Dog grates and log fires
The best looking fireplace is one with an open fire in it. After all that is the most traditional sort or fireplace. We would also argue that the best looking fireplace is a stone fireplace, as this is also one of the oldest and most traditional types of fireplace. (Not including your caveman’s fire of course)
If you are going to have an open fire, then you ideally need a fire basket or some firedogs of some sort. For burning just wood, a couple of simple fire dogs will do, as wood needs to lie in its smouldering ash in order to burn efficiently. This is why you’ll often see stone fireplaces in old country houses, with veritable mountains of ash on the hearth: This isn’t because they’re too lazy to clean it out, but because when they place the big logs on the fire that evening, the accumulated ash will ensure that the logs burn well.
If you intend to burn coal, then things are slightly different. Coal ideally needs a draught from under the fire, and thus is more often burned in a basket or a swans’ nest. This means the ash can fall through the grate and the draught can still reach the underside of the fire.
either arrangement is fine for a stone fireplace. We can supply a grate that will not only look in keeping with your stone fireplaces, but will also function well with your chosen fuel