Carpentry and Woodworking - Need Help Turning A Beam Into A Column

I'd Like Any Info. On Turning An Ugly Support Beam Into A vision Of Lovliness In My Entry Way. Made From Drywall, Just A White Square From Ceiling To Wood Floor Aprox. 1 Sq Ft On All 4 Flat Sides.
Thanks So Much

Ah, you have many options, but it all comes down to what tools you have and how handy you are. Could you fill us in on that info first and then we can give the proper info, based upon your experience level of woodworking.

thanks for the reply.
I have little experience working with wood, and none with drywall. i do however have alot of tools and i'd like to do this myself. :thinker:

also, how do i put a faux 1/2 column on the other side (against a wall, like it's coming out of the wall) to bring balance to the look? that's actually probally the easy part....right?
thanks sawdustguy!!!
Nicole

You could try wrapping the column with 1/4 plywood of the wood specie of your choice. I wouldn't know the most chic way to do this, but personally I'd use a good tablesaw and cut the plywood to size using a 45deg cut on the edges and brad/liquid nail the wood in place. You can get prefinished 1/4 inch stuff at hardwood suppliers that is more chemical and scratch resistant that anything you'll buy at Home Depot and it's not terribly more costly, and it's UV cured and the wood looks great. A full sheet of prefinished maple is a sight to behold.

Trying to miter and put together 1/4" plywood would be a site to see. Not only that, keeping the miters together would be another good trick.

I imagine so, I've never tried to miter 1/4 inch corners. Isn't there some kind of trim or such that could be used to hide the joint?

You certainly can put a piece of "L" molding on the corner, but it looks tacky. Mitering the corners using at least 1/2" (3/4") recommended, looks nicer and you can do more with it.

The easiest and cheapest way would be to buy edge tape and edge tape the ends then pin nail it together with a brad gun. Then apply a 3/4" wide decorative molding by mitering it in a rectangle fashion; holding it in say 2" in on all sides".

I did an addition on the front of my house and moved the entryway out so I had the old header from original wall and the supporting framing members left to "tie in" with the rest of the house. I bought a fiberglass column (they come in various diameters) and had it split at the lumber yard where I ordered it from. I Installed blocks along side the existing framing members (small pieces of scrap) and drilled and screwed (countersunk) through the column into the blocks. I filled the holes with automotive body filler. As for the header I built a nice arch that was flat on the ends connected with an arc making it look like the columns were supporting this massive arch. The arch was made of a 2x4 at the header laying flat with a piece on either end above the columns. Cut a piece of O.S.B. in the shape I wanted and covered the whole thing with drywall. I used a 1/4 inch piece of drywall to bend in the center of the archway (first time bending drywall). The colums come with a base and a capital for the top and bottom of the column. I am really pleased with the turnout. Hope this will give you some ideas.