Go Vintage When Decorating Your Hearth


With the weather cooling, it's time to put on the fireplace. Curling up near a cozy fire is a wonderful winter pastime but you'll need the right tools to tend your fire. Vintage fireplace accessories can add just the right atmosphere to your décor. Here's what you'll need to keep your fire aglow.

Fireplace Tool Sets.

In the 18th and early 19th centuries when a fire was the only source of heating a home, a large fireplace was essential. You may notice that vintage fireplace tool sets can be larger in scale than modern sets. The reason is simple - larger fires required large tools to maintain it. Tool sets for the fire - a shovel, poker, brush and pair of tongs were usually made of brass, bronze or wrought iron. Bronze tools are more valuable than brass or wrought iron. Look for fireplace tool sets to match the décor of your home. Ornate Victorian tools suit more traditional homes. More modern decor lends itself to the simple linear tools reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts period.

Andirons or Fire-dogs.

Andirons are iron supports used to rest burning logs in the fireplace. They were utilitarian and not particularly decorative. However, in the 18th century the French fancied up their andirons with ornate figures such as dogs, lions, fish, mythological creatures or people. These were dubbed fire-dogs. Today, the terms andirons and firedogs are used interchangeably. Now, we hold the burning logs in cast-iron grates. You'll still see andirons in antique shops. Use them to add a striking panache to your hearth.

Fenders.

A fender is three-sided rectangular shaped metal piece that keeps sparks from jumping onto carpets and flooring. They could be very ornamental at times.

Decorative Screens.

There were several styles and purposes for screens - to combat draughts or shield from heat. Some were used to hide the fireplace in summer months. These were called cheval screens. They could be decorative and were made from mahogany, rosewood or satinwood with needlepoint, tapestry or embroidery details. Some were made with unwanted fabric or leather. A pole screen was used when the fire was lit. It was small, light and portable with an adjustable panel that could be square, oval or shield-shaped. It was used to protect the face when you were near the fire - either sitting to be warmed or stoking the fire. Pole and cheval screens are hard to find these days because as central heating became available, screens were often discarded. If you do a cheval screen, you can still use it to hide the fireplace during the warmer months. Mesh screens came along later and served the same purpose as fenders. They held the popping embers in. Look for older mesh screens. They'll have two small rectangular notches at the base that were to allow for the andirons.

Value.

A matching set consisting of a fireplace tool set, fender and andirons is more valuable than a mismatched set. It's hard to find a complete fireplace set because over the years the sets were often broken up. If you have one, hang on to it.

Good News.

There are lots of vintage fireplace tools out there. Since they were made of brass, bronze or wrought iron, many have survived over the years. You'll often find vintage fireplace tool sets more affordable than new sets. Plus, vintage sets will have that great patina that newer sets cannot duplicate.

Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium located in Toronto, Canada. He has appeared on a variety of television programs; does furniture restoration; caning and rushing repairs; appraisals and has taught courses on antiques at the Learning Annex. Martin can be reached at http://www.takeaboo.com





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
[News] 5 O'Clock Shadow
News you can't leave work without: Asamoah makes a deal News of record
News of record reports for Chelan and Douglas counties Newport News police seek help on thefts from cars
NEWPORT NEWS A rash of summer-night car break-ins and vandalism has police asking the public for help, and warning them to lock their vehicles. Newport News hit with rash of car break-ins
NEWPORT NEWS -- Police are asking for help in solving a large number of car break-ins and vandalism cases in Newport News. According to police, 134 cases were reported in the area between J. Clyde Morris Blvd. and Oyster Point Road since June 1. Most of the incidents were between J. Clyde Morris and Middle Ground Blvd. and happened during the early evening hours. Police say many thefts happened ... NEWS ALERTS: Sign up to get breaking news on your mobile phone
Get breaking local news as it happens. Enter your phone number: Standard Messaging Rates or other charges apply. To Opt-out text STOP to 4INFO (44636). For more information text HELP to 4INFO (44636). Contact your carrier for more details. Powered by 4INFO. Newport News police search for suspects in string of car thefts
Newport News detectives are seeking assistance from the Community, in solving a large number of cases involving damage to, and larcenies from, cars. Newport News police seek information regarding larcenies and property damage
NEWPORT NEWS -- Police are investigating 134 cases of damage to cars and larcenies from cars that occurred between June 1 and July 25, according to police. News in brief
Here are a selection of brief news items from this week?s paper edition, and possibly a few news briefs that didn?t make it in the paper. Newport News townhouse damaged by fire
NEWPORT NEWS A townhouse in the 1000 block of Willow Green Drive was damaged by fire this morning, fire officials said. One of the residents had minor burns to his hand, a Fire Department news release says. An off-duty city firefighter/medic helped evacuate the adjoining homes. News of the Past
who has deep genealogical roots to Winston County, provides news from past editions of the Winston County Journal. The Winston County Board of Supervisors posted a notice of the new "Dog Law" which was passed in the July term.

