What does the rest of the home look like? Can you upload more pics of the rest of the room?

hope this photo helps show the overall sizes, etc...the above hearth had to be lowered 6" to meet a code. Second photo shows the rock layout; would like to install the non-combustible mantle about 4" above the keystone center piece. Otherwise, closest we could put a timber beam would be 23" above fireplace opening, almost 6' above floor. Ceiling is 12' vaulted. Thanks for your interest!

try ironwork looks great with stone, do you weld?

no we dont but maybe we know someone who could...any photos for ideas on the iron? Not sure I can visualize what it would look like. Thanks.! I am adding two other photos to show more of the house "style" as Sanders Design asked about ..I would call it a lakeside cottage look (?), kind of rustic, as it has views of a lake and Mt. St. Helens. .I am hoping to put the stone up to the height between the two windows.

How about fossilized or petrified wood? It could look like wood but is in fact stone (not sure of costs, but sure I have seen these about online).

thanks, will check that out....my only concern would be weight as I have a petrified sink and it is VERy heavy...but a great idea.

what a great feature that is going to be. does the stone go to the ceiling?

if it were my house, I think I would go mantle-free.

Seeing the rest of the pictures of your home is was very helpful! Thanks! Here are a few suggestions from me: If you must make it yourself, you can visit some of your local granite and stone outlets and take a look through their remnants. Pairing a nice dark grey thick slab of rough cut granite with some heavy iron L brackets might look very nice. I also like M3459's idea of a piece of slate.

thanks for the photos and all the input from Houzz helpers and pros! is the bottom photo metal or which material? We have priced remnants of granite but even that installed with two corbels came to a lot of money...we may have to bite the bullet and not eat for a week or two to get one..awaiting call from a smaller remnant granite place nearby. Love the looks of the photos you sent. Also talked with a friend who can weld, he is brainstorming also.

Brenda, yes, I have considered going without a mantle. Right now we are going to the height of the top of the windows (about 9' high) and eventually might go straight up to the ceiling of the 12' vault. Other friends think we should rock the whole wall but again..$$ .that would have to be a later happening. I was thinking with that high vaulted ceiling a horizontal timber or stone mantle would break that up some but maybe I should just go with "high". Planning to put a metal 4 x 4 or 4' patinaed round medallion in the center as don't want a picture to take away from the view.

Thanks again all for your input and expertise, I will check all these ideas out... will post a photo when we get it completed.

Honed marble or granite or stone for the mantel.

You should get other opinions but I don't think a picture will distract from the view. Remember at night you can't even see the view. A painting would be so much more interesting than a medallion. You want the FP to be the centerpiece of your room and not just because it's in the middle of the room. A painting becomes part of that focal point.

good point about at night. Have a wonderful elk painting I had considered, natural for our area.

Would you be open for something a little more unusual? Maybe an abstract forest scene with lots of texture?

Something to consider...