In your case I think it could make decorating it more awkward. I prefer no sconces.

IMO, those sconces are too diminutive for the weight of the stone mantel. I'd consider putting an outlet up there though in case you want to do lighted holiday decorations...

Will that be a TV over the fireplace? If not, then you might consider a picture light instead of sconces to highlight whatever artwork you might want up there.

Agree with Annie - those sconces don't hold their own against the stone. I would not add them.

Thanks, pal, I was pretty sure I was going to get them and then mocked it up and thought "ugh".

Good thought about the outlet. There is an outlet there already, maybe I just need to leave it uncovered. No TV over the fireplace. There are ceiling mounted lights that shine towards the fireplace that I may aim at the top of the mantel if I end up putting artwork up there.

I agree the sconces are to lightweight for that mantel. About the mantel . . . those cast stone mantels are typically meant to be installed flush with the floor with perhaps a slab of some kind in front of the opening. Are you removing your raised hearth? If not, I'm not sure how well that cast stone mantel is going to work. I'm also not sure about leaving the rustic stone as the backdrop to the cast stone mantel.

No sconces!

jakabedy - yeah, well, I haven't got a lot of options. The pillars on the side will go to the floor. It's got to be better than the lion heads, or the mess that's there now with all the stone covered in construction glue. Taking out the hearth would mean redoing the floor and I'm not willing to do that right now. If you've got better suggestions I'm happy to hear, but I've been staring at this for months now and that is the best I can come up with.

bigger sconces? I'm still thinking no.

the larger sconces look better to me than the small, but they still will limit how you decorate (and use) your fireplace... more light there won't be particularly helpful....

'borrow' one from a lighting store if you really think you want them and see what it looks like!

I do understand wanting something to occasionally light and know you're not too comfortable with candles... I just bought 2 plug in wall sconces from rh that were ridiculously marked down(cheap!) to hang in a hallway just to add a little something to the wall without giving it a whole lot of thought! it worked! (for me!) lol

I think sconces make the scene much too busy. It's already going to be pretty busy with the stone and the new surround. Don't overdo! ;-)

No sconces, at all.

I'm thinking you just clean up the drywall where the beams were, paint, and live with it until you're ready to do the whole thing, including the floor and the cornice deal at the top. I'm afraid any $$ you put toward it right now as a band aid will be just that -- a temporary measure to tide you over. Set aside the money you were going to spend on the cast stone mantel n your living room redo fund.

I agree with my_four_sons and jakabedy. The lovely cast stone mantel is too formal to go with the rustic stone fireplace and raised hearth. I would not do it until you have the money to demo everything.

Edited to add: I would just paint the wooden mantel and remove the black rectangular thing over the mantel and replace the black screen. The black iron isn't helping. Put a large picture or mirror over the mantel to cover up as much of the stone as you can for now.

It's not really a matter of saving up money, though. It's a matter of demoing something that is new and was expensive and is perfectly functional. I could probably demo the stone, but floor is a huge issue. It's beautifully done brazilian cherry with that border around the hearth that you see. It will be years and years before the floor needs refinishing. And I just can't justify doing it earlier, and frankly my DH would not agree to do it earlier, just cause I don't love the stone.

I can't leave it as it is. The "mantel" is a 6 inch piece of stone that was roughly cut on the end, and is covered in construction glue and wood splinters. The drywall could be patched but the floor would still be an issue (there are unfinished areas at the corners that the beams rested on). The crown is wider than the stone. So it won't work.

Again, I'm not going to "save up" because it's not a money issue. But I'm not going to destroy something and create a huge mess because it isn't perfect. I'm not tearing up the floor or refinishing the floor or moving the firebox just for the heck of it. So within those parameters, I need to do something.

Can you drywall the area above the mantel and cover the rest of the fieldstone with a thin brick veneer? Still using the cast stone mantel and surround.

In the picture of the cast stone mantel, what is the material that is covering the firebox surround and is used for the hearth? Marble?

I would cover the fieldstone with a thin brick or marble veneer. Leave the bluestone hearth.

Maybe you can talk to a mason to get some ideas.

I would remove the raised hearth and cover the area in front of the fireplace with the bluestone.