A fireplace that has been used for some time naturally becomes charred and does not look at its best. To cover up this condition, make a fireplace screen. The one here shown not only hides the unsightly opening of the fireplace but when properly finished presents quite an ornamental effect. Then too, when you have no use for this screen, it is simply folded together and put out of the way.

Make this screen so that it will cover your entire fireplace opening when the screen is placed as shown in the illustration.

There are many ways to make a screen of this kind. One way would be to construct it out of solid material. This would produce a rather heavy screen. The best way is to make a light framework and cover this with some suitable material.

You can cover this screen with an attractive piece of cretonne, tapestry or other material; perhaps you would prefer to have a firm surface upon which you could paste wallpaper or paint a scene or decorative design. In either case, the general method for making the framework will be the same.

If the screen is to be covered with cretonne or something similar, construct the framework out of thick wood about 11/8" wide. Screw the corners together. If the screen is to be covered with a solid material, such as wall fibre board, make the inside framework out of thick stock. I will explain this second type of screen in the following steps.

Method Of Procedure

Step No. 1: Cut out six pieces of fibre board the size of your three sections of the screen. You will need two for each section, since there is to be a framework put in the center.

Step No. 2. Cut out strips of 1/2"x11/8" pieces of any workable wood: these strips are to be used as filler pieces on the frame work for each section.

Step No. 3: Glue two pieces of fibre board to each section of framework. Be sure to get contact on all parts being glued.

Step No. 4: When the glue is dry, plane the edges smooth and true.

Step No. 5: Glue a thin strip about 1/4" thick around all edges to conceal the fibre board.

Step No. 6. Fasten two double acting screen hinges to each section (screen hinges allow folding the panel in both directions).

Step No. 7: Apply a thin coat of white shellac to the entire screen.

Step No. 8: Apply attractive wallpaper to both sides of the panels, or paint in, in an unusual way, a small motive in each section. If you cover with wall paper, apply a coat of shellac to the paper, after the paper has dried out thoroughly. The edges of the panels should be painted to harmonize with the paper or else to completely contrast with it, by using a black stripe.