Redoing family room. Starting with fireplace. Couple of questions.

1. Once I decide on stones (I’m struggling to pick), any suggestions on the placement? Meaning, should we go top to bottom or just bottom and something like e.g. paneling up top?
2. Re: mantle. I can’t find a non-combustible mantle in a rustic barn wood like color that doesn’t look fake. So far the closest we’ve found are too dark or too gray. We also need 82”.
   Any vendors that send samples and have a variety, that you know of? I can’t buy without seeing irl.
   Thank you!