Stone Fireplace Design Ideas with TV over Brick, Libertyville, Illinois

Tired of Your Brick Fireplace? Design a New Stone Fireplace and add a TV


This customer located in Libertyville, IL wanted to update their great room and get rid of the dated brick and add stone and a flat screen TV to their fireplace.


When designing the new stone fireplace we talked with the customer to understand their project goals and also select the best style and color of stone. The color pallet was picked from the adjacent kitchen, bringing the colors of the back splash into the great room.

The fireplace goals included:.

1) Prepare brick fireplace for electric and provide chase for HDMI cables.

2) Level the brick fireplace work area to one level. That meant chipping the brick around the arch and filling in the low spots on the left and right side of the fireplace.

3) Paint the existing brass fireplace doors with a flat black paint and save over a $1000 by reusing the existing doors.

4) Install cobble stone in customer's personally selected color. (Custom hand coloring is one of unique specilities)

Before Picture Brick Fireplace

Preparation work for getting the brick fireplace ready for the TV and stone.

• Day 1 of the project our contractor came in to chip out a course of brick horizontally at about the middle level of the fireplace. He also cut into the drywall on the side of the fireplace to bury his PVC chase and electric.
• Day 2, the masons arrived to level the brick, take off the top layer of the brick on the hearth and build out the the sides that were slightly recessed. The masons worked as a team installing the cobble stone, installing a new hearth and trim stones over the firebox. At the end of the day the fireplace was complete.
• Day 3, first contractor comes back to mount TV and make sure the cable, DVD and TV are all working together.

Finished Cobble Stone Fireplace

TV Installation over Fireplace You Tube To see the TV contractor and masons in action what this short video. If you like the video, please like us.

Please look at our web site for examples of other finished projects and what we can do with our computer visualizations. Visit our web site.

For additional information:

North Star Stone, Inc.

1921 Industrial Dr.

Libertyville, IL 60048

847-996-6850

Email us for more information

Owner Alan Andrews

Stone Fireplace Design Ideas with TV

Do you Have a Newer Fireplace Designed for a big old TV?

Homes built 8-12 years ago were being built with pre fab fireboxes, enclosed in drywall and containing a hole for a deep, large and heavy TV. These boxes were typically off centered and create a design nightmare for the home owner. Watch the You Tube Transformation

                                                       

Before Fireplace

Fireplace Goals

Finished Fireplace

We have worked with so many different homes and have created a new YouTube showing how you can update your fireplace by adding stone and a flat screen TV. Due to the extensive demo and remodeling, this project took a total of three days.  But the end result is absolutely amazing.

Look at the following link to see this outstanding transformation: Fireplace Transformation YouTube

For More Information about stone fireplaces, stone veneer, interior stone walls, stone wine cellars or stone fireplace design ideas contact us and we will be glad to answer your questions.

Email for more information

North Star Stone, Inc.

1921 Industrial Dr.

Libertyville, IL 60048

Showroom Hours by appointment

847-996-6850

Ledge Stone for your New Stone Fireplace

Designing Your New Stone Fireplace With Ledge Stone
Selecting the perfect stone for your new fireplace is a very difficult decision for the homeowner for a variety reasons. Every stone style and color tells a different story. The sizes of the  manufactured or faux stone veneer is also critical as it relates to the size of the project. A small stone veneer fireplace (less than 40 sq. feet) in cobble stone might be over powering.  Our Ledge Stone Gallery

Ledge Stone (dry stack stone) fireplace.
This was a brick fireplace completely refurbished
with a wood mantel and stone hearth.
Notice the texture and how the size is
appropriate for the height of the
stone fireplace.

Ledge Stone or Dry Stack Stone Style
Our dry stack stone style is sometimes called ledge stone or stacked stone by other stone vendors. This style of faux stone has a very linear look with lots of texture in each stone and looks especially good on walls with heights no taller than 9'. Due to the relief in the stone, adding ceiling lights will create dramatic shadows and enhancing the drama of the stone and the fireplace. Free Design Ideas

Ledge Stone (dry stack stone) fireplace installed directly
 over brick. The stone veneer was installed with a mortar joint,
wood mantel and raised hearth. Notice how the lighting
enhances the stone. Ceiling height 8'.

Stone Fireplaces with TVs and Book Cases

Ledge Stone or Dry Stack Stone works very well with your new stone fireplace and adding a TV over the fireplace. A block of wood is placed on the surface to be stoned and the TV bracket is then installed. Your stone veneer is then applied up to the block. The wood block is never seen behind the TV. If you ever remove the TV, the block of wood can be removed and the new stone veneer can be feathered in.

Stone Fireplace Pictures and TV images

Ledge Stone fireplace with TV.
No mortar was used for this stone fireplace
Details included a raised hearth,
wood book cases, and recessed lighting.

For More Information about stone fireplaces, stone veneer, interior stone walls, stone wine cellars or stone fireplace design ideas contact us and we will be glad to answer your questions.

Email for more information

North Star Stone, Inc.

1921 Industrial Dr.

Libertyville, IL 60048

Showroom Hours by appointment

847-996-6850

Cobble Stone for your New Stone Fireplace

What is the best style of stone for your fireplace?
There is no perfect answer for this question. The best guidelines are to find something that is considered ever lasting and not too trendy for your own local environment . Look around at your own surrounding area and see what stone is commonly used. If you are up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin you might consider a River Rock, or in the Rocky Mountains something more jagged like a field stone.
Gallery Of Fireplace Pictures

In this blog, we will be focusing on a very popular stone called cobble stone and is very traditional and very everlasting in style.

