Design Ideas for a Stone Fireplace

Make It Oversized

• Create a focal point in the room by extending and enlarging the fireplace up to the ceiling. Use a stone color that invites a visual warmth and separates it from the wall color. Try stone colors of dark clay, deep grays, browns and even a deep mossy, almost black-green. Elevation drawings of the fireplace wall help the homeowner make decisions on final shape and size. Many rooms have an obvious path that the fireplace follows to the ceiling. Others may require angled sides that move upward and then angle toward an unseen midpoint. Installation of stone fireplaces is back-breaking work and requires masonry skills. Hire help with solid skills and knowledge for best results. Find inspiration in fireplaces found in lodges, log cabins and other historical locations.

Use Unusual Materials

• Take a page from North America's Colonial period and adapt one of that era's favorite materials for building fireplaces---soapstone. Soapstone is still used today in laboratory and scientific settings. Sinks and countertops in these classrooms and work areas are often made from soapstone due to its durability. Soapstone resists stains, burns, scratches and is not easily marred or etched. Its ability to retain heat allows a slow-burning fire to radiate for hours after it has died down. Modern fireplace designs using soapstone include the stacking of the stone slabs to create a linear, contemporary design. You can carve the stone to create a sculptural or decorative look. Visit with local stone experts and fireplace sellers to discover what styles of prefab fireplaces are made in soapstone. Work directly with a fireplace designer to create a one-of-a-kind fireplace made of soapstone.

Steal From Nature

• This design idea requires a bit of research and the desire of the homeowner to create an individual stone fireplace. Look for unusual arrangements of stone and rock to emulate. Mountainous, rocky regions of the U.S. or the same in favorite vacation spots provide the best inspirational subject matter. Snap photos or pull them from nature or photography magazines and books. Scan favorite photos into the computer, and use a graphics or photo-altering program to cut and paste them into a fireplace design. Use the results to communicate with the stone masons building the fireplace. Home design software may provide a three-dimensional rendering of the new fireplace plan to aid in visualizing the end result.