Fireplace Surround Design/Dimensions

6 years ago

Hello! We are redoing our current fireplace set up:

We already removed the strange mantle and we plan on covering the stone on the wall with board & batten and covering the stone on the ground with a concrete. We also plan on adding a new mantle that runs the length of the wall. Our inspiration is this picture:

Bixby Hill · More Info

I have two questions. First, while I like the concrete surround in the picture above, my wife isn't sure and thinks it will be too much concrete. What are people's thoughts? The other option we are thinking would be a decorative tile. Something along the lines of this:

Rustic Road · More Info

My next question is what should the proportions of the surround be? The current opening is 48 inches wide and 30 inches tall, so it's fairly large. How wide and tall should the surround be?

Open to other ideas/thoughts people may have! Thanks!

Featured Answer

Mary Stone

6 years ago

Love the concrete. Blends modern with transitional by using it with board and batten. The tile is nice too but looks more cottage to me. It depends on what look you’re going for

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Comments (7)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
It would be a lot less work to just paint the stone. Where is the TV being placed?
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Brian M.
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks! The board and batten is actually pretty simple because it’s just going to go over the existing rock.
Brian M.
Original Author
6 years ago
Any thoughts on the dimensions of the surround?
PRO
Hansen Wholesale
6 years ago
Most local building codes require at least 6" of non-combustible material around the fireplace opening if there is combustible material less than 1 1/2" thick around that. If any combustible material, such as a wood mantel, protrudes more than 1 1/2" from the opening you must have at least 12" of non-combustible facing before the bottom of the mantel.

So the amount of facing really depends more on how you plan to do the mantel. In most cases, 12" at the top and 8" on the side is a good proportion, but many who use 12" tiles just go 12" on the top and sides.

Another way to look at it is that the comfortable height for a mantel is about 50" to 54". So you if your mantel/beam is 6" thick and your fireplace opening is bout 30" tall and you add 12" of facing at the top you end up with a mantel height of just 48", which may be considered low. In your inspiration photo, the hearth appears to be raised about 10", the facing looks to be about 10" and the fireplace opening is probably about 23", plus 6" for the mantel, which puts that mantel at about 49"

With that said, it looks like the current construction may not be to code with that drywall overhanging the opening.

Are you planning on converting the fireplace to gas logs or a gas fire like in the inspiration photo you supplied?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
I ask that same question and I see that awesome desk and wonder why concrete or board and batten . I would like to see the whole space That drywall overhang is definately not to code The TV will be way too high to watch comfortably Your inspo picture is of a quite modern space and from what I see of yours nothing modern there,The best thing is to check with the codes in your area as far as what you can do .
Brian M.
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks, everyone! The “current” picture is actually from before we bought the house with the old owner’s furniture. Our style is much more modern/transitional.