Put up the crown molding. The board was torqued or warped and it was difficult, indeed, to mount. Add the baseboard and fill the nail holes.

Use cove molding in the boxes. I think we are channeling Frank Lloyd Wright.

Trim out the columns and install the mantel.

Set the columns.

Wayne cut the hold for the bookcase, removed the old pipes and boxed in the case. We put fireproof board over the firebox, taped and plastered the wall. Then we carried an 8' MDF board that weighs more than a Mac truck into the house. Cut a piece to mark the height of the mantel.

So the first thing is to create a huge hole in the wall when the old insert is removed. The new firebox is much larger. We've decided not to use the marble surround. Instead, we will build a new mantel and open up a space for a bookcase.

All painting is on hold while we remove this fireplace insert, replace it, and build a new mantel. We have to carefully remove the marble surround and the kick out marble on the hearth. We haven't firmed up plans enough to know if we will reuse everying. And the new insert will be flush to the wall requiring replacement of marble on the hearth.