The eagle has landed (and so has Sandy)

Days ‘til Christmas: 56

Fireplace Status: Unit in hand, Halston front on order

I’m starting to dream about hearth materials.  I like this combination of bluestone and marble.  

Bluestone or soapstone all around could also look very nice.  I know, dream on.

I’m still hoping we can use the faux slate from the yard for at least the horizontal surface and find a cheaper substitute for the vertical (the "slabs" are thick and very heavy, probably too heavy to use on the face).  While this isn't an element we can frankly afford to drop much more money on (after the purchase of the unit), it's also something very permanent, so we can't cheap out either.

In mulling this over with Frank, he offered up his sandblaster to resurface polished granite, which sometimes you can find thin slabs of on the cheap. I don’t generally love the look of granite, but here are a few ones that caught my eye while roving the interwebs. If they had that honed granite look, I think they'd work.

As for Sandy, we’re awaiting the eye and will catch you on the flipside!