Early Spring 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Before & After             Photography by Ed Gohlich

Before:

Original to a 1940s ranch, this fireplace featured a white-painted brick surround and a nondescript wooden mantel that was too narrow to put anything more than a framed print on display.

After:

A new cobblestone surround brings an exterior column detail indoors and relaxes the room’s attitude. Cove molding adds interest to the new cherrywood mantel. The stepped overmantel, composed of drywall and flat, painted trim, connects the hearth to the new raised ceiling.

Extending the trim detail to the new-12-foot ceiling tames the scale of the space and creates a cozier atmosphere. New cherrywood, Craftsman-style built-ins flank the remodeled hearth and provide attractive storage and display space.

Project Manager: Joseph M. Reid