Edition 32: Fireplace Tools for Style and Safety

Everything you need to tame your flames

Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.

Is there anything cozier than a roaring fire on a cold day? This week, Courtney in Nashville needs some help getting her hearth winter-ready:

“I have a seasonally appropriate, two-part search: Fireplace accessories. They're crucial for any wood-burning fireplace!

Part 1 is most important -- the tool set. We are using a shiny brass set our home's previous owner left, but they are in poor shape, and the handles maddeningly come unscrewed during use! I'd like something that will stand the test of time -- both in durability and design. Our current set has the broom & dustpan for removing ash, a poker, and tongs, all of which get used regularly. The 4 tools hang from a freestanding central hub, allowing the sooty ends of each utensil to remain suspended. This is the classic configuration for good reason, but I'm open to other ideas. Tools that feel comfortable in hand and balanced when in use is my top priority.

Part 2: A receptacle into which I can scoop the ashes when cleaning out said fireplace. These are most commonly a metal bucket with a lid. I am currently using my largest mixing bowl, which is far from ideal! I need a dedicated item that can safely house the ashes while also looking good enough to keep in full, hearth-side view during the whole of winter. Ideally this item would be a good visual complement to the tool set.

Aesthetic preferences: MCM, clean lines, timeless”

Dear Courtney,

These tools are crucial to effectively and safely using your fireplace! I’ve been using this set from Crate & Barrel for several years, which looks lovely on my fireplace but is missing a pair of tongs, which is a serious problem! So, thank you. This is something I’d been needing to research for a while, too.

A fireplace tool set must include the following:

• Tongs for safely placing and moving logs

• Poker for, well, poking

• Broom for brushing up ash and debris

• Shovel for shoveling out ash and debris

• Preferable but not a deal-breaker: the base should have edges to collect the debris that falls off of the tools so your floor stays clean.

Another thing that I certainly didn’t think about when choosing a set for myself is that the tools should all have their own individual hooks or hanging posts so you don’t have to move them all around to access the one that you need. All of this considered, here are my top 3, all in different price ranges:

Under $100:

The Pleasant Hearth Preston Fireplace Tool Set ($40-$55, available in lots of places) is the best looking set I’ve found under $100 that also has great reviews online. It fits all of the criteria, and though it’s more Frank Lloyd Wright than MCM, I think it’d compliment the style of your home nicely.

$200-$300

This is the price range that most quality sets fall under (also look up Pilgrim Home & Hearth, which is a good brand in this range that you’ll find at lots of retailers like Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn). For a more minimal and concealed look, the Osburn Petal Fireplace Tool Set ($249) is as clean and cool as a fireplace tool set can be. While most fireplace tools on the market are a potentially unwieldy 22” - 28”, these ones are 20”, which will allow better control when in use.

$400+

The Emma Fireplace Tool Set by Eldvarm ($725) is the holy grail of fireplace tools, and nothing I’ve found comes close to it. Besides the obvious fact that it’s beautiful, I love that it has a proper dustpan + brush and not the awkward, dinky ones most sets come equipped with. Additionally, the tongs work like giant kitchen tongs, which would be more comfortable to use than typical three-prong fireplace-specific ones. If I used my fireplace more regularly, I’d be saving up for this baby. You’ll find the best price/most color options from Lekkar Home.

Ash bucket

There isn’t a lot of variation when it comes to these. In my opinion, it should be a dark color so you don’t feel like you have to wash it when it’s gross and ashy, and it should also have a lid — that way, you don’t have to empty it every time you use it. Just put the lid on and your ash and embers will stay contained and cool down safely. Have you ever accidentally left out an open bucket of ash? I definitely don’t recommend it, especially if you have a cat.

The best one I’ve found is the Galvanized Ash Bucket from Plow and Hearth ($40). I like this one because it won’t look too bulky and bucket-y alongside your fireplace.

To anyone reading this who has a wood-burning fireplace: treat this as a reminder to call your local chimney guy if you haven’t already! It’s so so important to get your chimney inspected and cleaned annually so your toasty fire doesn’t burn your house down!

QUICK ANSWER

Jackie in Philadelphia: “Home office rolling chair for daily heavy usage that is design forward (no super built up high backs with the neck/head rest), on the compact side. Willing to invest without blowing my budget. I give up every time I start this search. Leather or fabric - flexible. If I’m really being picky, non black/white color and no rose gold/novelty metal colors.”

I’ve been working at Neuehouse for the past 10 months, which is a design-y co-working space/social club. I have a really hard time focusing and need the conditions to be *just right* in order to be productive on an office day. My desk came equipped with a Gas chair by Jesús Gasca for STUA, which doesn’t look at all ergonomic and has as slim a profile as office chairs come. At first I thought “Great, I won’t get too comfortable and will be more likely to hustle through my work day” but after all these months, I’ve become obsessed with this chair because it looks great, hits my back in just the right spot and has arm rests are low enough they don’t get in the way. Considering the heavy use these chairs see in a co-working space, I’d venture to guess that one would last forever in your home.

You can find the Gas Swivel Chair at DWR starting at $795. For what it’s worth, I’d choose a chrome frame with cognac leather :)

FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

The best holiday candle is Balsam & Cedar by Yankee Candle. It smells like a christmas tree forest on a crisp day and can’t be beat by any other more expensive candles. This is the only time of year I burn scented candles everyday instead of my favorite farmers market beeswax candles, and I look forward to the ceremonial first lighting each November. Last year, I ordered 8 of them for gifting and the box was STOLEN and emptied by a sneaky neighbor — they’re that good. And in case the Yankee Candle classic country house jar isn’t your thing, the “studio collection” version is much more modern (and only $16):

Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next week for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline