A slate stone fireplace is remarkably versatile and can be made to look right at home in virtually any style or setting . . . . .
Due to its ability to be manipulated by human hands and finished in a variety of ways to create a multi- tude
of different looks, this beautiful natural materi- al is equally at home in everything from a rustic log cabin
to a sleek urban penthouse!
Used in construction for thousands of years,
natural slate
is dense, strong, acid resistant, non-absorptive and im- pervious to freeze/thaw cycles. Avail- able in a rainbow of colors including black, gray, green, purple and red, it is often mottled with more than one color and infused with tones of gold, copper and warm earth tones, as shown in the two examples below.
As a fireplace facing material, slate can be used in its natural state in the form of irregularly-shaped slabs
and roughly textured blocks to give it a very rustic look, as shown in the example below left. For a more
refined appear- ance, the facing of the cut stone blocks on the example below, right, has been honed to a smoother
finish and combined with dimensional stone for ad- ded contrast.
In the following slate stone fireplace photos, slate tiles are used. Note the variations in color and
texture, as well as the size, shape and positioning of the tiles in each example . . . which make it possible to
achieve a variety of different looks.
The two examples below present a study in contrasts. Though both are rather modern or contemporary in de- sign, the example on the left uses precisely cut and fitted tiles with a smooth finish to achieve a sleek and sophisticated look. Conversely, the example on the right employs randomly cut and fitted stones with a textured facing to give it a more casual and laid-back look.
The ability to manipulate slate in so many ways makes it extremely ver- satile and an excellent choice as a
fireplace facing material. For exam- ple, the fireplace pictured in the close-up at right was created by stacking
slate tiles horizontally so that only the edges are visible . . . resulting in a very distinctive look.
In the example below, left, a black slate stone fireplace mantel was highly polished to reveal the
beauti- ful -- albeit subtle -- variations in color and veining. Below, right, a Cumbrian green slate fireplace
surround is carved and incised with dragonflys for a truly unique look! And finally, the design at bottom
employs a ribbed slate surround for a very contemporary look.
The final two examples on this page -- though very different from one another -- were selected for their
design originality and flawless execution. The rugged "lodge-style" fireplace pictured below, left, artfully
blends
field- stone
and river stone with large, randomly cut and roughly textured slate slabs which are punctuated, horizontally,
by two smooth dimensional stone mantel shelves and a hearth. The overall effect is truly impressive!
The deep tones and rich hues of the slate tiles on the contemporary design pictured below, right, are
beautifully framed by the richly finished hardwood cabinetry flanking the fireplace. An elegantly curved
mantel shelf ties it all together to create a very unified and harmonious composition!
For more information about any of the slate stone fireplaces pictured above, please
let us know
and we'll be happy to provide it for you.
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as we continually add new designs for slate fireplaces to our website.
