools are sleek with their polished finish.  They're compact too with no wasted space; the poke and hook link together to form the tongs. 

You get everything you need for fire management though: shovel, brush, hook, poke, and stand.

Made by Umbra and available through Plush Pod for $275.

Fireproof Glove for Handling Hot Logs

A fireplace poker is a great tool, but sometimes it's a pain in the neck to manuever logs around with it.  Wouldn't it be easier if you could just stick your hand in there and take care of things?  Not if you value your skin and arm hair... Ah, but wait, there's a fireproof glove to make things less dangerous. 

Sold by RR Fireplace, this brushed leather glove is flame retardent.  Inside, the lining is made from flame-proofed cotton and includes an extra layer of insulating wool.  The glove has extra long cuffs that extend down to offer your wrists protection.  The Firesafe glove will cost you $25 (this is for one, not a pair; you choose whether you want left or right).

http://www.rrfireplace.com/

Fireplace Screens

Fireplace screens can add a decorative element to your fireplace and they also serve a safety purpose as well.  A properly placed fireplace screen keeps sparks from escaping the firebox and landing on carpets, furnishings, people, and pets.  While hanging mesh screens can do the job, they aren't exactly fashionable. This is why many people choose to buy decorative freestanding screens. Here are just a few examples that can be found around the Web:

Ivy Stained Glass Fireplace Screen
Dolphin School Fireplace Screen
Anitque Copper and Pebble Fireplace Screen
Floral Fireplace Screen

Make sure to measure your fireplace before buying a screen; this helps ensure you get one that is a good fit.

Fireplace Facing Styles

If you're building a fireplace or thinking of refacing your current one, Better Homes and Gardens' Fireplace: Decorating and Planning Ideas has some suggestions.

Rock and mortar or stone veneer facings are popular with floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, especially set in informal rooms. Stucco can offer an old-world look. If you have to work around an existing mantel, then you're looking for a material small enough or maleable enough to fit in between the fire box and the mantel. Some popular choices include brick, tile, marble, and limestone. Marble tile is easy to work with and is neutral enough to look good in most settings.

Damper Plaques

Some dampers are opened by pulling or letting up a chain, others by raising or lowering a handle. If you have trouble remembering whether the damper in the chimney is open or closed, a damper plaque or damper hanger maybe be a helpful fireplace accessory. 

Gas Fireplace Remote Control?

Despite seeing the installation of two gas fireplaces, I've never had a remote control to flick the thing on and off from the couch. Granted, it's not a huge chore to amble over to the fireplace and turn it off or on, but hey, remotes are cool. I decided to look into remote controls for gas fireplaces, and here's what I dug up:

Gas Fireplace Remote Control Q&A

Are remote controls available only with gas fireplaces?

Electric fireplaces and gas logs can also come with remote controls.

Can you buy a remote that will work on any gas/electric fireplace?

You need to buy a model with a remote from the start.

What can fireplace remotes do exactly?

They range from the simple turning on and off a fireplace to options such as adjusting the fan setting, operating as a remote thermostat, displaying the room's temperature, and allowing for timed automatic shut off.

How do remotes access the fireplace controls?

While it may very from brand to brand, most fireplace remotes transmit radio signals. This keeps it from interfering with a television remote (these usually use line of sight infrared signals). The brightness of the flames can make infrared a bad option for fireplace remotes.

What are the perks to having a remote for the fireplace?

Let's face it, between the remotes for the DVD player, VCR, TV, stereo, and light dimmer, there just aren't enough remotes on your coffee table.  Ok, seriously, fireplace remotes are just a convenience; they make a lot of sense, however, if you have a fireplace in your bedroon and want to be able to flick it off as, half-drowsy, you doze off.

Sources:

Fireplaces.com
Fireplace Remote