Southwest-Style Cultured Stone Fireplace Components

General Information

• Cultured stone is a manufactured product that resembles stone, but is made from stone aggregates, dyes and cement. Cultured stone can have the look of various objects, including rocks, stones and brick. It is available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes and is not as costly as natural stone. Using cultured stone requires wire mesh added to a variety of surfaces, including drywall, paneling, concrete or brick. Cultured stone has a flat back that makes it much more versatile to work with than heavy natural stone products.

Surround

• A variety of cultured stone products can be used to form the fireplace surround. Use earth-tone colors for cultured stone bricks. Earth-toned ledgestone provides a stacked-stone look that adds texture to your Southwestern-style fireplace. A rock face fireplace surround gives it an archaic man-made look. Other cultured stone products can resemble higher-end materials such as limestone or granite. Use brown shades with these materials to maintain your Southwestern look.

Mantel

• A traditional Southwestern mantel is typically made from wood. However, you can add cultured stone around the mantel to give it the same Southwestern flair. Add cultured stone river rocks to portions of the mantel to give it a rustic, distressed look. Add cultured stones to the middle of the mantel to make an inlay that creates a focal point.

Trim

• Cultured stone trim pieces help provide a finished and elegant look to the fireplace. Trim stones can be used around the perimeter of the fireplace. You can also use trim stones or key stones to form an arch shape around the fireplace insert. Tuscan-style lintels near your fireplace opening can also help create a Southwestern feel.

Design Ideas

• Use cultured stone in conjunction with other materials to give it a Southwestern look. For example, many Southwestern homes feature a corner fireplace called a beehive. This structure is typically made from adobe, but you can incorporate cultured stone with the look by adding the stone around the fireplace as a hearth or flooring. Use cultured stone that matches the wood tones of the mantel or the color of terracotta tiles that surround the fireplace.