Those are going to get hot. I'm not sure that brick would completely solve the issue without compromising the opening and closing of the door. Have you done some type of education with your kids about other hot surfaces - irons, stove tops, ovens? Something similar seems applicable here.

"Are you suggesting I paint the fireplace mantel, staircase, etc a totally different color like blue or green? " Yes,as appossed to re-staining because (A) re-staining is so difficult to do a lastng job,and (B) paint offer's unlimited shades and tones to work with. Matching colors is far easier than coordinating them,stain make's it even more difficult. Frankly I'm not certain what I'd do after seeing the home in person. I suggested blue and/or green based on your discription(which I believe is accurate) of red floors and orange elsewhere. Call major paint distributors to see if they have a consultant in your area. If not,consider asking a paid consultant to have a look or taking actual samples of wall paint,floor and other woodwork to their office. Alternatly,use a camera with higher color resolution. After hearing you are already pleased with blue gray in another area I'm confident you can hit a double or triple useing it again. A color pro might turn it to a home run or grand slam. In the interest of full disclosure,this is not my field of expertise,it's just something I injoy messing around with. I may also be underestimating your eye for color and your desire to accomplish decorating without consulting decorators. I do it all the time simply because I like the satisfaction of "making it my own" rather than doing it "according to the book".

Who ordered the doors, and why did they have to be a custom size? Why wasn't the opening of the fireplace a "normal" size to begin with? If it were me, and the contractor wanted to adjust the opening, I would want the final product to look like no additional work was done. In other words, don't just put in two strips of stonework. But whoever ordered the wrong doors should pay the bill for this.

Here's an example of how the Design Specialties Slim Modern ZC fireplace door from Hansen Wholesale will look on your fireplace. In this example the outer frame is made in a glass black metal and would be made to cover the existing exposed black metal of your fireplace. Te door frames are satin nickel and the glass is black (non see-thru). The bifolding doors have no handles, you just open them like a kitchen cabinet that has no handles. We have many other options, but I chose this one based on the configuration of your fireplace. Please forgive the reflection in the glass. If I had a picture of the your room facing away from the fireplace I would have put that as the reflection. But the simulated reflection makes it look more realistic. We provide a Free Fireplace Door Design Service at Hansen Wholesale where anyone can email pictures of their fireplace and we will show you how glass doors might look as we have done here. Answer Provided by: Greg Tillotson Webmaster for Hansen Wholesale http://www.hansenwholesale.com