My house has a steel beam supported by two columns dividing the family room and kitchen. It would likely be cost prohibitive to replace the entire beam (which hangs down about 15" from the ceiling), but I would like to remove the columns as they limit the usable space in our living room -- the house is only 25' wide, so space is at a premium. Are there any alternatives I can consider to support the beam without the columns (one is close to an exterior wall) without compromising the the strength and integrity of the steel support beam, such as steel brackets? I'm prepared to spend $10-20k to do the work. Would appreciate any suggestions or ideas.
