Retrofitting a new construction furnace into an existing brick fireplace was not easy. Still, we liked the efficiency and modern appearance of the English-made furnace, with its large, clean glass door that made the 50,000 BTU furnace feel more like a fireplace. We also wanted to add log storage within the chimney stack. This was a usable space that was not being taken advantage of. Instead of trying to match the brick and mortar to hide the scars when opening up the chimney wall, we chose to cover the brick cutouts with a 1/4-inch sheet of black steel plate. This had many advantages. It has a sleek, modern industrial feel and was easier and less expensive than hiring a mason to repair the brick. The large plate extends from the facade, allowing air to flow through the fan. The whole sheet of steel is removable by three pins in case the furnace needs to be repaired.