Oh, how beautiful! What a great room you're creating. I'm in Connecticut too. I vote rustic stone because that aesthetic just feels like Connecticut. It connects with the landscape, the local history, & the many stone walls. Field stone please, not river rock or stacked stone.

Definitely not minimal modern with your architecture/ windows.

Since your windows have ”muntins” I would stick with a more traditional look. i have a very minimal modern fireplace but suits my home ( MCM , beach ). Not crazy about the fireplace in pic #6 though.

Of your stone examples I like the first one. I am ok with what oncape shows as well. What will your kitchen look like?

Unless you are planning to sell within two years, "what everybody else is doing" is irrelevant. Personally, I prefer brick to stone, but is my preference relevant? Maybe not! In general, connecting with the landscape seems like a good idea to me.

Congratulations on the increased sunshine!

I loved my stone FP in my last house and we had very modern style they work well together .Ours was huge 10'z4' thickx8' tall it also formed the wall in the kitchen and the kitchen very modern

I would definitely go with the rustic style, preferably in fieldstone. It’s timeless because it connects your interior to the landscape, which will always be there. Also, the windows are a strong element and I don’t think a minimalist fireplace would stand up to them well. I think the minimalist trend in suburban homes will be short-lived because unless you’re a skilled professional designer, it’s very hard to do it well. Gorgeous room!

Thanks to all of you for your input. I feel so reassured about moving forward with the stone. Definitely not thinking of selling any time in the near or distant future, so it really is for us. And thank you for the compliments on the room - - I am embarrassed I didn't think of this years ago. The room now gets glorious East, South, and West exposure.

thinkdesignlive my shaker kitchen is rustic hickory on the bottom in a medium brown and white Cosmos Everest quartz, with white wall cabinets Also have a blue island with River Blue quartzite top. No photos yet.

I like the appearance of the cobblestone wall.

I love your room too. That being said, your two choices are so far from each other--why either one? Too modern wouldn't work, and the stone fireplaces you posted are very bulky and busy. I'd go with a simple stone slab and a wood mantel and overmantel.

What is INSIDE the fire box, please? Is it gas, or wood burning? Is it brick? JMO - keep it simple, and I'd use a soapstone in a heartbeat.

Whatever you do you'll need to be mindful of how the window casings abut whatever you do on the fireplace, since they are so close. It will need to be carefully planned and implemented.

^ agree - I was wondering how the window trim will impact the FP - that’s going to be a gorgeous room!

@JAN MOYER We are putting a gas insert in the fireplace, most likely Heat N Glo Supreme X with a simple black firebox. Thank you for your soapstone inspo photos!