Catching up... the woodstove wall

We had a great wood stove that we used heavily in the winter months.  We wanted to raise it off the ground a bit and give it a more permanent home.  We built a platform that acted as a stage for the kids for a while.  Then as the cool weather settled in and as we tiled the rest of the house, we added tile to the platform.  We then reinstalled the wood stove for use.  But, the wall behind the stove got left for another time.  David and I couldn't agree on what to do with it.  I wanted to do some type of stacked stone.  David wanted to do river rock.  Neither of us wanted to do what the other one wanted...   We had the pretty mantel blocks of wood installed, and some cement board too, but that is as far as it got.   Then came the call to move.  And we HAD to do something with it. 

Isn't it gorgeous!! My bro-in-law, Mathan, used tile and made up this pretty pattern in his head, and did a BEAUTIFUL job.  LOVE IT!