Home & Garden

Wood racks fit anywhere on your property, and can store an entire seasons supply of fire logs. They keep them off the ground to prevent water damage during storms, and help limit the access of insects. For as little as $20 you can have a place for your firewood that will withstand the elements.

Wood Racks for the Yard
Wood racks are usually made of metal to support the weight of all that firewood. They are sturdy and durable to withstand the environment, and often treated to prevent rusting. A good wood rack can last for many years if treated well. Follow the manufacturers guidelines about filling the rack. This will prevent weakening of the walls and bottom.

One design you might want to consider is the adjustable wood rack. These are equipped with sliding bars at the bottom which are designed to give you a few extra feet of space for when you buy or chop a large amount of wood for the season. You can find a good adjustable wood rack for as little as $20.

Smaller wood racks are good for storing some logs in the house. Who wants to walk outside in the winter to get a stack of firewood? Not to mention some of the logs might be moist from snow or rain. Keeping a few indoors helps dry them out a bit more before burning.

Fireplace tool sets complete your living room by giving you just what you need to keep your winters warm. Its not enough to get a fire started. You need to keep it burning, and fireplace tool sets have the accessories to do just that. Best of all, they come in a wide assortment of styles, making it easy to find a set that complements your fireplace.

Choices of Fireplace Tool Sets
The first fireplace tool sets were wrought iron, heavy, and they all looked relatively the same. Early smiths were more concerned with making a functional tool they were with accenting your living room. Today, however, designers are making tool sets that fit right in with certain fireplace designs, whether they are marble or brick.

Marble fireplace tool sets feature marble bases that can match a fireplace with a similar mantel. One of the more common marble mantels is a deep hunter green, with white veins. Many times you can buy fireplace tool sets for your living room directly from where your fireplace was constructed.

Fireplace tool sets include a shovel, a pick for turning logs, and a broom to help clean up ash when the fire dies out. Bellows are not often included with your fireplace tool set, but they are not always necessary, especially if you are using a starter log. Common pricing for a fireplace tool set ranges from $20 to as much as $300 for the more exquisite designs.

Fireplace log holders serve one of two functions depending on the type you buy. One of the types of fireplace log holders is for outside of the fireplace, and keeps the wood dry and out of the elements. Andirons are intended to hold the logs in the fireplace as they burn.

Keep Your Wood Indoors with Fireplace Log Holders
If you have a lot of firewood then you are going to want to keep it outside. There is no reason to keep your winters supply in your living room, but you should keep at least a few logs indoors to keep them dry and ready for burning. Sometimes your wood can end up damp outside, so bringing a few in will help them burn faster.

Andirons are the common name for the fireplace holders which sit in your fireplace, although they are known differently in other regions. The northern United States keep the standard name of andiron, although the south has its own name for them. People in the southern United States commonly refer to andirons as dog irons, or fire dogs.

Prices for fireplace log holders vary widely depending on the materials used. Brass holders are very expensive, with the high end being about $1,500. You can find plenty of economical versions for under $100. Indoor holders vary just as widely, with the less expensive models starting at about $50.

Outdoor fireplaces are wonderful accents for any yard, providing warmth in later months while also offering a great gathering spot for your autumn parties. They have grown in popularity over the last several years, becoming more and more prevalent, especially in states where the winters are milder. And if you are a hopeless romantic, you can even eat in your yard with an outdoor fireplace burning nearby.

Setting the Mood with Outdoor Fireplaces
Its always a great idea to have a nice, romantic candlelight dinner with the one you love. But the time of year might be prohibitive, unless you have an outdoor fireplace. People living in a state like California know how mild autumn tends to be. Outdoor fireplaces let you have dinner outdoors under the stars.

Outdoor fireplaces come in a limitless number of designs. If you like a more rustic design you can find outdoor fireplaces made from fieldstone or brick. If you want something more elegant there are designs made from marble, although the cost for such a fireplace might be prohibitive. A sandstone or pueblo design is great for homes with a Mexican or Mediterranean feel.

Outdoor fireplaces can burn either real or gas logs. Gas logs are a bit more expensive to operate because you need to continue purchasing the gas, but they are much easier to manage. Starting a gas log is easier than getting a fire started with real logs, but real logs are much cheaper, if not free.

Fireplace mantels arent decoration for your fireplace. Mantels can be turned into vibrant and interesting spots in any room. Fireplace mantels can be the home of cherished pictures, or any number of artistic collectibles. You can even turn your mantel into the heart of your room if the fireplace is not in a TV room.

Turning Fireplace Mantels into the Center of Any Room
Fireplace mantels can be dressed in an infinite number of ways, limited only by your imagination. You can hang cherished pictures above your mantel, and surround it with small decorative lamps. You can also place your trophies, awards, medals, and other special possessions on your mantel for all to see.

Some fireplace mantels are made from wrought iron and are meant to be placed against the wall. More elaborate mantels are made from expensive materials like marble, and cost considerably more. You can find stunning mantels at affordable prices, however. Nice wood and stone mantels are often as low as $200, which even includes the mantel shelf.

It is possible to construct your own fireplace mantels. There are books with designs readily available in your local hardware superstore or online at your favorite bookseller. Wood designed fireplace mantels are sometimes ornate so you might need to invest in some specialized tools. Be sure to check the instructions for needed equipment.