We live in Florida, the windows on this home had no molding around them. They do have marble window sills. When I ordered shutters, they used what they called a "z" frame which included case molding. The new case molding frame does not go below the window sill. Sorry the picture doesnt look clear, its clear on the camera and computer but looks blurry in this post. When we lived in Charlotte, the windows all had case molding around them, which was installed by the builder. The shutters came with a 1/2 inch shutter framed that was set inside the window area, not on the case molding. (Kind of looked like what sits on top of my marble window sills). It made a box around the inside off the window area. That was screwed into the window frame and the shutter was hinged and screwed into the shutter frame. Hope that makes sense. I dont have a picture of those shutters.

I'm around, I thought this thread had died. We are going with wide plank white oak also from Carlisle. It will have a veiled white stain and clear satin finish. In fact, we just placed the order today..so I can't say how it looks but we got a great deal on it that we couldn't pass up. We will be doing the stair in the white oak as well, and I'm really happy with this plan. We considered so many different options and I got to where I was paralized and unable to make a decision. I feel that starting the new color at the stairs makes the color/species change look more intentional, if that makes sense. And going with carpet would just be too many different floors and colors in one area. This was a diy job, and it was very labor intensive, but not too challenging. Applying the tung oil on site was particularly inconvenient, luckily the white oak we are getting will come prefinished from Carlisle (it was a very customized order that a client placed and didn't purchase). I will post pics when we finish the install. Can't wait to cover up the painted plywood subfloor! kiki did you end up getting the walnut?

This is what I got! It has an electric blower motor on the back.i checked with my local code enforcement officer and the local fire Marshall. I live in a very small town and they had no idea about any codes for fireplaces.i went to the 2006 IRC code book and made copies of the appropriate sections and can’t make heads or tails out of that confusing Mumbo jumbo

oh, I didn't see the TV plan. I get why you want to move it, it's not central enough for your couch. but if you want to put it above the fireplace, it'll be too high (as in, bad for your neck). since you dislike the hearth, then rip it all out and install a floor level FP with a really flat hearth (or no hearth) and no mantle. put the TV above it. PS: you can only mount a TV above a gas FP, unless you plan on never burning wood in there. the heat from wood burning is really bad for electronics. also don't do stacked stone. it's pretty much out of style already (sorry!). not quite sure what else to suggest, I'm not much of a traditional person. maybe tile? picture this: see how this FP is low enough to have a TV above it, and is tiled: now picture that design, but with dark wood and darker tile: Sorry I can't find an inspiration photo that illustrates what I'm thinking. kind of like this, but with no mantle and a TV above it, and built in bookcases on either side: