I would suggest doing a lower surround similar to the scale of what happens to be around the fireplace in the 1st photo.

What will your finish be? or are you asking about that as well?

You need to make sure it meets your local fire code or you could have problems with your insurance cancelling your homeowners insurance as happened to our neighbor.

My concern is putting it up against a wall without something to keep the heat from transferring the stud behind it where they dry out and can spontaneously combust. Is the unit designed to be set up that way? Does it have a layer of protective material to contain the heat?

HI -- Yes, watch the codes and regulations and check with your insurance company because they might have different rules etc. We just found out that what use to be correct for our wood stove ,is now not up to what the insurance company requires to be covered . It also makes a difference with the insurance company if it was professionally installed or a DIY install . They won't cover DIY installs . So now we cannot use it and will have to have it re-moved or replaced when funds allow . At the stage you are at with the fireplace not fully installed ... maybe reconsider having it at an angle in a corner . All designers hate corner fireplaces because it makes it difficult for furniture placements . A corner fireplace is a deal breaker for me .

Is this a zero-clearance gas log, or is it wood? The way you have it now looks like it's the first--a zero-clearance gas. Which type it is will determine the kind of answers you get. Otherwise, people will be posting suggestions that might be inappropriate for the installation.

This is what I put as a surround for my zero-clearance gas log:

The fireplace is a zero clearance wood stove/fireplace. 2" clearance to combustible surfaces. I would love to make it shorter but have a vent in the back wall as shown in this picture. Maybe cover the vent with a piece of wall behind the flue outlet, but how high do we go with it? End it at door height or bring it up to the bottom of the window?
We are trying to decide on the surface for the surround. First thought was stone veneer with a granite or soapstone bench. Then realizing how big it is, we are thinking of making the surround blend with the walls with a simple stone sides & above opening, a stone bench, then wood under the bench, possibly a wood mantle and simple wood top to finish it.
Maybe if we can figure out how to make it shorter, we wouldn't need a mantle?

Mine is a stucco with Venetian plaster finish. It is built on an aluminum "cage." So it is all non-combustible.

This will be beautiful. Be sure to post after photos.

You likely need to do a fireproof wall behind the fireplace and extend it beyond the side edges of the fireplace. The same brick for the floor under it (as step up from the rest of the flooring) and extending out for a hearth would be a good idea as well. Using the same brick to surround the fireplace wouldn't be a necessity but would be practical. In the space between the fireplace and the brick wall, you could even add vents with a fan to help deliver the built up heat around the fireplace into the room.

Thank you all. I have some things to think about and a new direction for the veneer. Nancy, when you said aluminum cage for the stucco on your fireplace, did you mean a mesh that you applied the stucco directly to?

I would try to get as close to Beverly's pic as possible. I love the simplicity of it.

I agree with suezbell. People don't understand that heat is transferred though the sheet rock to the studs drying them out. At a certain point, the heat transfer will cause the dry studs to ignite causing a wall fire. This is according to my husband who is a 30+ year career firefighter.

Here are a few pictures of the construction with the cage.

Thought I would post the finished fireplace. Thank you for all your ideas!!