How do I make this?

[Kacey Zach]

Ok... I have been getting tired of looking at that partially tile wall around my fireplace (1.5 years so far), thought I should get going on the woodwork around it.

Here is the Sketchup model:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_eLQZz9RG-U8/Sj6EEjnECRI/AAAAAAAAASQ/MuuR4VydqWI/s720/fireplace_3_09_6-construction.jpg

Here is what I have done so far:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_eLQZz9RG-U8/Sj6CYQAFFmI/AAAAAAAAAR4/CpvRCFIoUtY/s512/IMG_0075.JPG

Close up (nice veneer):
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_eLQZz9RG-U8/Sj6CYcg_BNI/AAAAAAAAAR0/CI-Ee_44E8k/s400/IMG_0074.JPG

Now my question: how should I do the arch part? it is a very gradual arch, I think 2in of rise over the 29in section (54in radius, IIRC). The thickness is 3/4ish with the depth (into the page) of 3.5in. I was initially thinking bent lamination which would be a first for me. Then I got hung up on how to attach it to the rest of the lower section (of the top horizontal part). This got me to thinking I could glue up boards (face glue) around the arch and cut it out with the bandsaw. This would give me the flat bottom from one board plus I could cut dados in before I glue the pieces up.

Any thoughts, comments?

[Eric Larsen]

If I were making that, I'd make a template out of 1/2" thick MDF, rough the stock out with a bandsaw and then use a router with a guide-bearing straight bit to finish up.

I am not, however, the expert here.

[David Christopher]

you can resaw the wood and glue it back together and clamp around form to the amount of arc that you want

[Michael Wildt]

Good suggestions already. I think it looks really good. You probably have thought about it, but I would be sure to not make it stick out too far. The radiation of heat from these inserts is pretty high. Watch out for the fire/building codes as well.

[Peter Quinn]

I would saw the arch out of a piece of 12/4 or a face glue up of similar thickness as my first and most straight forward option. Another possibility would be to make 4-5 individual curved pieces cut from flat sawn 4/4 and edge glue these to make up the 3"+- width you need. A veneered bent lamination would be another option, possibly formed up with bending plywood and edged with a curved piece of solid stock.