Site: news - Google News
Arizona News Round Up - San Francisco Chronicle (blog)

Globe and Mail

Arizona News Round Up
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
Just hours before Arizona's new immigration law went into effect a US district judge put a hold on the controversial sections including ...
Fox News Poll: 72 Percent Say Government Not Enforcing Immigration LawsFOXNews
AP Top News at 3:10 pm EDTThe Associated Press
AP Top News at 2:15 pm EDTThe Associated Press
The Associated Press -The Associated Press -New York Times
all 6,190 news articles »
Fox News Poll: Republicans Garner 11-Point Lead in Midterms - FOXNews

FOXNews

Fox News Poll: Republicans Garner 11-Point Lead in Midterms
FOXNews
A Fox News poll released Thursday finds that if Americans were heading to the voting booth today, they would back the Republican candidate in their district ...
AP Top News at 6:25 pm EDTThe Associated Press
Mercury News editorial: Disclose Act deserves a vote on the Senate floorSan Jose Mercury News
First thoughts: More controversy, challenges, and distractionsmsnbc.com (blog)
CBS News -New York Times -Huffington Post (blog)
all 3,310 news articles »
Bret Baier Refutes Howard Dean Claim About Fox News Coverage Of Shirley Sherrod - Huffington Post (blog)

Vanity Fair

Bret Baier Refutes Howard Dean Claim About Fox News Coverage Of Shirley Sherrod
Huffington Post (blog)
Fox News' Bret Baier struck back at Howard Dean Wednesday, refuting Dean's charge that Fox News had improperly hyped the Shirley Sherrod story in the hours ...
Fox News admits 'a breakdown' on Shirley Sherrod storyPolitico (blog)
Obama: Sherrod 'Deserves Better' for 'Bogus Controversy'ABC News (blog)
Sherrod and WikiLeaks: A tale of 2 media frenziesMiamiHerald.com
Washington Post (blog) -CBS News -Dallas Morning News
all 1,437 news articles »
News Cycle Turns in BP's Favor - Wall Street Journal (blog)

Telegraph.co.uk

News Cycle Turns in BP's Favor
Wall Street Journal (blog)
Now, just a couple of days after Hayward threw in the towel and resigned for the good of his company, the news cycle appears to have turned in BP's favor. ...
AP Top News at 4:15 am EDTThe Associated Press
Oil vanishes from surface of GulfHindustan Times
Oil Plumes Vanish; "Dead Zones" Remain ThreatCBS News
Winnipeg Free Press -FOXNews -Houston Chronicle
all 4,709 news articles »
Bullfighting ban is good news for animal welfare in Catalonia - Telegraph.co.uk (blog)

msnbc.com

Bullfighting ban is good news for animal welfare in Catalonia
Telegraph.co.uk (blog)
Was bullfighting banned for political reasons? Photo: AP The vote by the Parliament of ...
Ricky Gervais and Pamela Anderson Delighted With Bullfighting BanPeace FM Online
Bullfighting ban in Catalonia seen by some as anti-SpanishGlobe and Mail

all 1,022 news articles »
Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 marketing pitch: 'I'm a phone too' - ZDNet (blog)

Pocket-lint.com

Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 marketing pitch: 'I'm a phone too'
ZDNet (blog)
He was most recently Executive Editor of News and Blogs at ZDNet. Prior to that he was executive news editor at eWeek and news editor at Baseline. ...
Ballmer talks up Microsoft's consumer businessCNET
Microsoft CEO Ballmer says tablets are 'job one' at companyMarketWatch
Holman Jenkins: The Microsoft SolutionWall Street Journal

all 410 news articles »
Daley: Michigan oil spill worse than Asian carp - Chicago Tribune (blog)

New Zealand Herald

Daley: Michigan oil spill worse than Asian carp
Chicago Tribune (blog)
Who's paying for it, and who had the oil spill in the Kalamazoo River, because it's flowing into Lake Michigan," Daley said at a news conference to announce ...
Enbridge scrambles to contain Michigan pipeline spillVancouver Sun
Michigan oil spill: Could this have been prevented?Detroit Free Press
Enbridge oil not expected to reach Lake MichiganCBC.ca
CTV.ca -Globe and Mail (blog) -Winnipeg Free Press
all 2,439 news articles »
Shocked relatives await news after Pakistan crash - BBC News

msnbc.com

Shocked relatives await news after Pakistan crash
BBC News
BBC correspondents have been talking to those awaiting news of their loved ones. A large number of relatives and friends of those who were on the flight ...
AP Top News at 7:28 am EDTThe Associated Press
UK & World News: 152 people killed as Airbus crashes in PakistanScottish Daily Record
Pakistanis rush to scene: 'I just wanted to help'msnbc.com (blog)
Aljazeera.net -ABC News -CTV.ca
all 3,403 news articles »
Chelsea Clinton Wedding Likely to Limit Airspace - CBS News

Sydney Morning Herald

Morning business news - RTE.ie

Earthtimes

Morning business news
RTE.ie
... that the global economic picture continues to improve and any signs that a double dip recession can be avoided is only good news for the Irish economy. ...
Boeing, Beige Book Snap Street's Winning StreakForbes
Oil prices climb higherAFP
US stocks fall on weak economic dataChannel News Asia
Reuters
all 1,158 news articles »

