Are the dark large stones going to remain on top of the hearth per placement?

I agree to put the same stones stacked vertically like the top. that will be the best solution, Then put a fire screen on the hearth, and you will not even notice them anymore. Great job! Question: are the side pieces of the mantel marble? is there anyway that they can be made to look more like the inspiration image?

Lastly how do you plan on ending the edge of the hearth large stones and the sheetrock short wall above the base molding? paint? more stone?

Did you read the installation instructions that came with your fireplace? Factory built units usually have air vents around the opening that cannot be blocked.

@ karielen, yes, that's how the dark stones are going to look permanently; as they are laid out on the photo.

@ downbytheriver, the top will have the vertical stones, just like the model. Its the next step after finishing the sides today. Its the bottom portion in question we're not sure about what to do.

They're not 'stack stones'. They are 'stacked stones'--stones that are stacked.

I'd vote for #2 also--carry the hearth stones up to the firebox make them blend and unify. Painting the bottom white makes no sense; fireplace surrounds are always finished in a fireproof material; using paint (even if it's on cement board) breaks that expectation--visually. Use a material that's already there--the big stones.

It's too late now to use the stacked stones across the bottom because there'll be a seam where the base meets the sides. In order to do it right, the stacked stones would have to have been laid with the side ones so that they wove themselves together in a unified wall.

@ & Design, there is already an existing glass door, won't it look funny to put a fire screen in front of it? The side pieces are finished plywood and will be designed just like the inspiration image. We started with the stack stones first, the messier, more tedious job to do. The hearth large stones just need grout now; they laid out as the completed look. The sheet rock short wall will be painted yellow to match the walls.

@ tatts, I thought stacked too at first, I shouldn't listen to my husband. lol.

Thank you for all the great advice.

Whichever you do for the base area, either the hearth stones or the stacked stones, I would paint the hearth base, and the entire mantel, sides and top a light gray to help unify the entire fireplace. As is, the white goes with nothing else related to the fireplace and the colors and material of the stacked stone and hearth stones don't correlate. A gray color paint on the entire mantelpiece, surround and hearth base would bring it all together. My vote for the bottom part of the surround would be the stacked stones.

Behold, our finished fireplace! :D

We changed the original dark flat stones to match the stacked stones.

That looks amazing.......good work.

Good job!

This looks really great. Nice adjustment with the color of the flat stone - really helps ties it together. Cheers!