Do you want a more formal stone fireplace?
The cobble stone fireplace is very traditional and you can select colors from the more neutral colors to something a little more drama and color which looks outstanding in a big or small room. Cobble stone fireplaces have a slightly softer look to them. The stones are typically larger than the ledge stone fireplaces and also they have mortar joints between the stones.

Cobble Stone Fireplace,
Nice shape and size with mortar joint
Has an everlasting quality.


Cobble Stone Pictures

Do You Want Formal with a little drama?
The cobble stack stone is a 50-50 blend of the cobble stone and our dry stack style stone (ledgestone) The larger shapes of the cobble stone with their softer edges and smoother texture and the sharper, more linear shape of the dry stack with its deep relief provide that little extra drama that you might desire. The cobble stack look can easily work in a living room, family room or bedroom.

Cobble Stack Stone
A blend with a little drama!

Close up pictures of stone styles

Do You Want Formal with a little rustic?


Our cobble field is a wonderful blend for those homes with taller fireplaces or homes that have a wooded or lake type setting. The selection of stone looks like you picked up the fieldstone pieces on your own property. The fieldstone pieces also help draw the eye upward creating a more dramatic view. We use a blend of 80% of our cobble stone and 20% of our field stone. The placement of the field stone is part art and is what creates a dramatic stone fireplace when completed.

Cobble Field

More About Fireplace Design

For More Information about stone fireplaces and selecting the perfect stone contact us

Email for more information

North Star Stone, Inc.

1921 Industrial Dr.

Libertyville, IL 60048

Showroom Hours by appointment

847-996-6850

Questions about Stone Fireplaces and adding a TV

Items to  Consider for Stone Veneer Fireplace with TV


1) Your TV is going to need to get power  and a chase to run your HDMI  cables to your existing fireplace before the stone veneer is installed. If the fireplace is currently drywall it is a relatively easy process for your contractor to install the electric and chase.  If you have a brick fireplace, the brick will need to be channeled out first to create a pathway. Also the drywall might need some patching.  The only problem that sometimes adds a bit more time and money is if there is no electric near the fireplace.


2) Do You Add A Wood Mantel?:  We typically suggest that you choose either a wood mantel or a TV with your stone fireplace. Installing both a TV and wood mantel, things typically get too crowded. Either you have to mount the TV to high, or it looks like the TV is sitting on the mantel. Wood Mantel Examples


3) How High to Mount the TV?: That is personal and depends on the  existing height of the firebox and the height of the entire new stone fireplace. A great tool is to tape out the area with blue tape and get a visual of the size and the height of the fireplace. For most installations, the top of the TV shouldn't be higher than 6'6" to 7' high. Also try to keep at least 17" from the bottom of TV frame and the top of the firebox and 20" would be better. Stone Fireplace Design Ideas


4) TV Mounting Brackets:  There are so many different brands, but we do suggest a bracket that allows for tilt and at least some swivel. When mounting the bracket, we suggest installing 2x6"'s to the studs of the fireplace wall and then installing the stone up to the area around the wood where the mounting bracket will be placed.


5) What is the Cost of Getting the TV Wired Before my Stone Fireplace is Installed?: Labor markets differ and so do skill levels. In the Chicago market with a skilled electrician and carpenter getting involved, expect to spend about $500 -$600. But once this work is done, you will now have years of watching TV and enjoying that brand new stone fireplace.


 See pictures of a stone fireplace with flat screen TV

Cobble Stone Fireplace with TV
Mortar Joint, color light chateau

Cobble Stack stone fireplace with TV.
Mortar Joint with soft earth tone colors.
Stone fireplace design ideas

For More Information about stone fireplaces, stone veneer, interior stone walls, stone wine cellars or stone fireplace design ideas contact us and we will be glad to answer your questions.

Email for more information

North Star Stone, Inc.

1921 Industrial Dr.

Libertyville, IL 60048

Showroom Hours by appointment

847-996-6850

Stone Veneer Exteriors; Incredible Transformations

Exterior Stone Veneers

Our thin stone veneers average about an inch and half think and can be applied directly over painted brick. In other instances the siding has to be removed and wire mesh needs to be applied first. The end result is an outstanding and beautiful new home in stone that you will admire for years.

Cobble stone over brick in Northern Brown Stone

Before the addition of stone veneer

Please look at our web site for examples of other finished projects and what we can do with our computer visualizations.  www.northstarstone.biz

For additional information:
North Star Stone, Inc.
1921 Industrial Dr.
Libertyville, IL 60048

847-996-6850
info@northstarstone.biz

Owner Alan Andrews

Dryvit Replacement

Dryvit Troubles?  Stone Veneers Might Help

Dryvit is very good material if the product was installed properly. The problem many homeowners face is moisture due to poor jobs flashing, especially around the windows. Homeowners have several options when they have made the decision to get rid of their Dryit.

The three most popular options for replacing the Dryvit include thin stone veneer, Hardie Board or stucco. Each product creates a unique visual interest and price point. Typically stone veener is the most expensive option and the Hardie Board option is the most affordable. In many cases we will guide a customer to use a blend of two or three of the materials depending on the size of the house and the budget.

One area that can't usually be estimated is the amount of damage, if any, behind the old Dryvit when it is removed. It is essential that the repairs to the underlayment be made before a new exterior surface is applied.

The following project in Glenview IL had several spots of Dryvit that had some moisture problems that needed repair. In about 5 days the home had a complete facelift using our stone veneer in the style of cobble stone.

Dryvit that needs replacement

Computer Visualization

Stone Veneer Replacing Dryvit

Would you like to learn more about how you can replace your Dryvit with our stone veneer?

Please Contact:
North Star Stone, Inc.
1921 Industrial Dr.
Libertyville, IL 60048


847-996-6850
info@northstarstone.biz

For more information, please check our website
www.northstarstone.biz