DIY Network

Fireplace Screen This sophisticated screen gives you safety with style. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-114

Beautify your fireplace with this fun, functional screen.

A fireplace is the focal point of any room, and this project makes it even more striking: Michele Beschen, host of B. Original, shows how to create a stunning fire screen using macramé hoops, wire and aluminum mesh. It makes a bold design statement, but still lets the beauty of your fire show through.

This fire screen is more than just a pretty face: It's important to have a screen up in front of the fireplace to prevent burning embers from getting out and igniting the room. They're also a good idea if you use gas logs, because they keep pets, kids and flammable items from getting too close to the flame.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Four-Panel Fireplace Screen

Materials:

22-gauge wire (aluminum or steel)
8 macrame hoops, 14" in diameter
7" and 10" macramé hoops
8 café rods, 24"-48" long (nickel or brass)
aluminum mesh screen

Safety Alert: Make sure you use aluminum mesh screen. The more common nylon screen will melt and burn if used close to a fire.

• Wrap one end of a length of wire several times around a macramé hoop, then string the wire back and forth across the hoop in a random pattern, wrapping it several times around the hoop at each endpoint (figure A). Keep the wire pulled tight as you wrap (figure B).

• When you're pleased with the design on the hoop, tie off and cut the wire. Repeat for the other hoops.

• Lay out two café rods on a flat work surface and adjust the rods to the desired height for your screen. Make sure the bottoms of the rods are lined up, or the final screen won't be level. You may want to rest a board against the bottom end of the rods to keep them steady (figure C).

• Wire macramé hoops to the rods. Use a few smaller hoops along with the 14" hoops for visual interest. The hoops do not have to go all the way to the top of the rods, but the panels do need to be straight. Also wire adjacent hoops to each other (figure D).

• Slide your work piece over and lay out another café rod 14" from the edge of the panel. Wire hoops to the existing panel and new rod to create a new panel. Repeal until all four panels are complete.

• Cut pieces of aluminum mesh screen to fit the panels (figure E). Also cut smaller pieces in different shapes to use as accents (figure F). Add color to the mesh by either dribbling globs of paint on it or by spray-painting it.

• Use 22-gauge wire to whip-stitch the full-size pieces of mesh to the back of the screen. Stitch the smaller accent pieces to the front.

• Stand your screen up to make sure it's level. If the café rods aren't level, slide out the rod extensions and tape them in place. Cover up the tape with wire and spray paint.

Your new fireplace screen is ready for use—a beautiful addition to any fireplace.