Skip to main content

Cool Crafted Fireplace Screens

It’s about that time for the ultimate winter man task in every home, building a fire! This is also the time of year when carpets get burnt, animals get singed and kids have to be seat belted into the sofa so as not to get near said fire. One way to reduce risks in all fields is to use a fire screen.

Sure you can get one at Home Depot, but if you want something that is going to stand out, work with a blacksmith and see what they have in the oven. Here are three we are fond of:

Recommended Videos

At Oak Hill Iron Works in Morganton, N.C., owner/blacksmith Dean Curfman and his staff perform the brutal work necessary to create screens sure to become conversation pieces in the homes of their owners.

“Every piece is hand forged,” says Curfman, as he watches a worker heat an iron rod to an orange glow. He then uses a machine to hammer the hot iron into the shape of a leaf. It’s grueling work and when they are working in the summer time, the heat can reach 115 degrees in the studio.

The best part about the offerings at Oak Hill Iron Works is they are basically unlimited. They’ll tackle any project that comes through the door. You’re really limited only by your own imagination.

“You bring us your concept and we’ll make something you’ll love,” says Curfman. “If we can’t make it, you don’t need it.”

Fireplace screens crafted by Whit Hanschka are just as intricate. He opened his shop in 1996 on Martha’s Vineyard and has been creating elaborate pieces since. He’s created many impressive screens including one that’s wrought iron with a copper eel design, a bronze and copper model, and fish swimming over waves made from wrought iron, stainless steel and bronze.

In Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Village Blacksmith, Inc. is the forge and shop of artist/blacksmith Ken Roby. He offers hand forged screens and fireplace accessories, as well as a variety of other items. You can see an example of his work here.

Marla Milling
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marla Hardee Milling is a full-time freelance writer living in a place often called the Paris of the South, Sante Fe of the…
Predator: Badlands is giving Predator fans the movie they’ve always wanted
The movie is set to hit theaters in November, years after the debut of Prey.
Elle Fanning in Predator Badlands

After the success of Prey, there's some new energy in the Predator franchise. What's even better for Predator fans, though, is that the next installment seems designed to give them something they've always wanted. Namely, a movie that follows a predator's POV.

In the first trailer for Predator: Badlands, a predator named Dek is exiled from his clan, only to meet a humanoid-looking life-form played by Elle Fanning. The two of them team up to take on something that "can't be killed," and a long the way, we get some pretty incredible looks at the homeworld of the predators.

Read more
The next Hunger Games movie has found its lead actors
The movie will be set 24 years before the original Hunger Games.
Sunrise on the Reaping cover

Following the success of Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest book in the Hunger Games series, Deadline is reporting that the film adaptation that is set to release in 2026 has found its lead actors. Joseph Zada will play Haymitch in the film, while Whitney Peak will play Lenore Dove, Haymitch's romantic partner.

The film will be set 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and 24 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games. The book follows Haymitch, the District 12 victor who mentors Katniss and Peeta, as he wins his own Games on their 50th anniversary.

Read more
The 9 best golf documentaries to watch this year
Here's a glimpse into the amazing history of golf, including how the sport has evolved
Tiger (HBO)

Depending on how you look at it, golf is either one of the simplest sports or one of the most complex. The objective is very easy to wrap your head around: This ball has got to wind up in a hole that's maybe a quarter mile away. Everything that happens after that, though, is where things get interesting. Of course, people who love golf love it for a wide array of reasons. Some people love the beautiful courses, while others love the stories behind their favorite players.
There are plenty of people who love golf but don't play it much themselves, and those are the people who this list is really for. Golf's full of amazing stories, and we've even gotten our fair share of great golf movies as a result. Sometimes, though, a documentary is an even better fit for a particular story set in the world of golf. As someone who doesn't play much golf but loves to watch it, these documentaries are right up my alley. They're the kinds of movies that can inspire and perplex you, and also remind you that at its best, golf is filled with legendary moments. These movies might not be on the shortlist for any awards, but that's only because sports documentaries are so recognized for how well they put stories together.
After careful consideration, we've brought you this list of the best golf documentaries you can stream now.

Full Swing (2023)

Read more