21 Beautiful Stone Fireplace Ideas, From Rustic to Elevated

Add a natural, rustic element to your hearth.

Stone fireplace with radiating stone
Photo:

Norman Davenport Askins, Architects

Want to add warmth and texture to your living room? A stone fireplace is the perfect addition. From dramatic marble fireplaces with bold veining to rustic stacked stone that looks like it's been there for centuries, stone has incredible range. For stone fireplace inspiration that spans styles and budgets, we're sharing some gorgeous ideas from interior designers—they're sure to warm up any space.

01 of 21

Double the Height

Stone fireplace in woodsy living room

Eric J. Smith Architect / Peter Margonelli

This fireplace, designed by Eric J. Smith Architect, makes a dramatic statement with its double height scale. The fieldstone hearth feels like it was collected over time, stone by stone, and it's the perfect backdrop for family gatherings.

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Reflect the Outside World

Stone fireplace in rustic great room

Lichten Architects / Read McKendree

Use stone as an opportunity to reflect the natural world. For this stone fireplace, Lichten Architects looked to materials that are found in the Catskills, where the home is located.

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Go With Marble

Marble fireplace

Lucinda Loya Interiors

For a piece of stone that reads more like a dramatic painting, look to marble. "Marble, with its organic patterns and infinite hues, serves as a striking work of art," says Lucinda Loya, owner of Lucinda Loya Interiors. She used a custom-designed polished Calacatta corchia mantel featuring mitered edges and pencil trim in this space.

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Wrap a Fireplace in Stone

Stone fireplace surround

White Cliff Studio / Karen Palmer Photography

Even if you have a modest fireplace, stone can give it a stunning look. In this living room, White Cliff Studio wrapped a fireplace in a large stone to give it more presence than its previous iteration.

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Choose a Cool Slate

Stone fireplace

Armina Interiors

While fireplaces are usually thought of as warm, this slate fireplace from Armina Interiors contrasts that concept with a cool gray stone. It works with the neutral tones within the space and adds a textural, organic element that plays off of the nature just outside the windows.

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Use Contrasting Grout

Stone fireplace in a light and airy living room

Carta Creatives / Kyle J. Caldwell

Grout provides an opportunity for another design detail, particularly if you choose a grout that is in stark contrast to the color of the stone. To keep the look cohesive, stay within the same warm or cool family, like this ivory grout and warm taupe stone from Carta Creatives.

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Whitewash the Stone

Stone fireplace in a bright living room

Bridget Giroux Design / Lora Wagener

Whitewashed brick is a look most people are familiar with, but you can create the same effect with stone. "We saw an opportunity to reinvent the look of a river rock fireplace with a light whitewash on the stone. Since the room was in a lower level with indirect sunlight, the refresh not only brightened the room, but brought a laid-back 'lake life' vibe to the space," says Bridget Giroux, founder and creative director of Bridget Giroux Design.

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Go To the Ceiling

Large stone fireplace

Brad Ramsey Interiors / Rebecca Inspiro8 Photography

This soaring stone fireplace goes all the way to the ceiling, giving it a luxurious yet rustic feel. Brad Ramsey Interiors also included a spot for firewood and a mantel for displaying favorite objects, showing that you can customize the footprint to fit your space exactly.

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Arrange Stone in a Pattern

Stone fireplace with radiating stones

Norman Davenport Askins, Architects

Stone doesn't have to read as solely organic. This fireplace from Norman Davenport Askins, Architects has hand-selected stones that are arranged in an intentional sunburst pattern around the hearth and mantel. The result is a striking fireplace that feels connected to the mountains around it.

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Add Warmth to a Light Space

Outdoor stone fireplace

Christian Daw Design / Stacy Zarin Goldberg

If you have a light, cool space, a warm stone can make it feel more welcoming. "A warm stone wall references the exterior architecture and keeps the light space grounded, while an almost brutalist surround keeps the space from feeling too pretty," says Christian Daw, interior design ambassador for POLYWOOD and owner of Christian Daw Design.

