apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I can't recommend a screen, but fireplaces actually make a house colder, not warmer. It would be better to not use it for heating purposes, and yes, get a damper!

If you want an unobtrusive "screen" on the cheap...get a piece of plexiglass cut to overlap the opening of your fireplace. It cost me about $45. My heating bill went down dramatically. And you can barely tell its there.

I have a floor cushion and a basket of magazines on my hearth to keep the plexiglass in place.

I own this one from Brookstone:

http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=543983&search_type=search&search_words=543983&prodtemp=t1

The drapery mesh really helps visually soften the fireplace area.

I'm surprised that a fireplace without a damper would pass building codes. Is it a wood burning or a gas fireplace? I'm guessing gas because all that needs is a little exhaust duct to the outside, maybe that's why a damper is not required. Point is, if there is not a damper it's like having a little porthole to the outside that is always open.

Last I checked, Chiasso had some cool fireplace accessories. But if you want something to keep the cold out I would recommend a damper and a proper fireplace cover which you can get from a store that specializes in fireplaces, etc. We have a couple of these stores in Chicago.

If you wanted to go even further you could have a fan installed that recirculates the heat from the fireplace back into your home through a vent.

Art, it's a wood-burning fireplace. Which I thought was kind of weird too that it is sans damper! The house inspector who checked everything over told me that my house is pretty old which could account for the lack of one.

I should probably bite the bullet and just get a damper installed and worry about the screen later...

For the cold, it sounds like you need an air tight fitted fireplace glass enclosure:
http://www.diamond-w.com/diamond/stock_enclosures.asp
This company, for example, allows you to mix and match finishes and glass: this one with clear glass might have a nice modern look:
http://www.diamond-w.com/diamond/images/Frnk1_FRK-SNI.jpg
I imagine there are lots of other choices out there, too.

If you are just looking for a screen, Blomus has a nice modern glass and metal, minimalist fireplace screen. While it will keep sparks from a fire entering the room, it won't add to the air tightness of the fireplace, I'm afraid.
http://www.kitchensource.com/fireplace/bm-65145.htm
I got mine for less on ebay.

As an earlier commenter noted, Chiasso carries screens, including the Blomus screen, calling it the bebop fireplace screen:
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?itemid=53602
as well as another fireplace screen:
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=51131

Bellacor has some simple and art deco inspired screens:
http://www.bellacor.com/productDetail/104258.htm

Crate and Barrel has a simple matte silver screen, similar in concept to the Brookstone mesh screen listed by poster above:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1460&f=13920

You can get made-to-measure glass screens here:
http://www.glassfireguard.com/

Get a damper.. and think of all the $ you'll save on heating costs. Even a custom size screen will not be air tight, and let air flow through around the edges.

The difference will be like night and day if you put a damper on.

*I'm not recommending this* but if you did happen to look up into the fireplace you will see the hole which is the chimney so if you covered it up or plugged the hole with a wad of insulation temporarily, you would stop the cold from coming in until you get a damper. But I am not recommending you do this! If someone were to start a fire you'd have a little problem. Your house would begin to fill with smoke.

Thanks for reminding me that I was going to look for a new fireplace screen today. We have an old brass one with glass doors that recently started falling apart (hurray!). Can you tell me where the one is from in the photo above? Want something just like that. Thanks!

Mangosteen, that fireplace screen in the post is from Brookstone:

http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?product_code=FIRE_SCREEN_DOOR&search_type=search&search_words=fireplace%20screen&prodtemp=t1&cm_re=Result*R1C1*T

Although I have seen the same screen on Amazon for $50 less.

Grace - thank you! My house is freezing today and I think it's numbed my brain!!!

A screen is designed to keep any wood chunks and burning embers from falling out of the fireplace and into your home.

You really, really need a damper.

Please get a damper!

You need a damper.

But for anyone else looking for a screen, this curved glass screen is my favorite: http://www.homefiresusa.com/contemporary_GlassScreen.asp

My friend has it and it looks beautiful.

The reason there is no damper in your chimney is because the previous owner had installed a gas insert into your masonary opening or that the damper rotted out and a replacement could not be found.(To install a gas insert you are required to remove the damper otherwise there is no room for the aluminum liner to go down the chimney and attatch to the top of the gas insert)
Replacing the damper and putting a screen or a set of doors will elevated very little as in the efficiency of your opening for burning wood. It will stop logs from rolling out and it will stop bats and other animals from coming into your house.
What will happen you will find is that when the fire starts to die down the draft in your chimney will reverse and start to draw cold air into your house.
I find that wood heat is one of the most comfortable heats availble. If you realy want to do it right install a wood insert into your opening with a lock down door so you can control the air intake.
If you install a wood insert into your opening there will be no drafts because it is a sealed system with no acess to the outside unless the door is opened for refueling.
A wood insert is installed with a stainless steel liner attatched to the top of the insert and runs the full length of the chimney with a termination cap and flashing at the top of the chimney to seal the chimney off.