Our owners, Ben & Stephanie, recently finished their custom new home in Cumming, GA, and if you followed their journey, you'll know they started with inspiration in the form of the beautiful Royal and Louise Morrow House in Transylvania County, NC. They even had the opportunity to tour the interior of stone cottage built from the remains of the Hume Hotel. (Want to read about how Ben got to see the INSIDE of his inspiration home? Read this!) This gave them the opportunity to take notes from this home that they wanted to echo in their own design -- from the cedar shakes for the roof cladding to the distinctive pitch on the roof, many of the signature features of their home are the Kitchen's way of paying homage and incorporating a true sense of history into their new home.

One of the interior features that Ben knew he wanted to bring to their Forsyth County home was the three piece stone fireplace. Two vertical blocks and one, long rectangular piece of stone lying horizontally for the lintel, as pictured below!

As you might imagine, Ben had quite a time trying to find the right pieces of stone for this project. He had stone yards all over Atlanta keeping an eye out for the right piece of stone. Days before work was slated to begin on this special fireplace, he walked into a local stone yard around the corner from his new home and found just the pieces he was looking for. Special ordered for another project but later returned to the stone yard, this 900-1000 lb, seven foot piece of stone was exactly what Ben needed to complete his special fireplace according to spec.

As you might imagine, there are a few complications with getting a piece of stone that heavy into one's home. Enjoy the photographic journey!

Ben used a friend's tractor to give it a doorstep delivery, but unfortunately, the stone still needed to move up a few steps and through a hallway and kitchen to get to its final resting place.

And again, nine men working together to get the lintel in place.

And finally, the stone is home. What a huge undertaking -- and well worth the effort.

This attention to historical detail, a true love for materials, and meticulous planning set the BAC team apart. That, and having eight good guys by your side when carrying a thousand pounds.

Last weekend, Ben built the finishing touch to his fireplace -- the mantel. And, the weather cooperated by dipping down the thermometer enough in order for him to build a fire! There's something special about that first fire.