Here is the comtemporary design for the fireplace

I also prefer the contemporary, assuming the rest of the house supports a contemporary look. It's better proportioned -- the traditional surround is too small.

I like the contemporary one, too. Something is off on the scale/ proportion of the traditional one. Needs to be wider.

The rest of the house has a mix-classical (crown moulding, staggered kitchen cabs, etc) and contemporary look (stainless steel, some angular things) but with out being too extreme. I thought the contemporary look for the fireplace would be flexible enough to be in both settings. I'm hoping to link my future kitchen counter to the quartzite on the fireplace.

here is an update to the design or rendering

I don't like that marble, and it seems more traditional than contemporary to me. Would work well if you are in an Italian neighborhood.

I like the last picture with the mantle. I do like the marble. The first picture is way too small for the wall, and isnt very nice looking. The second picture which is similar to your last picture, only with no mantle, is also very nice, but, I do prefer the mantle.

Thumbs up on the first contemporary! The kids might freak when Branscusi pops out instead of Santa Claus, but, hey, what price art?

@strategery: thanks, but its a natural stone called quartzite (Infinity, or Montlblanc) which is arguably a better stone to use than marble. I have two babies that would love to draw on this and with marble, it would not be forgiving to remove the stains. And I'm italian so I guess I have license to proceed. :)

@cat_ky, I also prefer the second contemporary since it has some extra details and a mantle top.

@Skil367 so true and too funny!