We are remodeling our 38-year-old home fireplace. The desired look is French Country. The existing fireplace is made of adobe stone and is 12' tall floor to top ceiling and 8' wide. We would like to put a rustic beam on it and we will put a tapestry above the mantle (size is 54"H x 78" W). Our concerns are:
1. Should we keep the painted adobe brick or put stone of it? The approx stone installation cost is $7,000.
2. How do we attach a 150# mantel to the stone fireplace?
Any ideas would be very much appreciated.