Back to the drawing board.
I can't get the mantel and fireplace surround to work with the location of the outlets. You can see the electrical outlets on either side of the hearth; they should have been located between the next set of studs away from the fireplace. The switch for the fireplace blower should have been placed elsewhere; I'm not certain we shouldn't have placed it on the wall to the left along with the switch for the can lights overhead.
Damn, I knew there would be a downside to a construction project that was three or more weeks ahead of schedule.
We should have had the fireplace all laid out before they did the electrical rough-in.
At least we know to do this well in advance of framing the next time we build a house.
In the mean time, I've got to completely rethink the design of the mantel and surround.
Have you ever run into a situation like this on a construction project? What did you do about it -- rip it out and start over, tweak the electrical, reconfigure the finish work?
p.s. The mess has been picked up. Mudding and taping of the dry wall starts tomorrow; the insulation was blown in over the second floor ceiling this past Wednesday and the seamless gutters installed on Thursday. Imagine this room with clear, natural maple flooring. Joy.
10:23:29 AM 
