I too have a Mendota so I know about the restrictions and it does get warm above the fireplace itself. I just laid a marble hearth but I am still uncertain as to what I am doing with the surround. I do have a somewhat tradional flammable wooden mantel with a 6' piece left to right (hope that makes sense)with two legs approximently 4' high. Whatever the exact measurements are, it falls within the acceptable guidelines. This of course, leads me to a decision as to what I want to put for the surround - as you said the area from the fireplace and mantel must be covered with a nonflammable material. I have yet to make up my mind but some of the things I have considered are 1)marble like the hearth - boring!, 2)a glass mosaic or possibly a stone mosaic i.e. onyx or soapstone that would compliment and not compete with the marble hearth. But that's just my personal preference and it may not apply to what you are trying to accomplish. The best advise I can give you is to google fireplace surround images and you will get thousand and thousands of images to consider. Good luck. Lynn fr CT

I would do a google search of gas fireplace or direct vent gas fireplace. If that doesn't turn up anything that will work for you, contact a gas logs fireplace contractor/installer, and ask for his advice. If, after you do your search, you do not find any fireplace that will work, consider an alternative like a cast iron stove of a soapstone stove. They are a different look, but they are very energy efficient. You might find one that makes the kind of "fashion statement" that appeals to you. Google gas stove or cast iron stove or soapstone stove. Widen your horizons. I'm sure you'll find something that will work. Good luck.

We have a corner fireplace. At the time we were considering a floor plan, we had one particular book of plans that had many like this. I went back and forth about whether it was better furniture/seating-wise to have the fireplace in the corner or on the flat wall with the TV over it. I also wanted a mantle as opposed to a TV cabinet over the fireplace. A problem we had with our last house was the TV was over the fireplace, center wall, and everyone had to look up to watch TV. We now have a 46" flat screen at eye level, surrounded by bookshelves, a corner fireplace with a mantle and space for a nice painting or something. Very similar floor plan to yours, but I like yours better; we did not think out the layout of the MB thoroughly, yours is much better with the closet as a buffer. I do like our dining room being 'open' to the rest of the main space (we have half-walls and columns). We also have windows in the family room with a nice view, but we probably have things a little too crowded, to the right of the fireplace, making it a little more difficult to select window treatments that won't infringe on the fireplace or interfere with the door to the deck. Hope this helps.

If you can post a picture, it would be helpful. Normally one frames according to the specs for the specific Direct vent, then insulates and drywalls the interior, then installs the fireplace. Next the interior walls are drywalled and the granite or marble surround is done. Lastly the wood mantel is installed and trimmed out.