Schatzi-your home plans sound WONDERFUL-HOW FUN!!!
The stone stuff-I covered a brick fireplace in river rock (from the river where I grew up-so it was free) and a friend that just did a HUGE remodel had it done on parts of her house-materials alone was like 5.50 a sq ft.
oooh-one of the things that always catches peoples eye about my fireplace (and was my dads idea) every so often a flat rock shelf for candles-think there are 3 on one side and 2 on the other.
Rediculously Addicted-how cool is that? Sounds like a keeper.