Video - Twin Star Home

Kevin Killough with Twin Star International met us at the 2008 Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Expo to show off Twin Star's latest product, an entertainment center with a built-in electric hearth.

Be sure to check out the Twin Star website, and stay tuned for more videos from the Hearth, Patio & BBQ Expo in Atlanta.


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Choosing the Right Fireplace Glass Door

If you don’t know what you’re looking at, the many options for glass fireplace doors can be confusing and even overwhelming. What does zero-clearance mean? What is tempered glass? How can you tell if a glass door will fit your fireplace? This article explains many of the available options so you can know which fireplace glass door is the right one for your fireplace.


Masonry or Zero-Clearance?

Before you start shopping for glass fireplace doors, you need to know what kind of fireplace you have. There are two kinds of fireplaces:

• Masonry fireplaces are made of brick and mortar. If your fireplace chimney is made of brick and mortar, you have a masonry fireplace.

• Zero-clearance fireplaces (also called factory built fireplaces) are prefabricated in a factory and are made of metal, although the hearth may be lined with firebricks. If your fireplace chimney is a metal pipe, possibly topped with a round metal chimney cap, you have a zero-clearance fireplace.

It is important to determine which kind of fireplace you have since a glass door for a masonry fireplace will not work for a zero-clearance fireplace and vice-versa.


Zero Clearance Fireplaces: Find the Make and Model

If you have a zero-clearance fireplace, these require a specific size door. This ensures the correct amount of airflow is allowed into the fireplace to keep the unit operating properly. The best way to get the right size door for a zero-clearance fireplace is to find the manufacturer and model number. Look for a metal tag inside the fireplace with the manufacturer and model number.

If you can’t find this information, contact a fireplace door dealer for assistance.


Masonry Fireplaces: Measure to Fit

If you have a masonry fireplace, you will need to measure to ensure the fireplace door you buy is a good fit. There are two options for masonry fireplace doors:

• Inside Fit means the door mounts inside the hearth opening.

• Overlap Fit means the door mounts outside the hearth opening.

The fit depends on the design of the door itself. Inside Fit and Overlap Fit require different sets of measurements. Thermo-rite, a manufacturer of glass fireplace doors, has a free brochure that tells you how to measure your hearth for a fireplace glass door.


Trends and Options for Fireplace Doors

Recent advances have given consumers a wide array of choices from simple doors to designer and decorative products that can make your fireplace sizzle. To get more information about the latest trends in fireplace glass doors, we turned to Ray Repasky, vice president of Thermo-Rite.

According to Ray, custom fireplace doors are the next big thing. “Today, people can choose the glass color, the metal finish and the width of the frame,” he says.

A few of the recent trends in fireplace glass doors:

Finish – Once the most popular option for fireplace doors, brass fittings have recently been less fashionable in home interiors. Many people have turned to earthy finishes such as iron, stainless steel, pewter, brushed nickel and black. These are the same choices that have become more popular for lighting, faucets and other home fixtures.

Design – Trackless fireplace doors with thin frames and folding doors are the top choice. Some frames fit well with a modern décor, while others are more traditional. Many of these fireplace doors can be customized to fit your hearth perfectly.

Glass Color – Now consumers have alternatives to clear glass in fireplace doors. Bronze glass and other colored glass let you see a fire when it is burning, but hide the interior of the hearth when there is no fire. “Many people are discovering the beauty of bronze glass,” says Repasky. “When you aren’t burning a fire, you don’t see into a dirty fireplace.” Other alternatives to clear glass include gray, mirrored and beveled glass for fireplace doors.

Dealers are giving consumers more choice than ever in fireplace products. Whether you are shopping for a masonry fireplace glass door or a zero clearance fireplace glass door, be sure to do your research to get the fireplace glass door that’s right for your hearth, your home, and your budget.


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Choosing a Fireplace Screen

Fireplace screens provide an extra measure of safety and protection for your working fireplace. Home improvement expert Bob Vila advises consumers to “always use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces.” But you don’t have to settle for an ugly screen or a “one size fits all” screen; newer styles offer many finishes, designs, and sizes to fit your fireplace and your living area.

The first step in picking the right fireplace screen is determining which type of screen works best for your hearth. There are two types of fireplace screens:

• Single Plate – Single-plate screens consist of one single panel to cover the fireplace opening. The plate will either be curved so it can stand on its own, or it may include stands. The screen can be glass or mesh.

• Folding – Folding screens are hinged for easy adjustment. They usually consist of a large center panel of either glass or mesh and two smaller, folding panels on either side. The individual panels can be flat or curved.

Get the Right Fit

Screen distributor John S. Adams tells buyers to measure their fireplace opening and get a screen that fits. Ill-fitting screens (too small or too big) look wrong and can potentially create a safety hazard. “The screen should cover the entire opening,” Adams says. “You want good coverage with narrow, fine mesh—not great big holes.”

Since fireplaces come in all shapes and sizes, measure the dimensions of your fireplace opening before shopping for screens. If you are looking a single-plate screens, get a screen with a few inches to spare in both width and height for a snug fit. If you are considering a folding screen, look for one with up to 10 extra inches width and 5 extra inches height. This will allow you to set up the screen to cover the fireplace opening fully without overextending it. A folding screen that is too open may tip over.


Finish the Job

Just like fireplace tools and fireplace doors, you can select from a wide variety of finishes and styles for your fireplace screen. Adams notes that the most popular finish choices are natural iron, brushed steel or pewter, and basic black. Traditional polished brass is still an option, but many consider the look old-fashioned.

