This has GOT to be one of my most favourite features of our new, DIY home: this gorgeous, custom fireplace that we designed and built. It was a ton of work, but I think it totally sets the stage for our living room and I’m so very proud of it.
In case you missed it, here is the post explaining how we designed and built our custom mantel. The finishing touch to our “rustic glam” fireplace, was the installation of these beautiful slate split-face tiles made by TruStone that we found from our friends at Lowes.
Thank you, TruStone and Lowes for making our beautiful fireplace possible! It was a joy to work with you and with this product… truly.
We chose to use the TruStone split-face quartzite slate look tile in Forest Brown. We loved the rustic look of this colourway, and it ties right into our beautiful flooring in similar tones! This tile comes in pieces that are about 6 x 24″ with staggered ends. It can be easily cut with a tile saw and it’s not too tricky to install because of its rough look and changes in thickness – it makes it relatively fool proof!
First, my husband covered the cement board on our fireplace surround with a troweled layer of thin-set. After this dried, he screwed wire mesh onto the entire surround. He then trowled another layer of thin-set over the mesh.
Hubby cut the pieces of tile to size with a regular tile saw.
Starting at the bottom of our fireplace surround, he applied another layer of thin-set, then pushed a tile into place.
We installed the tile on the sides of our surround first, and then the front (starting from the bottom). We debated for a while over how we’d approach the corner finishing on the fireplace tile, and ultimately we decided to do blunt cuts (instead of attempting 45 degree angles or chipping at the edges). I’m happy with this look!
The tile installation took a couple of days (in bits and spurts), and then after about a month I finally scrubbed the tiles free of excess thin-set. I do have a slate sealing spray that I can apply to the tile, but I decided that I’m too tired and pregnant to do that anytime soon, so I’m leaving that for another day!
The stone on our fireplace has given me exactly the “rustic glam” look I was going for. The crisp, white mantel contrasts so beautifully with the dark ruggedness of the split-face tile.
I’d recommend this tile to anyone looking for a pretty way to update their fireplace. I bet if you had a flat tile already on your fireplace surround, this tile could easily be installed with a similar method we used.
As for decorating our lovely new fireplace, I’ve used some things I had on hand (and found for great prices!) so far. Our pretty & unique centerpiece – this quatrefoil mirror – was also found at Lowes!
Now that our fireplace is finally done, I’m determined to finish the rest of the room and finally have a relatively complete room in our new house to “reveal” here on my blog. I can’t wait to share the rest of our living room with you!
(Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Lowe’s Canada and TruStone. The views and opinions expressed here are purely my own.)
Linked to: Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House, From Dream to Reality at The DIY Dreamer, That DIY Party at DIY Show Off
This post is part of my “Our DIY House” series where I’ll share with you my most exciting DIY ever – building a country house from the foundation up with my talented hubby!
[email protected] says
October 24, 2013 at 5:11 pmAbsolutely gorgeous! I love the contrast of the crisp white mantel against the dark stone. Fantastic job! You give me hope that there is an end in sight for our fireplace makeover from hell. 😉
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Christina Dennis says
October 24, 2013 at 10:37 pmThanks so much, Jenny! It was certainly a long process, but totally worth it. Good luck with your fireplace makeover! 🙂
Denise says
November 25, 2013 at 8:54 amBeautiful work! Where did you get your white shelf? It’s gorgeous and it fits perfectly!
Christina Dennis says
November 26, 2013 at 9:42 pmThanks so much, Denise! The white mantel? My parents and I designed it and made it!
Taylor says
December 23, 2013 at 10:31 pmHow much did the slate end up costing you? Did you purchase it from a wholesaler?
Audrey says
April 6, 2014 at 6:15 pmLooks awesome! How did you handle the unfinished white edges that surrounded the fireplace?
dean says
July 2, 2015 at 10:02 amHi, I would like some advice if possible regarding your split face chimney breast you blogged about. I am going to do exactly the same using oyster sate split face tiles. I noticed in your pictures that you have a mesh wire on the chimney breast that you are adding the slates to. Is this something that you have added yourself? If so, why and how did you add this on. My fireplace is a brock construction that has beed plastered over. I am wondering if I need to remove all the plaster down to the brickwork and then add the mesh or would it be possible to add the slate either right onto the brick or easy still the plaster. Thanks in advance.
Vicki says
August 17, 2015 at 7:35 pmWe’re preparing to do the same project. Did you place the mantel first and stone around it? Or mount the mantel on top of the stone? We can’t decide which would work best.
Christina Dennis says
September 13, 2015 at 9:53 pmWe built the mantel first and then installed the slate tile around it. That worked well!
Kathi Gorman says
February 15, 2016 at 9:52 amI have the same set up and am fretting about the corners. I have seen some pretty awful corners on fireplaces. What were your thought?
[email protected] says
April 15, 2017 at 10:59 amHey Christina,
Just love the whole thing. Such an inspiring ideas. Probably would try something similar with this in the future. Thanks for sharing this cool stuff.
Cheers,
Oliver
McKenzie says
April 18, 2017 at 10:57 amLove it! This fireplace looks pretty great. Thank you for sharing the process of getting this great look.
Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
April 19, 2017 at 8:30 amThank you, McKenzie.
concrete work NJ says
October 14, 2017 at 11:58 pmHouse stonework is a good way to add value to your home. and it looks good too.
Charolene says
October 28, 2017 at 3:00 amWow, this looks good. Pity I don’t have a space to install something like this in my rented apartment.
Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
October 30, 2017 at 7:27 amThank you!
Alex Turner @ cozyhousetoday says
November 15, 2017 at 2:25 pmHi, Lindsay
Your fireplace looks awesome to me.
Your hubby did a great job.
Thank you for taking the cool snap and share everything in details.
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Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
November 16, 2017 at 8:10 amThank you. Christina is happy to like her fireplace.
Gayleen Copley says
March 10, 2018 at 3:15 pmMy husband and I want to use this exact tile around our fireplace, but we’re unsure what to put on the floor. Can you please send a picture of your floor in front of your fireplace? Thanks!
Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
March 13, 2018 at 7:44 amIt is a wonderful tile 😀 you can view Christina’s flooring in her Spring home tour. Hope that helps and you feel inspired.
http://thediymommy.com/spring-2018-living-room-tour/
DYIer says
November 2, 2018 at 10:12 pmI have been looking at this for some time, and I am ready to give it a try. Looks so wonderful. My questions is how did your husband build the cement board out from the wall? I assume nothing combustible like metal studs, and then screwing the cement board to them (that was what I was going to try). Thanks
Mia Kellaway says
January 8, 2019 at 7:02 pmAccents can highlight or ruin a well designed interior space. In this case, you made a great choice, Christina. 😉
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Penelope Smith says
February 27, 2019 at 10:25 pmThis is some really good information about getting a new fireplace installed. I liked that you pointed out that it would be smart to think about the feel you want from the stone. That does seem like a good thing for me to know that because I want to get a new fireplace installed soon.
Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
March 3, 2019 at 6:55 amThank you! Glad you enjoyed it
tilers warehouse Lawnton says
April 3, 2019 at 4:58 amNeed a good glue to use for your tiles so that it will really stay on it’s placement.
Iraida Sidorova says
April 22, 2019 at 1:18 amWonderful job. I love the work you have done. Now it looks so nice.
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