On a fireplace

Our living room fireplace is white painted brick, it has tile on the bottom (hearth?) that we ripped out. We are having a wooden mantle built, but need to decide on the material on the bottom.

I say marble, DH says granite. The room has dark wood floors painted a light color and has white moldings. It is currently empty so I don't need to worry about furniture yet.

What would you pick and why? Granite seems like a kitchen-bathroom thing and marble seems more formal to me. Curious to see what others used.

Thanks!

Re: On a fireplace

We have a gas fireplace but have marble on the hearth. It is the same as the marble around the fireplace insert.

Re: On a fireplace

Maybe Slate? I have slate under and behind my wood burning stove

Re: On a fireplace

I think it depends on the look you are going for in the room. Are you going to paint the mantel or leave it a natural color. Do you have a picture the room so far?

By what you described the first thing that comes to mind is a slab for slate or soap stone that is sealed. There is a granite that is called Peitro Cardozza that when it is sealed with an enhancer it is a medium gray to charcoal color and is gorgeous. I would use that (we used it in our master bath counter).
I think you can do granite. Their is so much out there in terms of color it will not look like something you typically find in a kitchen.