The main muscle movement of this project will be here, at the
fireplace. We plan to remove the existing chimney
and install a more efficient wood burning fireplace. The chimney will be
flanked by benches for sitting and have a continuous mantle.

To the right of the fireplace, we’ll be moving  the doorway
to the hall in order to better define the living room.

Around the corner, we’ll replace that low shelving with
a new bench to match those flanking the fireplace.

The existing brick chimney will be removed,
and a new wood-framed chimney will go up in its place,
with siding and paint to match the house.

Here is a rendering showing the new fireplace layout.

From the other side of the room, with a view of the relocated doorway.

The new bench at the entrance. We’re also installing new tile behind it.

Just like that, the existing chimney is down.

Inside, we’ve demoed all the way down to the subfloor, ready for the new fireplace.

We have begun framing for the new chimney.

Inside, that framing continues downward,
forming an opening for the new fireplace unit.

Here is a view inside the chimney, looking up through the roof.

As a side project, we took the clients’ existing screened porch . . .

. . . and added a beautiful tile floor to it.

The new high-efficiency fireplace unit has been installed.

In order to maximize the usability of the fireplace,
vents are being installed to utilize excess hot air to
warm the living room and bedroom behind.

Up top, you can see the metal chimney going up inside the wood framing.

Here the cap is in-place. Siding to match the house will be installed next.

In order to maximize the insulation value
in shallow rafters, we elected to use spray foam.

Here is the spray foam insulation, fully installed.

The new mantle will be made of concrete. To support the
weight, four steel supports have been added to the framing.

With framing complete, new drywall is being hung.

Drywall is already up on the living room ceiling,
concealing the new spray foam insulation.

Due to the heat of the fireplace, non-combustible cement board
is used in place of drywall. It will then be covered in plaster.

Up on the roof, the new chimney’s siding has been installed,
and is being painted to match the existing house color.

The drywall and plaster have been painted,
and the cabinets are being installed.

Anne is our lead carpenter in charge of this project.

Anne works to get everything properly laid out for
the cabinetry, cushions, and concrete hearth.

Cabinets are being installed to divide the entry and the
living room while also providing seating and storage.

The hearth and mantle are being created by local artisan
Brian Schmidt in the shop. It is a custom color with a
tinted wash. This one will become the left mantle piece.

We will be embedding actual fossils into the concrete, as
seen here in the hearth. Collecting fossils is a hobby of our clients and
we felt this was an excellent way to integrate it into their new space.

While working in their living room, our clients also had us
take a look at the kids bathroom. The tile was falling off the
walls, the cabinetry was worn out, and the lighting was poor.

Minimal repairs simply wouldn’t do. The entire
space needed to be gutted back to studs and all
the fixtures and cabinetry replaced.

The bathtub was replaced with a large shower stall, new glass
doors, and a new tile surround with river stone accents.

Here we installed an integrated solid surface sink and
countertop over a natural maple cabinet. A fresh coat
of red paint over new drywall completes the space.

The finished living room.

Entry with new tile and storage bench.

The new fireplace, ready for roaring fire.

The concrete mantle is in place and the hearth is being installed.

The concrete is finished, and the fireplace is ready
for tile and cushions to be installed.