Steve Smith and Carmen Ruiz-Perez spent their first Valentine’s Day together last month after getting back together.

They plan to marry in the summer.

The couple, who are both 42, first met while Spanish Ms Ruiz-Perez was a foreign student in England.

They got engaged but found that her having to regularly fly to the Paris boutique she ran proved too much and they split.

Mr Smith traced the address of his ex-girlfriend’s mother in Spain ten years ago and sent a letter but her mother left it above a fireplace and it eventually slipped behind it.

However, she recently discovered the love note and gave it to her daughter.

‘After reading it, I nearly didn’t phone him at all. I kept picking it then putting it down again,’ said Ms Ruiz-Perez. ‘But I had to call.’

Mr Smith, from Paignton, Devon, said: ‘Within two days, I had flown to Paris and we started where we had left off all those years ago.’

He added: ‘Finding each other again was fate.’  (If only he’d said finding each other was grate…).

Fireplace tools can be subdivided into:

1. Holding tools – devices for cradling the fuel

2. Heat magnification tools – the fire back

3. Fireplace tending tools

As you can imagine, this is a huge category and one that can only be touched upon here. We’ll start with the most fundamental of these fireplace accessories.

Choosing a Fireplace Grate

The grate is the frame of metal bars that keeps the wood or coal together, thus making the fire safer and more efficient. Our ancestors also realised that grates have enormous decorative potential, especially during the summer months when there is no fire. Nevertheless, there’s more to choosing the right grate than looks alone.

If you intend to light the fire frequently, choose a grate with thick bars. It’s common sense really, the more fires you burn, the stronger the grate must be to withstand the constant heat. Likewise, large logs will need a deeper grate than small and, if you intend to burn coal, you should find a grate that has adequate space beneath it to allow good air circulation. In fact, whatever fuel you intend to burn, generous air space beneath the fire will make it burn cleaner.

Perhaps the most important advice is to choose the heaviest grate you can afford – really you can’t beat cast iron; the Victorians knew a thing or two!

We’ll talk more about other fire tools next time but, in the meantime, here’s some advice for using that carefully chosen grate!

Brick fireplace tiles have been available for several years and are manufactured in various ways: some are kiln-fired in the same way as standard bricks, but are only around 1”/20mm thick. Reclaimed brick tiles are cut from the face of reclaimed bricks, and these are obviously much more expensive than standard brick tiles. People living in period properties may prefer to use reclaimed brick tiles in order to make a fireplace look as authentic as possible.

Brick fireplace tiles are available in many styles and colours, and when applied and pointed, they look just like solid brick. Brick fireplace tiles have many advantages over solid brick; they are lighter, easier to cut and simple to apply. Also, the tiles are only around 1” thick, meaning that they take up less space than standard bricks – perfect for small living spaces. Although they are very slim, brick tiles have the same surface area as a normal brick. This ensures that the tiles really do look just like normal bricks when put into place.

Brick tiles are very versatile, and can be used in a variety of ways. As well as being used on fireplaces, they may be used as flooring in kitchens and conservatories, and are also suitable for external use, in the building of new properties or restoration projects.

As mentioned earlier, brick fireplace tiles come in a wide range of colours, so the design possibilities are endless. The standard brick colours, in all shades of red and yellow, are very popular, and pointing compounds are available in complementing shades. Creating an attractive and unique brick tile fireplace for your home really is simple and can be completed very quickly – what are you waiting for? Tile over your tired old brick fireplace today!

It was in the Victorian age that tiles for fireplaces became very popular. Between 1860 and 1880, ceramic tiles were placed in ‘tile sliders’ and provided a decorative frame at either side of the cast-iron fireplace – this was the sole purpose of the ceramic tile – they were purely decorative. In time, fully tiled fireplaces became popular.

Fire tiles were very popular at the end of the nineteenth century, and many Victorian potters employed a large labour force to mass-produce ceramic fireplace tiles cheaply, especially in Staffordshire. A number of methods were used to decorate tiles: plain glazes were made from white lead; flint; china clay and china stone, and these were ground together to make the basic glaze – the colours were formed by adding metal oxides to this.

