should be able to get a quarter round trim piece i would think....also call him back and say this is a NO GO! do not wait, and do not pay him until all satisfied.

I fired him for breach of contract, quite a while ago.....I'm just picking up the pieces now.....I lost a fair bit of money but not tons. I just finished the electrical he left exposed and loose......and I'm working on the atheistic.... But he did a poor poor job.

report him to better business .......

You have my sympathies. I have been in your shoes several times now. Not even word-of-mouth seems trustworthy these days. Regards your design dilemma: How "crafty" are you? There are very decorative wood trims available that could be painted with metallic paint and stained to look like the aged metal on your fireplace. I might try that to replace the trim that butts up against the fireplace and then see if the other edge can be recut and recessed to be flush with the flooring. Good luck.

What a beautiful fireplace! I'd get a rectangular piece of marble that blends with your baseboard color. Have a professional fabricator measure and cut the piece. Place it infront of the fireplace, then add 1/4 round wood trim around the edge. I'd want to bring more focus to the fireplace.

He should have done mitered cuts around the fireplace.

What about a piece of granite, tile or stone that butts up against these pieces or possibly remove them and put the stone down. A color that would blend in w ur fireplace. I know nothing about wood, but had a similar problem when my wood floor installed. I agree w making your fireplace a major focal point.