What Stone Is Right for My Fireplace?

Is there anything to compare to the comfort and grandeur of a stone fireplace? Stone has always been a popular material for fireplace design, and for good reason. Stone is incredibly versatile; you can literally create any style of fireplace, from the most grand to the most rustic and everything in between, with stone. But which stone is right for your fireplace? Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when designing your ideal fireplace.

Overall Design

Your overall design will steer you towards certain stones. The elegance and beauty of marble perfectly elevates a more formal room, while the rustic curvature of fieldstones can lend organic comfort to a cottage-style den. Determine what style you want for the room as a whole, and see if any stones immediately evoke that aesthetic for you. Marble may be expensive, but it’s worth every penny if it perfects your room’s look.

Maintenance Issues

Some stone is very easy to care for, requiring only a gentle cleaning every so often to maintain its luster and beauty. Other stone is more complicated to keep in pristine condition. Marbles and limestones are softer than other stones, so extra care needs to be taken to ensure these stones aren’t dented by accident. In addition, marble can take more effort to clean than, say, granite. Which brings us to the elephant in the room: soot.

Soot and Staining

If you use your fireplace with any frequency, soot will be an issue. Using a dark material for your fireplace can certainly help to mask soot stains. Darker grey or black stone will keep your cleaning to a minimum, but what if your heart is set on something lighter? If you plan to use your fireplace often, aim for something easy to clean, like granite or slate.

Don’t Forget Your Hearth

Make sure your hearth design complements your fireplace design. Depending on the material you choose for your fireplace, you may be able to use the same material to create your hearth. If not, or if you don’t want your hearth made from the same material, try to use a product that complements your fireplace‘s style and coloring. Tile is an excellent option for hearths, as are other stone varieties with similar coloring to the main stone you pick. Be sure that the hearth design itself works well with the design of the fireplace; you don’t want a cottage-style fireplace thrown off by a modern hearth or vice versa.

Ultimately, the beauty of well-designed and well-constructed stone will make your fireplace the show-stopping centerpiece of whatever room you incorporate it into. Discuss with your designer or salesperson which stones will be right for your fireplace.

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