Clear glaze was applied over colours to enhance and protect the tile, and also added to patterned tiles for the same reason. Some tiles were hand-painted: a design was taken from a book and pricked through onto paper, then this was in turn transferred onto the tile using charcoal and coloured in.

Two Liverpool printers named Sadler and Green invented transfer printing, a method of decorating tiles in the Victorian era. With this method, an engraved copper plate was covered with ink, and then tissue paper was pressed onto the plate. The tissue paper was then used to transfer the pattern onto the fireplace tile. Tile-sets that formed a pattern at either side of the fireplace were very much in demand during the Edwardian era, but few of these survive today: if one was damaged, then the whole set was unusable and thus disposed of. However, there are excellent reproductions of Edwardian fire tiles widely available.

The Art Nouveau period saw the introduction of tube-lining, a method of placing raised lines onto the fireplace tile. These raised lines formed a pattern and separated the various colours used on a tile.

Between the two World Wars, fully tiled fireplaces came back into vogue. The dark Victorian colours of red, green and blue were replaced with tiles in all shades of beige, the fashionable colour of the time. Cream tiles were also popular, in both plain and mottled finishes.

Today, there are many different kinds of fireplace tile, in all colours and finishes. Original antique tiles are available, but these are expensive. Excellent reproductions are available, with the best ones hand-produced according to traditional methods. In respect of tiling the modern fireplace, almost any ceramic or slate tile is suitable.

Andirons were traditionally used to hold logs, but with the advent of coal, something was needed which would hold the coals together and allow adequate ventilation underneath. Thus, the fire grate was borne – the word grate is a shortening of the term grating, which is used to describe iron bars placed in a criss-cross pattern.

A grate is a freestanding fire basket with short legs that has raised sides to prevent the coal from falling out, with the space at the bottom providing the ventilation needed. It is hard to find very early examples of fire grate, due to ever-changing quality standards and fashions.

As coal became the norm in terms of domestic fuel, the fireplace grate became more and more prevalent. In the late Georgian period, andirons were referred to as dogs, and the grate subsequently became known as the dog-grate. These were in demand from the middle of the 18^th century, and popular design styles included Rococo, Gothic and Chinoisie. Two designers of the time, Ince and Mayhew, introduced the neoclassical dog grate, with a row of urns decorating the top, and some of the most elegant fireplace grates were made in the Adam tradition.

Two wood carvers from the Carron Company named the Howarth brothers produced beautiful dog-grates in the Adam style – the company had gained a royal charter in 1773 and from this point the Howarth brothers incorporated portrait medallions of George III and Queen Charlotte into their designs, along with the elegant ribbon and husk motifs. By this time, fire grates had become much wider, stretching across the entire fireplace opening.

Soon, families began to place bricks or masonry at either side of the fire grate, in order to cook food and/or keep it warm (known as the hob-grate). This slowly advanced and the hob began to be cast in metal and was moved into the grate itself – the kitchen range, based on much the same principle, was invented in the late 18^th century and has been popular ever since.

From the Victorian era, grates became squarer and simpler, and were more heavy and solid than their earlier counterparts. Made of cast iron, these grates provided excellent heat radiation, but a downside was that they tended to scatter ashes and cinders over a wide area. Later in the Victorian period, cast iron combined fireplaces became common, with the grate and surround being incorporated into one unit. These came in a variety of styles.

Today, there are many types of fireplace grate available at excellent prices on the market. Some households still use logs on their fire, and thus like to have traditional firedogs in their fireplace. However, most families burn coal, and thus possess a fire grate. Antique fire grates are available, but if these prove too expensive there are many reproductions to choose from.