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Balance the Weight of the Stone

Sophisticated stone fireplace

GreyHunt Interiors / Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Stone can feel heavy and imposing, so make sure it's balanced throughout the space by pairing it with big, bold furniture and accessories. "When decorating a stone fireplace, I always consider the visual weight of the décor and match the vibe," says Sallie Lord, founder of GreyHunt Interiors. "Make sure the scale of your pieces match up."

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Go For a Classic Stone

Close up of large stone fireplace

Norman Davenport Askins, Architects

This stone fireplace from Norman Davenport Askins, Architects is every bit the classic cottage fireplace that you'd imagine in a home in the woods. It feels both rustic and traditional while adding warmth and coziness to a space.

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Opt For a Dramatic Statement

Grand stone fireplace

Laura Fox Interior Design / Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Stone can have a vintage-inspired drama, particularly when it combines deep, dark marble with incredible stone carvings. "We fell in love with a marble Chesneys mantel and paired it with a rich Farrow and Ball paint color, imported Italian marble, and the cherry on top—a one-of-a-kind 1860s lion fender," says Laura Fox, owner and principal of Laura Fox Interior Design.

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Put a Mortar Overcoat on Stone

White stone fireplace

Daley Home

A stone fireplace can show off its stone—or not. Shelby Van Daley, founder and principal designer of Daley Home, recommends using the stone as a textural backdrop rather than the focal point. "We love the look of a light limestone with a heavy overcoat of mortar to create a soft, creamy texture. This is a great option for indoor or outdoor fireplaces," says Van Daley.

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Add Heavy Grout to a Stone Fireplace

Light stone interior design

ATX Interior Design / Madeline Harper

Grout can be used as a design detail, even if it's kept monochromatic with the look of the stone. "I love to over grout the stones so they feel like they're out of a cottage in Europe and been around for centuries," says Laura Williams, founder and principal of ATX Interior Design.

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Save Money With a Cast Stone Fireplace

Marble fireplace

Collected Interiors / Nicole Dianne Photography

If you want a stone fireplace look on a concrete budget, Ashley Macuga, principal designer at Collected Interiors, recommends using cast stone. "Cast stone fireplaces mimic the texture and appearance of natural stone while allowing for more tailored and intricate designs," says Macuga. She notes that you can find cast stone in a variety of architectural styles, from Parisian chic to modern contemporary.  

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Opt For a Limestone Surround

Taupe stone fireplace

Paula Dixon Design / Ellen Renee

Stone that looks like a solid can add a subtle texture and warmth to your space. "This limestone fireplace surround creates a textural feature wall, topped with Venetian plaster to reflect light like the ocean," says Paula Dixon, owner of Paula Dixon Design

18 of 21

Give It a Coat of White

Whitewashed stone fireplace

Brad Ramsey Interiors

This large stone fireplace from Brad Ramsey Interiors has a strong but light look thanks to a coat of whitewashed paint that brightens up the entire space.

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Combine Stone and Millwork

Soaring stone fireplace

Gruver Cooley Interiors / Laura Metzler Photography

If your living room has a soaring ceiling, stone is a wonderful accent above the fireplace. Cathleen Gruver, lead interior designer at Gruver Cooley Interiors, created a sophisticated, custom look in this space that even includes room for a TV above the fireplace. "Pairing stone with millwork creates a harmonious connection between the exterior landscape and the interior design, further elevating the space's overall style," says Gruver.

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Choose Stone With Movement

Marble fireplace in vibrant living room

 BVA BarnesVanze Architects / Anice Hoachlander

A stone fireplace mantel can make a bold design statement, particularly if you choose one with strong, dynamic veining and movement. “This renovation used a mix of traditional, modern, and 'retro' finishes to bring new life to a 1920s colonial home. The arabescato corchia mantel adds beauty and graphic impact to an existing fireplace," says Ellen Hatton, principal at BVA BarnesVanze Architects.

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Borrow From Your Home's Architecture

Stone fireplace in cozy living room

Norman Davenport Askins, Architects

Norman Davenport Askins, Architects took a cue from the classic Tudor style of this home when designing this beautifully simple stone fireplace. The stonework feels rustic and charming, with a hand-crafted quality.

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