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for interior decorating
Nancy Christie dies at age 85

Interior designer had managed the Baltimore Museum of Art's gift shop Nancy Christie, a retired interior designer and manager of the Baltimore Museum of Art 's gift shop, died of Alzheimer's disease complications July 21 at the Blakehurst Retirement Community in Towson. The former Roland Park resident was 85. Interior painting the real deal for frugal consumers

You may need to be logged in to see stories listed here that are in our archives. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. ? The worst of the recession may be over, but that doesn?t mean consumers will soon return to the rampant spending of years past. The Dunce of Chintz No More

Until recently, I was a ding-dong about interior decorating, thinking it was frivolous, superficial: a silly pursuit for rich socialites, O.C.D. neat freaks obsessed with appearances and superior magazine-design twerps. I was proud to have no idea what chintz, sconces, William Kent tables, Queen Anne chairs, trellises and porticos were. I happily wallowed in hellholes, pigsties, rat traps. All I ... A New Space for Decorative Arts

The dealer, who specializes in 20th-century decorative arts, has a new ground-level space on the Upper East Side. Fundraisers calendar

Cafe of Life East Bay Food Drive ? Through July 31. A food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties. Bring a bag of healthy, nonperishable food in exchange for a free week of chiropractic care (consultation, exam and up to three chiropractic adjustments). Wallpaper is back

Wallpaper designers are using bolder colors, and homeowners aren't afraid to use colors and patterns anymore, Byron McElderry says, and while there are definitely papers out there that he calls "shocking" or "daring," he says that many traditional... E-commerce Meets Brick-and-Mortar Business: Modani Modern Furniture Concept Thriving Online and Opening its Third ...

Modani Furniture is rapidly becoming a common name for ultra modern and chic decor. The concept of combining e-commerce with brick-and-mortar business, where designer styles are offered at an affordable price via the internet and showroom is taking over the web and trendiest cities. Beginning a fashionable life on the 'Runway'

For years, April Johnston dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. State Budget Problems Will Only Get Worse

Revenues aren't keeping pace with spending, no matter how many cuts states make. Top color for 2010 is 'transporting' turquoise 'It puts everyone in the same state of mind - on vacation.'

If color is any guide, we'll be moving into vacation mode in 2010 with the world awash in tropical turquoise, forecasters say. Site: interior decorating - Google News
Home Front: Design ideas from Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza with interior ... - Washington Post

Home Front: Design ideas from Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza with interior ...
Washington Post
Temporary bedroom help: I've put off decorating my bedroom because it needs major structural updates in every aspect -- floor, walls, ceiling. ...

Avoid decorating faux pas by featuring your space properly - Kansas City Star

Avoid decorating faux pas by featuring your space properly
Kansas City Star
(Reach Mary Madden, an interior designer at Madden-McFarland Interiors, 1903 W. 135th St. in Leawood, at mary@maddenmcfarland.com.)

and more »
How to Think Like an Interior Designer - ShelterPop (blog)

How to Think Like an Interior Designer
ShelterPop (blog)
You need to learn to think like an interior designer, which very few of us do. To make decorating easier on you, we asked three designers to share some ...

An interiors dialogue with House Beautiful's new editor - Washington Post

An interiors dialogue with House Beautiful's new editor
Washington Post
Despite 25 years of experience in the design business, Turner is the first to tell you that he's no pro when it comes to decorating. "I'm not a designer, ...

Soulful homes with a green conscience - Deccan Herald

Deccan Herald

Soulful homes with a green conscience
Deccan Herald
For home decorators wishing to move away from fussy, modern or formal interior design, it can be hard to figure out where to begin or which natural elements ...

Wallpaper is back - The News Journal

Wallpaper is back
The News Journal
McIlvain says her interior decorator came up with the wallpaper idea, and Cairns did all the hanging. "The wallpaper was a cost-effective way to bring a lot ...

and more »
Kent In Chappaqua Offers New And Vintage Home Goods - Patch

Kent In Chappaqua Offers New And Vintage Home Goods
Patch
For his decorating advice, she in turn offered to help him with his company's website. She wanted others to learn about Chappaqua's newest interior decor ...

The Dunce of Chintz No More - New York Observer

New York Observer

The Dunce of Chintz No More
New York Observer
Until recently, I was a ding-dong about interior decorating, thinking it was frivolous, superficial: a silly pursuit for rich socialites, ...

Colourful Accountancy Wins Award - Voxy

Colourful Accountancy Wins Award
Voxy
A project where decorating becomes an artform. Sam Kebbell, KebbellDaish Architects of Wellington was announced the Resene Total Colour Residential Exterior ...

E-commerce Meets Brick-and-Mortar Business: Modani Modern Furniture Concept ... - PR Newswire (press release)

E-commerce Meets Brick-and-Mortar Business: Modani Modern Furniture Concept ...
PR Newswire (press release)
Shoppers, real-estate tycoons, athletes and mainstream celebrities are taking a liking to Modani modern furniture and decorating their interiors across the ...

and more »
Home | Site Map | Resource Links