The TV shopping channel QVC sells attractive tea light fireplace screens at equally attractive prices. One on offer is a beautiful rustic screen, hand-made from silver branches and twigs. There are seven glass votives included with the fire screen, and the tea lights are also included in the price. This screen would look lovely at Xmas, as the materials and colour will go well with the Christmas tree and other decorations.

QVC also sells a Yankee candle 12-votive tea light fireplace screen. Made from black wrought iron, this freestanding 3-panelled screen is very pretty. It is embellished with trailing leaves, beads and flowers and features an amazing 12 glass votives.

Also included in the price are two packs of scented tea light candles in clean cotton and rose fragrances, with 12 candles in each pack. So, this fireplace screen provides an amazing and attractive display of light, as well as a gorgeous aroma, thanks to the scented candles. All this on offer for under thirty pounds!

Most tea light fireplace screens are made from wrought iron, as it tolerates heat very well. However, there are many styles and types available for sale, such as the one made from branches above. Obviously, this is for decorative use only and cannot be used when the fire in on, and you need to be aware of this when choosing a tea light screen – if you want a functional design, check that any one you buy is suitable for the purpose. In any event, a decorative tea light fireplace screen brings a magic to the fireside all of its own.

There are many kinds of fireplace wallpaper available, and these can be easily downloaded from the Internet. When your laptop or PC is on standby, you will be treated to the sight- and sometimes sounds – of a roaring fire, and some fireplace screensavers have an amazingly realistic 3D quality.

There are many different designs of fireplace screensaver, such as 3D; classic; brick; rustic; open hearth; relaxing, and even a Christmas fireplace scene. This features a cosy fireplace in a room that is beautifully decorated for Christmas. Many fireplace screensavers feature realistic sound effects, such as the crackling, popping and roaring of a real fire.

Funutilities is an excellent site that contains over 4500 free screensavers and wallpapers, and all contain top quality graphics and animation. There is an excellent selection of fireplace screensavers and, since they are free, why not download several? A condition of the downloading of screensavers from this site is that you download the crawler toolbar, but this helps speed up searches and is adware and spyware free.

As mentioned, there are many online sites offering fireplace screensavers. Some are free, but some offer a try-before-you-buy service, where you can preview the product before deciding whether to buy or not. Similarly, some sites allow you to download a basic version for free, but if you want the full version with all features you must pay.

It is a matter of personal choice whether you decide to buy a fireplace screensaver or download a free one. Both free and bought fireplace screensavers offer various features such as:

1. A choice of burning logs, with or without smoke

2. Various fireplace types, materials and fireguards

3. Different flame colours

4. Adjustable flame height, width and intensity

There really is a fireplace screensaver for everyone – or several, if they are free! Looking at and listening to the roar of a real log or coal fire induces a feeling of calm, tranquility and relaxation, and this is especially welcome in the stressful surroundings of the office or workplace. What are you waiting for? Download your fireplace screensavers today – just make sure that any software is spyware and adware free!

Stained glass became particularly popular in the Victorian era, with stained glass windows displaying motifs such as birds and flowers. Many large homes had spectacular examples of such stained glass windows, whilst smaller homes had scaled- down versions.

Famous designers who worked with stained glass include William Morris, who produced many architectural and interior pieces using glass, including the stained glass fire screen, and Louis Comfort Tiffany, who used opalescent glass to create many unique stained glass pieces in a variety of colours and textures. Tiffany is most well known for his production of stained glass windows and lamps, but he did produce a range of interior decorations, including fireplace screens made from stained glass.

Stained glass fire screens really add a unique beauty to the hearth, drawing attention and admiration from all who see it. Most stained glass fireplace screens are for decorative use only and cannot be used when the fire is on, but they provide an attractive cover for when the fire is not in use and the rich colours of the glass really come alive when the sun shines onto the fire screen. Also, a candle could also be placed behind the screen to create a lovely ambience in the evenings.

