Natural Stone Fireplace Design... Steeped In Tradition!
Natural stone fireplace design . . . . . the tradition continues . . . . . . .
After hundreds of years, man's earliest building ma- terial continues to be split, stacked, cut, carved,
tumbled, bush hammered, flamed, honed, brushed, polished, assembled and arranged into stunning fire- place mantels
and surrounds!
Keeping that tradition alive and well are the natural stone fireplace design purists among us who are
unwilling to accept anything else. Despite relatively recent and significant improvements in both
cast
and
manufactured stone
products . . . . . . many of which are virtually indis- tinguishable from their
natural stone
counterparts . . . . there are those that continue to insist upon the "real deal" when it comes to their
stone hearth.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of beautiful natural stone materials or skilled stone artisans
available to meet that demand. From a natural stone fireplace design steeped in tradition to the most
ultra-contemporary of designs, there is a texture, color and finish to meet the most demanding and discerning
tastes.
As with many natural stone types,
granite
can be manipulated by human hands to achieve a wide and varied range of different looks. The hardest
and most durable of all the natural stone types utilized in fireplace design (only diamonds, rubies and
sapphires are harder), granite is unequalled when per- manence, enduring color and texture, and complete freedom
from deteriora- tion and maintenance are prime requirements.
The following examples depict a variety of contrasting looks . . . . . from ex- tremely rugged and natural,
with very little cutting or finishing (top row at left) . . . . . . through a gradual progression of more
precisely cut and assem- bled stones . . . . . to a richly carved and highly polished mantel and hearth (second
row at right). In the bottom row, the unique fireplace surround is sand-carved granite.
The following set of traditional -- albeit more formal -- natural stone fireplace designs are carved from
limestone,
a popular material for fireplace surrounds. A very durable building material, limestone has a uniform
texture and grade, weathers naturally over time, and its color mellows and blends into a pleasing natural
patina that actually improves with age. A unique characteristic of some types of limestone is the fossils and
seashells often found embedded in the surface, adding an organic element.
Travertine,
a porous sedimentary rock with numerous cavities, has been em- ployed for thousands of years as
a building material. The largest and most notable building constructed primarily of travertine is the Colosseum
in Rome . . . . . an age old testament to the long term durability of the material. Pitted holes and troughs
in its surface characterize the stone. However, depending upon the look you are seeking, the holes and troughs
can be filled with grout and the stone polished to a smooth, shiny finish. Travertine is available in a variety
of colors ranging from gray to coral-red. When pure and fine, traver- tine is white, but often is brown to yellow
due to naturally occurring impuri- ties in the stone. The striking mantels and overmantels pictured below are
made of travertine.
Another natural stone type used to make fireplace mantels is Cantera, a Spanish word meaning "quarry."
Cantera stone is strong and porous, yet light in weight, and is found naturally in a wide variety of colors
and textures . . . primarily in regions of southern Mexico. It is very strong and durable, and yet is easily
mined and carved, as shown in the examples below.
Marble,
one of the most common types of natural stone for formal fireplace mantels, is a very hard and
durable material. From Greek statues to Roman baths, it has been used for centuries in nearly every conceivable
interior and exterior application. Intricately veined, marble comes in a vast array of beau- tiful colors.
As seen in the numerous and diverse examples above, natural stone fireplace design encompasses a wide and
varied range of stone types, sizes, shapes, colors, textures, veining patterns and finishes. Within each of
those catego- ries are still more variations due to differences . . . . ranging from very subtle to sharply
contrasting . . . in each and every stone or slab. As a result, no two natural stone fireplaces are ever
exactly alike, giving you a one of a kind hearth that is uniquely your own!
For more information about any of the stone fireplaces featured here, please
let us know
and we'll be happy to provide it for you.
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