You should install your stone tile right over the brick. Use fortified thinset mortar (don't use the pre-mixed kind -either buy the dry mortar with the fortifier in it or mix in the liquid latex fortifier), put it on with a trowel so that you push it into the grout (mortar) seams. You can get it pretty uniform so that the tiles have a level backing. If you're nervous about your ability to get the tiles level, you can trowel a bed of mortar over the brick face and then stick on the tiles with thinset - but it's not really neccesary. Also the thicker the backing the more it will stick out into the room. Using this method you also don't have to worry about meeting the code clearances from the firebox since you won't be using any combustible materials. The thinset will form such a strong bond that you would not be able to remove the stone tiles in anything other than small pieces. With regard to the overlap on the front of the hearth, your suggestion to fill in the space with plywood is a good one. Just remember that in most jurisdictions you need at least 1 inch of non-combustible material on the top of the hearth. I don't know the dimensions of your hearth, but make sure that you keep it deep enough to meet your local code (usually anywhere from 1 foot to 18 inches depending on the width of the firebox opening). I would pull back the carpet and run your tile to the floor. Don't lay your tile into the firebox. The firebox has special high heat brick in it (fire brick) and your stone tile will not withstand the repeated high heat and cooling cycles in the firebox. Run it up to the opening and finish off the edge with high temperature mortar (buy some mortar clay or fire clay and mix it up in accordance with the directions). You will end up with the hearth being a little higher than the firebox opening, but that's fine and actually makes it easier to sweep any stray ashes back in. Don't know the answer on your insert, you just have to measure to see if you have the clearance. Hope I answered your questions.

drystonemason - thanks for the offer! I wish you lived in Colorado. My husband and I have a 70's wall o' brick. Really, the entire back wall of our den is covered in blond brick and the sides have custom built (70's style) cabinetry over the brick. We are planning to rip the cabinets out but our question is, what is the best way to reface this much brick? We plan to put travertine tile below the mantel to break up the look but on the rest of the wall, from what we have read, we have a few options. 1) Use a lime based plaster (not drywall compound) to fill in grout lines and eventually build up and smooth out to a rough, toweled on surface 2) Use mortar and stucco to achieve the same look. 3) Using drywall we can either frame out the whole wall and start over or use liquid nails (a lot of it) to put sheetrock on the areas that are not tiled. Hoping you might have some suggestions on what the easiest route would be considering it IS a whole wall. I will see if I can get a picture to insert which might be helpful.

No, DH is dear husband (who wasn't feeling too fondly toward me during this project!). Our brick was fairly smooth and we used PeelAway 1 (can buy at Sherwin Williams or B. Moore at about $30 per tub - 2 1/2 tubs). Apply it in workable sized areas of the brick with their spatula, cover with their paper (if you run out of their paper use Saran wrap). Let it sit for the full 24 hrs recommended - do not scrimp on time. Rinse off as instructed. In some spots we had to do this twice. We found then that we needed to do a bit more paint removal so got some Ace Hardware concrete cleaner - white plastic bottle with green lettering. Applied and cleaned that off by scrubbing with a plastic bristled brush. Those steps took about 97% of the paint off. The last few % we covered up. Tools used - 1" and 3" metal putty knives, a paint scraping kit with changeable heads from Home Depot, old toothbrushes, other brushes and a dental pick. Absolutely protect your floors with plastic if they are hardwood - the Peelaway will damage the floor finish. Have rolls and rolls of paper towel handy -you'll use them. At that point, we could still some some residue (ivory, coral and pale green paints had been used). So then we used a 50/50 mixture of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits and wiped that on with rags. That removed (or hid) all traces of the residue and absolutely made the brick's original chocolate brown color pop. I mentioned we couldn't get the last bits off. To cover the bits, we used a combination of 2 things - crayola crayons in the color of our brick for those bricks away from the heat and a tiny paint brush and oil paints to dot on color. It turned out beautifully. Our fire place was 9' high and about 7' wide. Working at a leisurely pace - it took about 2 months in the winter. Would I do it again - yes! Would my husband - no way - although he was very impressed with how it turned out.

Sorry guys & girls - was away for a few days and just now catching up. Renovator8 - the lighting will be 4" recessed cans with the newest model of Feit retrofit kits (My research confirmed this new model has surpassed the CREE CR4's I was originally planned on using). 94+ CRI, 2700K light color - and CostCo rebranded a ton of them and is currently offering them at 1/2 price of what they sell for in Home Depot. (Identical model # and everything) Casey - Thanks for the comment as the coiffured ceilings were one of "my things" I had to have. I get my coiffured ceilings in the living/library and she gets her Victoria + Albert freestanding soaking tub with chandelier in the marble bathroom so I think it was a fair trade... Regardless, a lot of this wouldn't have been done if I wasn't in the real estate industry and was paying "retail prices" as a buyer with no control over the build process. (It's amazing some of the markups). Carol - we do have an "idea" of a layout for the Great Room and that's a good idea, i'll figure out a way to post it and see what feedback I get. Great suggestions on the curtains as well. Thanks - I hope these threads are helping you as much as they are me as we both go through this process! Andrew