Project Overview
| Item |
Details |
| Project Type |
Private residence renovation |
| Location |
Pennsylvania, USA |
| Residence Background |
Dutch Colonial Revival home, approximately 135 years old |
| Product |
Custom carved marble fireplace |
| Material |
Black Limestone |
| Finish |
Honed |
| Style Direction |
Louis XV / Victorian / Art Nouveau elements |
| Customization |
Carved design, dimensions, fireplace opening, overall height, base width, mantel structure |
| Project Scope |
Design development, technical drawings, production, packaging, and door-to-door shipping |
| Project Timeline |
2025.01-2025.07 |
Client Requirements
The client is renovating a 135-year-old home. The original fireplace was an old brick wall painted white, with a Victorian-style gas fireplace insert already installed inside.
They wanted to add a black natural marble carved fireplace, but there were two very practical issues to resolve during the design and delivery process.
How can the new marble fireplace fully cover the old brick without demolition?
The client did not want to incur the extra cost of demolishing the existing brickwork to install the new marble fireplace.
Therefore, the new fireplace could not be made simply to fit the opening of the gas insert.
It also had to address the following:
After installation, the original white brick wall must not be visible from the top, sides, or behind the new marble fireplace.
Our Solution
Redesigning dimensions to fully cover the old brick structure
The client wanted to keep the original brick wall and install the new marble fireplace directly onto the existing structure. However, after on-site measurements, we found that if the fireplace was produced according to the initial design, the top and sides of the original brick wall might still be exposed, affecting the final installation result.
To address this, we re-examined the coverage relationship between the new fireplace and the existing brick wall using the client's site photos, actual measurements, and the position of the gas insert. We then adjusted the overall height, base coverage, and mantel structure accordingly.
During this process, the client and on-site installers continued to verify the actual conditions, and we updated the design drawings based on their feedback until the new fireplace could fully cover the brickwork that needed to be hidden, while keeping the fireplace opening matched to the gas insert.
Ultimately, by reverse-adjusting the custom fireplace's dimensions and coverage based on the existing structure, the client was able to achieve a complete, clean stone fireplace appearance without demolishing the original brick wall.
Design & Production Process
1) Inquiry (January 28, 2025)
Hello, first, I love your story. Second, we have a 135-year-old Dutch Colonial home with a terrible white-painted brick fireplace that is no longer usable. We installed a Victorian-style reproduction gas insert. We want a black marble carved mantel in Louis XV/Victorian/Art Nouveau style and would like a quote.
2) Client confirms material and sends style and gas insert specifications – Customization confirmed (March 11, 2025)
3) Client sends dimensions and measurement drawings (March 11, 2025)
This is the current site condition. Can the fireplace be made based on this? The brick corbels and original mantel shelf will be removed. I have a few questions: How should the marble side returns be finished? Also, please confirm how far the mantel shelf will project from the wall. Please advise on your proposed solution.
What are your thoughts on marble side returns? Option 1: Only install marble panels on the front, and paint the sides? Option 2: Cut marble slabs to fit and install on the sides as well?
4) Design visualizations sent (March 13, 2025)
5) Base width and mantel shelf width adjustments proposed
Let's make the base 77 1/2 inches wide (to cover the exposed brick on both sides). The mantel shelf should be proportionally extended—I think the total width should be about 84 3/4 inches. We want the rear corners of the shelf (top panel) to be rounded since they will be visible, projecting about 3 inches on each side.
6) Photos and top view sent (March 15, 2025)
7) Specifications and pricing provided
8) Production confirmed (April 1, 2025)
9) Delivery questions (July 22, 2025)
What do you recommend we do? I've never dealt with a delivery company that doesn't unload items from the truck. Does the delivery truck have a liftgate to lower the crate to the ground? Or should we open the crate inside the truck and carry out the pieces individually? In this case, the truck would also need a liftgate. Please provide some guidance. I've received many large, heavy items in my life, but I've never been asked if I have unloading equipment. Thank you very much. I know it's oversized. I don't know what kind of truck capabilities you have. I'm a homeowner, not a business. I'm not a freight expert. So any help is appreciated.
Reply: Standard liftgate trucks can usually handle items up to 2.4 meters in length. Since our package exceeds this length, they are currently arranging a suitable liftgate truck capable of handling oversized items.
Later, the client arranged for a forklift themselves.
Final technical drawings
Factory finished product
Technical Details
| Item |
Specification |
| Product |
Custom carved marble fireplace |
| Material |
Black Limestone |
| Finish |
Honed |
| Overall Width |
84 3/4" |
| Overall Height |
56" |
| Overall Depth |
12" |
| Base Coverage Width |
77 1/2" |
| Fireplace Weight |
260KG |
| Shipping Method |
Door-to-door delivery |
Finished Project Gallery
Client Feedback
After production was completed, we sent the client final photos of the finished product. The client responded very positively, saying:
“Absolutely stunning! It’s truly beautiful!”
