I am looking for fireplace before and after pictures of your remodel for a website. I am willing to pay a small fee for the use of your photos on my site. Please contact glorybeme@gmail.com

Yes it is a working fireplace, but we live in California so the logs would be mostly decorative for most of the year. On days actually cold enough to want a fire, there is almost always a "spare the air" day and burning is banned! I am also very allergic to smoke which always makes its way inside even from a properly vented fire. So as much as I love the ambiance, it will probably only be lit for special occasions. I may burn some gel fuel cans in there behind the logs, too. Thanks for the feedback :) The color is BM Mexicana, BTW, with Mascarpone on the neutral walls. The tile I don't love it but it blends a bit more with the new paint color and the mantel. I am going for a Spanish Mission style since the townhouse is mission style with red tile roof and off white stucco exterior!

Thanks to all of you for the lovely compliments. Parma42, I completely understand regarding the recession, although without it, I don't think I would have received such low estimates on labor. The carpenter still made more than $1000 for a week's worth of work, after deducting for materials, but it's far less than the price I was originally quoted when I first moved. I also wanted to do stone but felt it would have overwhelmed the space not to mention my bank account.

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.