Could you add a photo of the entire room we should see the entire space too?

YES. It’s a fad. That stone isn’t. It likely suits the house much better.

I prefer not to share any additional photos of my home because it is a bit of mess and a work in progress. My house is a small 50s ranch with the fireplace immediately on the left as you enter the front door into the living room. The other houses in the neighborhood have mostly red brick and painted brick fireplaces. My fireplace was sloppily redone with this rock by one of the previous homeowners.

@hazelcraddock, you have given something to think about. I was doing the brick because it would make my house consistent with the others in the neighborhood. Most of the fireplaces don't go all the way up the ceiling like mine so I was thinking about making it regular size as well.

Naturalistic ledger stones have been around for at least 20 years in my area. The ones in the link, though, are a more recent fad.

Pick something you really love (and hopefully easy to clean). The fireplace should be something you love to look at. You aren't committed to other people's mistakes in a bad installation.

I like the brick you originally picked out.

Here is a photo of it used on an exterior.

What about glossing it and giving it a wet look?

It’s a classic, as old as the hills, harkening to farmers clearing their fields and then building fences or fireplaces with the stone they had cleared. With that said, like many classics, they wax and wane in popularity, and are presently on the upswing.

Where these classics turn fad-ish and become tired and overdone in a few years, making you want to rip them out, is when they’re out of context or just overdone. For instance, I wouldn’t put ledger stone in a city townhome or a contemporary space. It belongs in spaces that are at least slightly rustic (like the “urban farmhouse” look that’s become popular—sort of 1970s rustic but not so dark).

And I’d avoid the enthusiasm that makes one fall in love with a finish and then it’s just everywhere. Do a fireplace, not an entire wall, and don’t do things like the backs of bookcases (clever, for a week, and then, “what was I thinking?”). Also, avoid reinterpretations of these classics. My brother has ledger stone but it’s been polished off to a marble-like finish rather than being left in its rough textured state. It will grow tired in less than 10 years (of course, I don’t share that view with him).

You can just stain the stone if youlike

You'd be better off keeping the stone instead of the ledgestone

If you don’t want to share pics of the space do whatever you like honestly.I have a 1956 MCM ranch it has a huge frieplce and in a stone from very near where we live I love it and IMO ledger stone had a 1/2 life at best.Mine even creates a wall in my kitchen IMo ledger stone would have been very inappropriate for this home.

The style of the brick and the ledger stone is very different. How are you envisioning the finished space? Looking at the fireplace now I would make sure that the width matches both sides and take the hearth to the ends. If you go with the brick, use them for the hearth as well.

Beverly.....just curious....what product would you recommend using to stain natural stone (exterior application)?

https://romabio.com/masonry/limewash/ageless-beauty/

Purchase at Home Depot

View their videos on YouTube for installation information.

Thanks for that info Beverly...is there a product (stain) you can recommend for DARKENING or changing the color of exterior flagstone?? Not primarily an enhancer, but a stain to give it a more brownish color as opposed to bluish?

I grew up in a 1950s home with a fireplace built of sandstone brick. I loved the way it looked, appropriate to the era of the house. You might look at the ledger stones that come in warmer colors. I think it might suit the era of your home better than the grays found in the Nordic Crystal variety. Think sandstone vs. slate. Also....look at the mid century modern homes at RetroRenovation for inspiration. BTW, our house had a chunky sandstone mantle that stretched the width of the fireplace, too.

Such a great transformation on that house.