Related Projects / Contact Us
Renovating an old fireplace?
Renovating a historic home's fireplace does not necessarily mean you have to demolish the existing structure first.
If you wish to keep the existing brick wall, gas insert, or other architectural features, you can send us site photos, fireplace opening dimensions, existing structure measurements, and your preferred design references.
We can coordinate the marble fireplace's height, width, depth, and coverage based on your site conditions, and confirm everything with technical drawings before production.
Pennsylvania Historic Home Project | Custom Carved Black Marble Fireplace Mantel Installation
Project Overview
Client Requirements
The client is renovating a 135-year-old home. The original fireplace was an old brick wall painted white, with a Victorian-style gas fireplace insert already installed inside.
They wanted to add a black natural marble carved fireplace, but there were two very practical issues to resolve during the design and delivery process.
How can the new marble fireplace fully cover the old brick without demolition?
The client did not want to incur the extra cost of demolishing the existing brickwork to install the new marble fireplace.
Therefore, the new fireplace could not be made simply to fit the opening of the gas insert.
It also had to address the following:
After installation, the original white brick wall must not be visible from the top, sides, or behind the new marble fireplace.
Our Solution
Redesigning dimensions to fully cover the old brick structure
The client wanted to keep the original brick wall and install the new marble fireplace directly onto the existing structure. However, after on-site measurements, we found that if the fireplace was produced according to the initial design, the top and sides of the original brick wall might still be exposed, affecting the final installation result.
To address this, we re-examined the coverage relationship between the new fireplace and the existing brick wall using the client's site photos, actual measurements, and the position of the gas insert. We then adjusted the overall height, base coverage, and mantel structure accordingly.
During this process, the client and on-site installers continued to verify the actual conditions, and we updated the design drawings based on their feedback until the new fireplace could fully cover the brickwork that needed to be hidden, while keeping the fireplace opening matched to the gas insert.
Ultimately, by reverse-adjusting the custom fireplace's dimensions and coverage based on the existing structure, the client was able to achieve a complete, clean stone fireplace appearance without demolishing the original brick wall.
Design & Production Process
1) Inquiry (January 28, 2025)
Hello, first, I love your story. Second, we have a 135-year-old Dutch Colonial home with a terrible white-painted brick fireplace that is no longer usable. We installed a Victorian-style reproduction gas insert. We want a black marble carved mantel in Louis XV/Victorian/Art Nouveau style and would like a quote.
2) Client confirms material and sends style and gas insert specifications – Customization confirmed (March 11, 2025)
3) Client sends dimensions and measurement drawings (March 11, 2025)
This is the current site condition. Can the fireplace be made based on this? The brick corbels and original mantel shelf will be removed. I have a few questions: How should the marble side returns be finished? Also, please confirm how far the mantel shelf will project from the wall. Please advise on your proposed solution.
What are your thoughts on marble side returns? Option 1: Only install marble panels on the front, and paint the sides? Option 2: Cut marble slabs to fit and install on the sides as well?
4) Design visualizations sent (March 13, 2025)
5) Base width and mantel shelf width adjustments proposed
Let's make the base 77 1/2 inches wide (to cover the exposed brick on both sides). The mantel shelf should be proportionally extended—I think the total width should be about 84 3/4 inches. We want the rear corners of the shelf (top panel) to be rounded since they will be visible, projecting about 3 inches on each side.
6) Photos and top view sent (March 15, 2025)
7) Specifications and pricing provided
8) Production confirmed (April 1, 2025)
9) Delivery questions (July 22, 2025)
What do you recommend we do? I've never dealt with a delivery company that doesn't unload items from the truck. Does the delivery truck have a liftgate to lower the crate to the ground? Or should we open the crate inside the truck and carry out the pieces individually? In this case, the truck would also need a liftgate. Please provide some guidance. I've received many large, heavy items in my life, but I've never been asked if I have unloading equipment. Thank you very much. I know it's oversized. I don't know what kind of truck capabilities you have. I'm a homeowner, not a business. I'm not a freight expert. So any help is appreciated.
Reply: Standard liftgate trucks can usually handle items up to 2.4 meters in length. Since our package exceeds this length, they are currently arranging a suitable liftgate truck capable of handling oversized items.
Later, the client arranged for a forklift themselves.
Final technical drawings
Factory finished product
Technical Details
Finished Project Gallery
Client Feedback
After production was completed, we sent the client final photos of the finished product. The client responded very positively, saying:
“Absolutely stunning! It’s truly beautiful!”
Related Projects / Contact Us
Renovating an old fireplace?
Renovating a historic home's fireplace does not necessarily mean you have to demolish the existing structure first.
If you wish to keep the existing brick wall, gas insert, or other architectural features, you can send us site photos, fireplace opening dimensions, existing structure measurements, and your preferred design references.
We can coordinate the marble fireplace's height, width, depth, and coverage based on your site conditions, and confirm everything with technical drawings before production.