Stained glass screens are very popular today due to their beauty, and there are many different designs to choose from. The traditional Tiffany style fire screens are some of the most popular, with their amber glass that looks lovely when the light catches it, and some expensive models feature many pieces of stained glass, with hundreds of jewel segments. Antique stained glass fireplace screens are very expensive, but there are excellent reproductions available for a fraction of the price. More modern designs are also available for the more contemporary setting.

There are some companies that are pleased to design stained glass fireplace screens to an individual’s liking, and the beauty of this is that such a fire screen will be completely unique. Businesses such as The London Stained Glass Company are happy to provide a commissioned service – see their websites for details.

Types of early fire screen include pole fire screens that stood at either side of the fireplace, sliding panel screens that worked in much the same way as a sash window, and the panelled fire screens like the ones seen today. Fire screens were highly ornate and many contained decorative items such as stuffed birds, butterflies or dried flowers, and these antique screens are very much in demand today. As well as shielding occupants and property from the fire, a fire screen had a purely decorative function in the summer, hiding the empty coal grate.

Today, there are many types of fireplace screen for sale. Single panelled fire screens are ideal for the smaller fireplace, and where space is limited. These sit up flush against the fireplace opening, so are only suitable for flat fires. 3 and 4 panelled folding fireplace screens are also available, and these provide a traditional look for larger fireplaces.

Folding fireguards can be folded down and stored away if not in use, thus taking up little space. Curved fireguards are ideal for fireplaces where the fire is not completely flush and glass fireplace screens are also available, in many styles. Some are made for decorative purposes only, and only those made from toughened safety glass can be used with a lit fire. If you buy a glass screen, double-check with the retailer that it can be used when the fire is lit.

Fire screens come in many decorative designs and are made from many materials such as metal, glass, wire mesh and brass. Today, the glass ‘tiffany style’ screens are very popular, and these come in a range of colours and designs to suit every home. Many of the basic screens are made from strong mesh edged with wrought iron or brass, and these come in several colours such as black, silver and bronze.

Fireplace screens were initially invented for the purpose of protection from heat, smoke or stray embers, yet today they are used mainly for their decorative qualities – most people have gas fires or electric fires, yet still have a fireguard to enhance the look of the fireplace. If you do have a solid fuel fire, then a fire screen is essential, especially if there are children or elderly people in the household.

The best quality reproduction cast-iron fireplaces are made by skilled craftsmen who employ traditional casting methods, and they also feature patterns as seen in original fireplaces. Good reproduction fireplace retailers sell a wide range of cast iron fireplaces, fireplace inserts and reproduction combination fireplaces, as well as the associated matching accessories such as tiles, hearths and mirrors.

Quality Georgian reproduction fireplace inserts typify the classical elegance of the period, whilst the Victorian fireplace insert comes in several ornate styles, including Gothic and Rococo. Remember, the Victorian era was known as The Battle of the Styles, due to the influence of the many decorative styles that had gone before. As a result, many reproduction Victorian fireplace inserts feature a combination of decorative styles, making them unusual and highly ornate.

In the Edwardian era, the technique known as slabbing was introduced, and thus completely tiled fireplace inserts became available, or even completely tiled fireplaces. Pastel coloured tiles became popular during the Edwardian age and there are many tiled reproduction fireplace inserts in attractive colours.

As already mentioned, tile sliders were introduced in the late Victorian era, and these allowed decorative tile-sets to be placed at either side of the fireplace opening in a cast iron frame. In the interests of authenticity, any tiles you buy for your reproduction insert should be of the same quality and made in the traditional way. Decorative fireplace tiles were produced by hand, meaning that no two tiles looked exactly alike, with slight variations in pattern and colour. Reproduction fireplace tiles are available individually or in tile-sets, which make up a pattern when inserted either side of the fireplace opening, and such tiles are available in authentic Victorian and Edwardian colours.

There are a number of online retailers selling quality reproduction fireplace inserts and other reproduction fireplaces, with all accessories. Cast Iron Fires has an excellent selection of the above, to suit every domestic setting. The site offers the all-important secure online shopping facilities and the company is happy to offer advice to any prospective customers.