Over the past 12 years I think we’ve used the fireplace on two occasions. With clean air restrictions tightening each year due to global warming, the time had come to remove the old fireplace and gain a little extra storage space. Although I wasn’t quite sure what I’d find once I started the demolition, I had a pretty good idea. The original plan was to create a small hidden cubby but my wife convinced me to open up the wall completely and make a “step in” pantry. I always trust her sense of design and as usual, I’m glad I listened. Although I had installed the flooring 12 years prior, I was fortunate enough to locate a near perfect match to patch in the hearth area.