Thanks so much!! DH wants something like a barn beam, rustic yet elegant - not too rustic. We are putting in 3" hand scraped maple flooring. Here is a pic of a few pieces that we took out to see. I think that we will have to DIY a mantle. The measurements are too large and costs too high. The mantle itself is 8'1" long as is. We may use the enhancer a little more on the mortar on the one side - it seems to appear lighter than the other. But overall - we are extremely happy. it is so o much warmer to look at and I love the colors that it brings out. Thanks again everyone. Ruth

Haley, Your room looks great and your DH did a beautiful job on the fireplace. I remember the buffet you showed us before you purchased it. I have one that is very similar to yours and I too am using it as a TV console. My DH & I refinished it and added components to house dvds, cds and vhs tapes.We also removed the top middle draw so we could have a shelf. If you want more info and some pictures let me know, I would be happy to share.Enjoy your beautiful room!

Looks great! I'd probably rearrange candlesticks into a group of 3 on one side, and put green plant on the other. It's a little too symetrical, and would look better/more visual interest if it weren't. Also hang the wall art so it is about 6 inches above mantle. Right now there is an imaginary line going acros's the top of your decorations that emphasizes the empty space at the top. It cuts it up and draws attention to your ceiling. Try those things and see what you think.

I love the new tiles also. If you want to DIY for the slate, make a paper template for the hearth and then transfer this to a thin wood or a sturdy cardboard. You can then take the fitted wood or cardboard template to a stone yard to have the stone cut to fit. If you hire a professional, they can remove the white tiles before installing stone.