I'd like to change the bricks for stone in our living room and dining room fireplaces. However, the quote to do so is quite high. (Work would include taking off the wood surround, demolishing the bricks, replacing the bricks with soapstone, patching, etc.) This is a 110+ years old house. Any suggestions for what else we could consider? I don't like the blue paint on the living room bricks - after just a few months, they started chipping. I don't like the red bricks on the dining room fireplace - faux rustic. The decor is not ours. Old photos.