There's not enough slate to face the entire thing, right? I am curious what your original plan was, as it must have involved two materials.

I think it would be beautiful faced in almost any brick or stone. I would determine how much you need, then call around to stone yards and ask them to call you when they have about that much of certain types left. We bought huge stepping stones for a new path at a deep discount because we bought all he had left-- it wasn't enough for most jobs.

You could also go with a traditional wood paneling but I don't think it would look right. Or, you could stucco the whole thing and use the flagstone you have just around the firebox opening on both sides.

For right now, I'd paint the entire wooden box, maybe adding some molding at the seams to create a nicer look. And if you want, add a mantle. That would get you something you can live with until you can find and afford the stone or brick or whatever that you really love.

For something this big, that is a focal point in your home, I would recommend waiting until you found something you really, really love to cover it. If you spend money on something that is almost, but not quite right now, you may end up regretting it in a few years--but the money will be spent and you will have to live with it.

So my suggestion is to paint as a temporary fix and save up for something nice to cover the box in the future.

Drywall and paint, then use the slate veneer as trim on the drywall.

Maybe make a "mantel" with a band of slate around the column just above the firebox, or (if there is enough, wrap the base of the column with slate to the bottom of the firebox to give it something to rest on.

What's inside the box? Can you open the ends and make some bookshelves?

Check with your local building/fire codes to see if you do have to use a fireproof material (like your slate) near/around the opening of firebox on both sides -- but yes! simply drywall over the rest of the structure -- and paint it in a neutral color to match the rest of the decor. Or simply -- just go ahead paint the whole thing!

Add white-painted wood trim at the very top and the bottom of the structure.

Add a black-and-white family photo on one side (or a small grid of the photos)

At least you would have a finished fireplace that would work with your decor!

I'd do a temporary....or cheap and dirty fix right now...just so you can use it....
My "friend the contractor" makes a great faux brick wall out of drywall mud and a brick sized block of wood. applies the mud liberally then pushes the brick shaped form into the wet mud,,,,he may paint it white or brick red and highlight the "mortar" lines with white.....
It looks for all the world like brick but if you want to remove it, it's easier than brick to remove.
Or you could use floor tiles.....there are lots of great varieties out there....and cheap too.....then when the $$ come available...go with your dream of slate.
Linda C

Here is what I did when the project budget did not allow large format tile as originally planned. It is covered with drywall and the gap around the box where no combustible materials are supposed to touch is a piece of aluminum stock that I mitered like a picture frame, sprayed with black high heat paint to match the firebox and attached with evenly spaced screws.

Inexpensive, and the whole thing could be tiled later when budget allows.

Here are a few ideas that I had, what do you think?

We were thinking that, if we didn't use the slate veneer for the fireplace, we could do our kitchen walls with it, we haven't installed a backsplash yet.

I kind of think except for the last one, it turns it from a freestanding fireplace-- into a wall with a doorway on either side and a fireplace in the middle, which is not your original intention.

I like this last one because it is clean and has a unified appearance.

LOL, Emma3333, love the rent-a-husband!

Ha! Ha! I just wanted to show how high the fireplace is, it's easier to see the height with a person next to it!

I would do something similar to palimpset's FP on the side which you have shown. The height of the mantle looks out of proportion to the adjacent doorway/hallway. Can we see what is on the other side? You could paint the surround a shade darker than the wall colors and use that together with art to make it into a focal point. Hang sconces to either side to give it some depth. There are codes that do call for a fireproof barrier around the FP, but I think the black looks best until you have the funds to do the stone veneer of the entire surround.

So much potential - what was the original vision you had in mind? Could you use the slate and combine it with a less expensive / different material to create your dream look?

There are quite a few different ideas on Houzz to get an idea for some unique styles:
http://www.houzz.com/photos/query/through%20fireplace

dalmadarling: Thank you, that website is amazing! So many ideas!

emma3333 - isn't it? I'm obsessed! Can't wait to see what you end up doing-post after pics too please :)

I like some your renderings on the right track with the framing ideas

Palimp temp fix is lovely - again I'll echo what others have said about fireproof material within certain distances of firebox - likely 6'-12" depending on which plane. The difference with Palimps thought is the proportions and her firebox is seated closer to the floor grounding it.

Emma's is a much larger wall expanse with smaller firebox & more free floating - the challenges are, making it a focal point without making it morph into the wall/design that is why I think framing it works - also, I don't know that a mantle is suited here due to the ,what appears to be high traffic area & something protruding from that height may be awkward

Of all i like th 15:25 post frame in frame idea - 2nd pic I think a chunky frame right on the opening is in order to beef up the actual firebox - try that sans the tile above mantle - I would try that rendering with the "internal" frame a darker variant helping to ground

HTH

i kindof like the pic below the happy husband example...with the stone framing the box...

i would maybe look into different base moldings...to build up and take away some more of the space between the floor and the firebox...there are so many cool looks you can get with baseboard moldings...

i like the simplicity of your last example, but proportionally it looks off---reminds me of a snowman head- if you put a vertical pic above the mantle, it would top off the 'top hat'...

I would paint it for now and save for stone. Faux stone is inexpensive and can look very nice. I would get a price so you will at least know what's involved.

I love the one below the happy husband too, busybee3!

FW