Style-wise, you can choose the look that is right for your fireplace and your living area. Do you have a simple, streamlined, modern look? Maybe a simple iron screen would work for you. Do you have mission-style furnishings? Perhaps a fireplace screen with mission-style designs in the metalwork would work for your living area. Or, if you are looking for something more ornate, check out fireplace screens with curved, floral designs.


Stay Safe

“A lot of families are looking for protection for their kids and pets, whether the fireplace is gas or wood-burning,” says Adams. “Even if it’s a gas fireplace, the glass enclosure gets unbelievably hot.” Luckily today’s manufacturers provide a product that is safer than ever and available in a wealth of choices to fit the color and décor of your home.

Choosing Fireplace Tools to Fit Your Style and Needs

How much do you think about the fireplace tools by your hearth? Not that much, probably. Many consider them simply decorations. And most people do not take the fireplace tools into account when updating the living area décor.

Fireplace tools can be very useful for fireplace cleaning and maintenance. You can also make a statement of style with your tools. Usefulness and style—you should always take these two major factors into account when choosing which tools work for your fireplace.


What Are Fireplace Tools? What Do They Do?

You can find the following tools in most fireplace tool sets:

• Poker – The poker allows you to stoke a fire and move logs. The curved hook on the side lets you nab a loose log and pull it back into position.
• Shovel – The shovel allows you to clear cold ash and cinders from the hearth. Don’t let ugly, unsafe as build up in your fireplace. (But remember—do not attempt to remove hot ashes or cinders from the hearth.)
• Broom – The broom allows you to sweep debris or ash from the hearth area. You can use it in combination with the shovel which acts as a dustpan to remove sweepings.
• Tongs – The tongs allow you to grab and move a burning log.

Size it Up

Fireplace tools come in many sizes, so be sure to get the right size for your fireplace. Consider how you are going to use the tools. Will you burn logs frequently? If so, you will probably want a larger set with a durable broom, nothing too polished or fancy. If you do not build fires in your fireplace or if you want the toolset primarily for decoration, you should look at smaller sets. And, naturally, the larger fireplace you have, the larger the tools should be.


Modern Design for Fireplace Tools

Modern design is becoming more popular for homes and fireplaces. Fireplace tool distributor John S. Adams from Iowa says that many homeowners are shopping for modern fireplace toolsets these days to match their décor. Brushed steel, pewter, nickel, and iron (metallic or black) are popular finishes for these streamlined, simplistic tools. The “modern” look fits right in with other contemporary touches as well as modern electronics like flatscreen plasma TVs.


The Classic Look

Many decorators and designers currently consider polished brass fixtures (including lights, cabinet handles, and fireplace toolsets) to be out of style. “Polished brass has all but totally gone away,” says Adams. Decorator Beth Norton even pointed out the “outdated brass” in her Before picture of a condo redecoration. If your living area is less modern and more classic, you should consider the timeless look of antique brass, bronze, or a silver finish including nickel, chrome, pewter, and burnished steel. Of course, polished brass tools are still available if you want the traditional look.

Modern Design Options for Fireplaces

Modern design is clean, sparse, and often geometric and simple. While critics have charged that this style is “cold,” you can lend some literal—and figurative—warmth to a modern home with a well-designed fireplace. This article explores many popular options for modern fireplaces including some easy, simple remodeling ideas for “modernizing” your existing fireplace.


It’s a Gas!

Modern fireplaces can be radically different from the traditional hearth with a brick surround and a wooden mantle. An increasingly popular component of modern fireplaces are gas logs. Cement or ceramic “logs” radiate heat from clean, efficient propane or natural gas flames. You get the warmth and visual appeal of a wood fire without the dirt, hassle, and expense of woodpiles. This makes them the ideal choice for a condo or apartment. You can choose the style of gas log and the venting option that works for your home.


Plasma (Flatscreen) TVs Mounted above the Fireplace

Since the fireplace is often the focal point of a room, many people choose to mount their flatscreen television above the fireplace. Naturally, this leads to concerns about damaging the expensive equipment or discoloring the screen or surrounding plastic. This article from the Plasma TV Buying Guide website provides some easy guidelines to determine if you can safely mount a plasma TV above a working fireplace or on a mantle.

Many retail outlets offer licensed and bonded installation services for mounting flatscreen televisions. If you choose to do the work yourself, be sure you have the tools and the expertise necessary—the job can be complicated and, if you aren’t careful, could even be a fire hazard.


Paint Over Ugly Fireplace Brick

Ideally, you would be able to design every aspect of your modern home, including a custom-designed fireplace to fit your living area. But in reality, budget constraints might make remodeling an existing fireplace a more practical choice.

If you are trying to come up with an inexpensive remodel to bring the existing, ugly brick fireplace more in line with the modern look of your home, you might want to consider painting the brick. A painted brick fireplace offers a clean, updated look, and painting with the right technique can provide the look and feel of real brick. Try a pre-assembled fireplace paint kit to get all the tools and paint you need as well as instructions for painting brick with the correct technique—all at a fraction of the price of putting in a new fireplace.


Fireplace Doors, Mantels, and Accessories

Traditional components of a fireplace—fireplace glass doors, mantels, and fireplace accessories—are not necessarily out of place in a Modern home. For example, a rustic log fireplace mantel would fit right in with “Modern Primitive” design. And today’s manufacturers offer a wide variety of fireplace accessories and glass doors to match any décor. Update: We found a fireplace door website just for Majestic Fireplace doors!