Mosaic before and after
Now the family room is more open to the sun room and dining area on the other side of the fireplace by just removing the recesses on each side. I really like having more room by the only door to the backyard for our 2 dogs. I decided to barrel the opening so I could make it taller than the other 6'8" doorways in our house. The ottoman in front of the fireplace stores our blankets for those cold winter days. I bought the door above the mantle at a rummage sale a few years ago. It had been sitting in the garage so I told my husband that I wanted to put it up and he thought I was crazy, but now likes the way it frames out the fireplace. I just put a potted plant into the decorative tin container. I swap it out for a Poinsettia at Christmas. Photo by: Linda Parsons