We got this stone from lowes, it is inexpensive and easy DIY. Lowes will make the cuts for you and we glued it on with heavy duty construction adhesive, no grouting. Took us a couple hours with our borrowed tile saw. They have one with grey instead of the gold and cream that we used that might be perfect and you could keep the floor slate. I would go over the top of the slate if it where me doing the work and not take off the old slate. We applied the stone after the mantle was installed and painted. They also have other styles that you might like. http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=354393-93840-20-616&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3477519&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1 http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=354383-93840-20-626&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3362742&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

Hi GreenDesigns, thanks for your "spot on" input - I agree with you, and like how you phrased it! Since the flooring with be dark, not sure I will want all the walls dark, but definitely want the granite surround wall to be a color that "pulls out that rust color". Thanks again!!!

I'd recommend staying away from the blue. We tried some blues with our stone. In the kitchen we had a light blue on the small wall area around the sink window and it was much better when we repainted to white. The stone has so many blues. Also the color of blue from the stone changes in a different way with light than the paint color does. That makes it really difficult to find a blue that goes with and enhances the stone. The blue paint just seemed to by trying to hard to match and not succeeding. On the other hand, the Fragrant Cloves warm reddish brown works well with the blues and references the rust tones in the stone. That is similar to the effect that we get with the natural cherry cabinets around our stone.

Thanks for the input! If I liked the colors I would totally agree, it's very nice. I am just a cool colors kind of gal. First, I am going to try painting all the trim white as it;s gone totally orange with age. Maybe that will be enough to cool off the room. Maybe there is some way to build a wood surround and leave brick untouched underneath?