Many homeowners are keen to create a traditional open fireplace in their living space, designing an attractive feature which gives irresistible appeal to any room. One of the most important characteristics of the fireplace is the type of fireside furniture and grate which is selected for the hearth and fire space. Not only does the grate and tools for fire management play a key role in the performance of the fire once lit, they also provide plenty of visual interest and help to suggest a particular historical period, type of house or favoured style. Read on to discover how the winning combination of dog irons (andirons) and a grate can utterly transform your fireplace.
Traditional Fireplace Furniture
Dog irons have been used for hundreds of years to hold logs securely in place whilst they were burning. In days gone by they might also have benefited from spit attachments, enabling a spit or cauldron to be located above the heat in order to prepare food. The grate is a relatively recent invention, which became popular when coal began to replace wood as the primary source of domestic fuel. Today it’s possible to buy a selection of dog grates, which combine dog irons (andirons) and a grate into a single, spectacular fireplace item.
A Range of Styles and Colours
If you are considering a dog grate largely for ornamental purposes, it’s possible to find designs which feature andirons finished in brass or other bright metals. Correctly maintained, these provide a beautiful, burnished accent which adds warmth and nostalgia to your home. If your fireplace is intended to be functional, a dog grate made from iron or some other dark metal, which won’t require constant cleaning to remove soot and ash, is probably a more suitable option. Dog grates can be sized to fit fireplaces of varying dimensions and there are also options to have the dog irons located on the hearth or in the fireplace itself.
Excellent Performance
The main function of both dog irons and a grate is to lift the fuel from the fireplace floor, enhancing air flow to promote effective burning and therefore heat generation. Take care here if you burn mainly wood as the additional air from underneath a grate may mean you burn much more wood than you need to. Solid based are better for wood but a grate is a must have for coal. A well-made dog grate not only looks fantastic, it also ensures that your fuel burns properly, minimizing the need for continual poking and stoking. Dog grates can accommodate coal or wood fuels, giving you plenty heating options. The ultimate in open fire performance are what are known as Convector fires. These fires are a modern take on the traditional fire grate etc but they have been refined to offer significantly increased performance (up to 5 times greater) and distribute that heat around the room much more effectively.
All our convector fires are hand crafted, demonstrating exemplary build quality and giving you a product which will last for decades. Drawing on inspiration from a wide variety of historical sources to ensure each of our open fires showcases the very best period features. We can create an item which is historically accurate for a particular era, (what better for a period home than period fireplace furniture?), or provide more generic designs which complement a range of décors. Offering warmth, comfort and plenty of irresistible visual appeal, why not invest in a Convecting open fire to give your interior space timeless charm?
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