Cowboy Country Stone Fireplaces... A Roundup Of Exceptional Designs!
Welcome to cowboy country stone fireplaces! . . . . . . .
We've rounded up some of the finest stone hearth designs available anywhere under the Big Sky. Rug- ged
and rustic, they are as majestic as the moun- tains from which their stones are gathered!
Set against the backdrop of log or tim- ber-framed walls and soaring cathedral ceilings with beautifully hand-crafted trusswork, these monumental stone hearths have a commanding presence and provide a stunning focal point that is hard to top.
The Great American West was never so luxurious!
A product of Mother Nature, the
natural stones
used to craft these veritable works of art are uniquely individual. No two stones are exactly alike. Hand-
selected for their unique characteristics, they are carefully assembled like the pieces of an intricate puzzle
to bring out their best qualities.
Achieving a cowboy country look in a stone fireplace can be achieved in a variety of ways. Ideally
ensconced in a room with plenty of wooden posts and beams in a warm stained finish, the stone used for the
fireplace surround can range from large, irregular pieces of flagstone that have been fitted to- gether in a
random mosaic pattern, as shown in the example below, left . . . . to fairly large blocks of cut stone in
square and rectangular shapes, as de- picted in the example below, right.
The mantel shelf, as well, can be made from a variety of materials in a num- ber of configurations and finishes
to achieve the desired effect. Below left, the mantel shelf is made of a solid piece of stone with chiseled
facing, and supported from below by a series of carefully arranged log corbels, or brack- ets. Below right, the
stone mantel shelf is inset with a richly stained wood facing.
The cowboy country stone fireplace design pictured below, left, is made from stacked ledge stone and accented
with a rustic mantel shelf and brackets recycled from salvaged timber. Below right, elaborate wooden ceiling
truss- work frames this beautiful stone surround with a tiered stone mantel shelf.
The rugged stone fireplace surround made of cut
granite
and inset with a massive natural log mantel shelf, below left, presents a dramatic counterpoint to the more
refined composition on the right. Made of
fieldstone
arranged in a random mosaic pattern, the country stone fireplace below, right, is graced with a finely crafted
and richly finished wooden mantel shelf. Hanging from the two story ceiling, a crystal chandelier adds a touch
of whimsey to the overall design scheme!
Following are two fairly large country stone fireplaces. As wide as they are tall, the overall massing is
solid and substantial. Adding to the monumentality of the design in the example at right, below, are the large
square and rectan- gular cut granite stones used to surround the firebox, as well as the hefty wooden beam serving
as a mantel shelf.
The precisely cut and assembled square and rectangular stones in the follow- ing example present a striking
contrast to the irregular mantel shelf. Crafted from a single piece of stone, the facing of the undulating
mantel shelf has a rough, hand-chiseled finish.
If the flavor of the American desert southwest is more to your liking, the following designs may be closer to
what you have in mind. Though gen- erally made of
adobe,
plaster or stuc- co, the unusual kiva fireplace pictured at right is crafted from stone. A bee- hive-shaped
fireplace, the kiva echoes the ceremonial chambers of the South- west's Native Americans. Smooth and gently
rounded with a distinctive arched firebox opening, kivas are built with shallow, angled walls that radiate heat
outward. Corner placement en- hances the kiva's curves as it bows gently into the room.
The
fieldstone
and river rock fireplace pictured below, left, was inspired by the
Mission Revival Style.
A popular style of architecture in the western and southwestern regions of the United States, it is derived
from the early
Span- ish missions
that originally dotted the western landscape.
The Native American-inspired design pictured below, right, uses a light col- ored stone arranged in a random
mosaic pattern. Flanked by naturally fin- ished cabinetry of popular southwestern design, it contrasts sharply
with the darker, "heavier" look and feel of the other two designs and provides an al- ternate method of creating
an appropriate look and feel for a cowboy coun- try stone fireplace design!
And finally, the massive -- albeit cozy -- river stone fireplaces at right and below are picture-perfect examples of the ideal cowboy country stone hearth. Few set- tings ooze the ambiance, warmth and nostalgic charm of the two designs shown here!
For more information about any of the cowboy country stone hearths pictured here, please
let us know and we'll be happy to provide it for you.
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as we continually add new images of country stone fireplaces to our site.
