Logs, stacked back to front, rather than the traditional side to side -- all the way up to the tippy top. Find them as round as you possibly can, an vary the sizes. Birch and aspen logs are pretty because the outer bark is white.

Why not find / make a decorative Fire Screen?

why don't you just be sure to keep an eye on the baby when he is cruising around the fireplace? i'm not sure what the issue is since the fireplace doesn't work. maybe i am missing something. i don't really get the babyproofing thing...

If there's no heat, and there's a cover (pictured?), what else needs to be done to baby-proof?

I'm guessing the current cover isn't too permanent or stable? While visiting a friend, my then 9 month old pulled their fireplace screen down on top of himself. (no injuries, thanks). Also, that hearth looks like a great place to crack a head open or cut a chin or break a nose...Perhaps filling with logs like mentioned above, and adding some cushions along the hearth? Or how about using great fabric to cover some plywood or homasote (like you would for a headboard or bulletin board) cut in the same shape, though a couple of inches larger, than the fireplace opening? You could stand it against the opening and secure it in place with a large (too-heavy for baby) decorative stone...

I assume the cover is not secured to the wall- and as I myself have a rad scar on my lip from a childhood fireplace incident.. it makes sense to me to cover it up.

I think it would be really neat if you turned the inside into small shelves! it would be funny to have books in there. (i just watched ferenheit 451)

It might even be pretty easy/ i would look for a dresser drawer-kinda-box that you could stand up on its side in there (maybe filling in any gaps with 1"x4"s or something).

my initial idea was seal the front with a peice of opaque plexiglass.. and put a lamp behind it.. so you still have a "fireplace" but it just lights up from inside.

if you remove the grate, a sideboard or credenza with a larger footprint than the hearth could be backed up against the fireplace. childproofing, storage, and an interesting display space on top with the brick background, all in one.

You could try putting a plant (maybe a fern) in it.

A nicely lit aquarium? Oh right, baby proof. :)

I guess I'd ask what you're worried is going to happen, other than pulling the current screen down on top of him- or herself? Is it heavy enough to crack a head open or sharp enough to cut? I might get rid of the old fire grate since those tend to be exceptionally pokey, but otherwise, put a non-poisonous plant there and a grow light up the chimney and leave it open?

Ours 1-yo pulled the lightweight screen down on himself one time, surprised himself and wailed for two minutes over the loud noise and sudden loss of stability, but didn't do it again...maybe that's bad advice. My parenting MO is basically to let him figure out on his own anything that won't involve an ER trip...

The fireplace looks like it has a face. :]

Not helpful...sorry. Just found that funny.

I have seen cool picks recently of a fireplace filled with books (may have been on i suwanee) and one filled with logs placed front-to-back. Both looked very cool, although there comes a stage where toddlers love nothing more than to pull all the books off a shelf, so one right at his level might make for a lot of reshelving work for you.

Agree that it doesn't look too dangerous in its current incarnation - but then i'm not a big babyproofer. Would screwing the current screen into the brick somehow do you any good?

heres a link to the books

http://www.flickr.com/photos/foohqwah/2321876520/

I'm confused? If it is not working, just remove the screen and put something/anything heavy and kid friendly in it.

If you're worred about the baby hitting its head on the brick surround (which seems a lot more dangerous and likely than the inset), I would find a piece of furniture, like mrs yow suggested that took up the whole depth/width to prevent the baby from getting close enough to fall and hit his head on it. Otherwise, cover wood in foam and batting and fabric and make a removable slip cover for the whole thing and use something to block the inset.

Or use a play pen or walker type thing in that room when you can't keep a constant eye on the baby.

I sorta had the same problem. I posted about this a few weeks ago.

http://imwishfulthinking.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-to-do-with-fireplace.html

My parents raised three of us in a house with two working fireplaces and none of us ever fell in! Jeez, why does every square inch of space have to be "baby-proofed"?

i'm totally with you GHB. i grew up in a house that was heated by a wood stove and there wasn't even a gate around it and both my brother and i managed to make it to our adulthood without burns. oh well...

Ha, try over on ohdeedoh...