There are several things you should consider before selecting accessories for your mantel and fireplace or stove. They include: the size and style of your mantel, the size of the room, the purpose of the mantel, the design elements in the room, and whether or not you will be having a real wood-burning fire in the fireplace. Think about these things before you start adding accessories; how you dress your mantel is important for both aesthetic purposes and function.

The size of the mantel is important in helping you or your design professional decide on the correct size of accessories needed. For example, you do not want to select a pair of andirons or a fire fender larger than your hearth can accommodate. Nor do you want to choose a screen which is disproportionate to your mantel opening.

The size of the room is also important. Some rooms, for example, may be too small for the additional heat radiated by a fireback. Large rooms, on the other hand, lend themselves to large mantels and grand scale accessories. So be careful to select fireplace accessories which suit the size of the mantel and the size of the room.

Something else to consider is the purpose of the mantel. Will it serve as a focal point of the room? If so, then you may want to select an important pair of andirons which will draw attention to your mantel. If, however, the mantel's purpose is simply to enhance the room but not to draw too much attention, then perhaps a simpler pair of andirons would be more suitable.

Fire tools are almost always a requisite. Even if you are not constructing a wood-burning fireplace and even if you will not be having a real fire, fire tools add a certain decorative element which - even if purely ornamental - is essential. Choosing the appropriate set of tools for your mantel is therefore important in helping complete the statement you are trying to make. In earlier times, a fine set of fire tools was often reserved for purely decorative purposes while an additional more basic set of tools was kept hidden away for actually tending the fire.

So accessorize your mantel to suit your taste, your life-style and the particular design elements of your room. Beautiful accessories add a sense of grandeur to any fireplace. We have hundreds of tool sets, accessories and design items on display.