Fireplace renovation - from builder's grade to rustic elegance

When I was building my home I used my Pinterest account to create different boards for inspiration and a brick fireplace with a hand hewn barnwood beam was exactly the look I loved. The beam I used is from an old barn in Ontario and I loved the heritage behind that. The bricks were manufactured and bought in Quebec, they are sliced in half for easy application with construction adhesive and mortar. I say easy, but it was my dad who did all the heavy labor:)

Before

Final result