After we uncovered a second fireplace behind a wall in the parlor, I found a Victorian-era columned mantel on eBay to top it. Dad offered to drive to Washington, D.C., to pick it up, then persuaded his own dad to come along and help carry it down three flights to the car. Once the mantel was up, Dad added egg-and-dart crown molding over an entryway to match the columns.
Shown: To restore the room's elegance, the owner installed a salvaged mantel and other period details such as crown molding
and a vintage chandelier.
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