@Beverly I read where you said ledger stone is on its way out. While I don't prefer the "rough stone" look for my house, I am curious if you think the honed ledger is also dated? I was considering the Valentino Honed Marble Panel LedgerMaravilla from Floor and Decor. Thoughts? I originally started with the Ann Sacks Athens Silver Cream look for my fireplace, but it evolved into this look, as we wouldn't be getting one solid slab. Thoughts? Thank you in advance. We are planning to do this in the next week and suddenly I am doubting myself!!

I may have just realized the source of the smell. Someone removed the yellow tag that was attached to the fireplace screen but had left a black zip tie. I'm betting that when the heat and smoke hit the plastic it produced the smell that then leached into the stone and mortar...ugh. It blended into the screen and I just noticed it on there.

Katie, beautiful house. let me post a bunch of photos so you can see what you prefer. Some are w/the stone you've chosen, and other pics are other surround ideas. here is the shiplap w/diff color/size stone veneer hard to find your smaller size fireplace paired w/shiplap and larger stone. I think a smaller stone might look better, but here are options: This is the only large stone I actually like w/this size fireplace. I like it because of the heavy mortar wash around the stone, I like like the silver/white colors, along w/a few charcoal color stones. This seems to be a big contrast. It might look better if the shiplap was painted dark charcoal or black? Or have you thought about doing the entire thing like this? not really a fan of this color or style. meh also meh don't really care for this one. I was trying to find a white stone, but found this what appears to be a limewashed rock, or, this white quartzite. I think I like a smaller, whiter stone if you want to go this route. here are some w/other tiles and marbl.e I kind of like this look, but using a diff tile, maybe a mosaic marble tile I like this option. the marble herringbone mosaic but with a diff hearth. Or, could you have solid pieces of stone cut and fit around the box? maybe a slate or a basalt or a large format tile? I like a dark stone like basalt or soapstone, but you could choose to do a marble of some type too. Shown here w/a dark mantle. ( I think a whiter stone would have looked better) and if you just did a smooth coat of cement or stucco, or even a Roman plaster Maybe some larger, patterned tile? (I'd use a solid hearth tho) this one is kind of cool.

I’m thinking of doing this in our new house when we build it. What’s your opinion on the stone and brick mixture and colors? Do you like the layout of fireplace (wood heater)?