First I prefer the firebox on the ground. That is how fireboxes were built for hundreds of years. It looks like it could be a wood fireplace.

As for the stone, I'm not seeing a problem but maybe it's the camera angle? I like the way the stone was stacked. My only issue is the electrical boxes.

OMG what you got is SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT YOU WANTED!!! Your mason is an artist. Do not touch that masterpiece!

No one has anything like your fireplace and your example of what you call drystack (though it looks like just quartize ledgestone to me) is already a dated trend and done, done, done.

This below is what I would have called drystack though I'm no expert when it comes to stone.

I do think the firebox proportions with that size of wall are off, but this might have just been what you ordered to begin with.

Raised the hearth a bit.

I love it. That looks like what it is - a honest to god stone fireplace, not some phony manufactured veneer stone. Take a deep breath and another look.

@ cpartist it is a wood burning unit. I just feel like it looks so low compared to the 20’ ceilings. And yes the firebox is too small for the room- it was what was included in the contract. Really feel like we should gone bigger (taller, deeper) but all these change orders really add up.

It looks great,so unique, I like it better than the inspo photos too! You could beef up the wood mantle, maybe add thick corbels too, but I bet with furniture and decor it'll be perfect.

The fireplace is lovely, the stonework looks fine, and I like the low firebox. The only thing that seems a bit "off" is the height of the mantel. It seems too high, especially if you're putting a TV above it, and the large gap between mantel & firebox makes them both look smaller.

The close up is spectacular!

I actually like it a lot!! Is that supposed to be a mantle though? Unless it is the angle of the photo, it doesn't look like it sticks out. I would fix that

It would have been better slightly higher off the ground, but it's fine if you lower the mantle by two rows.

Get a beefier mantle, lower it and the tv will cover the outlet. The stone looks really nice.

Maybe it’s the lighting or the fact that the mantel/ outlets are off and I think the firebox should be raised that’s throwing me off. Thanks for all the reassurances!! We’re goin got see it in person tomorrow. Hoping it looks better in person. I’ll post more photos :)

If that's how they stacked the stone, it's masterful! Absolutely stunning. (And trust me if it were bad, I'd say so!)

I agree the mantle should be a bit lower and beefier.

The firebox on a wood fireplace should never be raised.

Another vote for it is gorgeous. The low firebox looks sleek. The mantle location is too high for a tv unless you get one of those fancy pull-down wall brackets.

Work around of it, it looks good!

@ cpartist why should a wood firebox not be raised? Aesthetically I think it would look better raised like the second inspiration photo. Thanks for the advice!

I’m curious about why you say a wood fireplace shouldn’t be raised. I’ve had wood fireplaces all my life, and they’ve always had raised hearths. It’s lovely for sitting right by the fire when coming in from the cold.

Ziggy, I also like what you ended up with a lot, and I think it looks better than the inspiration, which I suspect were not a true drystack but a ledgestone veneer.

Looks fine to me!

worthy fp. Rough marble, bianca carrera hearth and mantle.

Maybe I would have voted for a little larger fire box. But that may be just a personal preference, as you can see.

worthy fp. clay brick and rough Indiana limestone hearth and mantle.

I agree that it is a stunning fireplace but the lack of the raised hearth would be a potential deal killer for me. I agree with Kristin that I've always had raised hearths and it was a favorite seating spot for guests in my home.

Thank you! I think the small firebox, the low hearth and the high mantel (off outlets) really just threw me for a loop. Also because my expectation was we were going to get a sample board of the fireplace before the installed and meet with the mason to discuss design and instead I just got a low quality photo of the finished product. They are going to have to rework the mantel and the hearth and hopefully it will turn out ok : ) I will update with photos once its done.

I think your mason is very good. I would not have chosen that stone but it looks good and IMO the mantel is at the proper height for a mantel but the TV will be way too high and honestly a fabulous piece of art would be better above the mantel to lighten up that wall.

Three things.

First, I LOVE real, wood-burning fireplaces (we installed 3!) so good for you that you got one! Nothing beats it IMO.

Second, the stone looks great. I can see the difference between it, your inspiration photos and what you were probably going for, but it really does look nice and I like it just the way it is.

And finally, regarding TVs above high mantels, that's why they make TV mounts like this so you can just pull it down when you want to view it lower. I've never understood why people complain about this - just purchase the correct mount! We have TVs above 2 of our 3 FPs and love having the option to pull them down lower.

Enjoy the new house. That room looks like it's going to be a dream.

I want to buy one of those Samsung TVs that look like framed art when not in use (I think it's called "The Frame") I haven't seen this done, but I always thought one of those would be perfect for use over a mantel with one of those pull down brackets.

Unlike your inspo photo, your windows go to floor level. A higher hearth would have disrupted the cohesiveness of that look. I also love the stone work on your fireplace and the color looks good with your windows. Did you specify a style, wood and stain, height for your mantle? Is the wood there to serve as an anchor for the mantle? I wouldn't even want a mantle (or a t.v. ) there. The stone makes the statement.

Ziggy, the photos look great--congratulations. Not to worry.

There are code restrictions as to how close a combustible mantle may be to the top of a fireplace opening, but you far exceed that.

Work with your builder to relocate your mantle, and all will be beautiful

Good luck on your project.

The stone masons did an admirable job on your fireplace. The depiction of what you wanted appears to be cultured (man-made) stone with very regular dimension. The stone used on yours is either natural stone or a better knock-off.

The firebox looks like it's a pre-fabricated insert. I think it would have looked much better if it were taller-- given the mass of the fireplace, but that may not have been an option with a pre-fabricated fireplace.

I totally LOVE your fireplace. Much more than your inspiration photo. I think it is so much better than you asked for. Sometimes it's better to wait for a finished product than question something before it's done.

Saw the fireplace in person today and it looks great. I think once I stepped back from what I thought it was supposed to look like, i became more objective. The mason is going to fix a few stones here and there that are off kilter and we are going to lower the mantel (wood is just the attachment, box mantel is still being made) by two rows and I think it will look much better. The mantel will be white oak natural stain and the hearth will be bluestone. Thanks all!

Very well done--congratulations!

So glad to hear. It really is stunning.

Looks very nice. Do you love them it?

Beautiful. Thanks for coming back to show us the finished product.

Really is lovely...

No TV Ziggy ?

That is so much better than your inspo photo. The other one looks manufactured; yours looks real.

Wow. Very nice.

I do like it, but....I do think the firebox looks small. I'd say it needs another 12" of total width and height at least. Could they just remove the stone back up to the mantle height, put in a bigger and raised firebox, and then re-finish it off?

Great info.

It is truly a handsome focal point. Well done. Hope that when it all came together you loved it. You should be proud.

Very nice! Where did you purchase your ceiling fan?