you can use various patina products to get different looks. Sculpt Nouveau (google it) has all the products you need to patina metals. I've used their products a lot, they're great and very hepful.

In this case, we combined old sheets of copper with new ones. And applied an acid finish to a few of them.

thanks Beyond Beige. I am in the midst of building soon and that home you designed is like you made it for me. I will be attempting that fireplace.

could this same treatment be done over existing slab marble? how could I adhere the metal without removing the marble? is that even possible? I realize that's a bit tacky and really the best thing to do would be to remove the marble and build a new surround first before adhering a new surface but it's just not within my budget right now.