Choosing stone veneer for fireplaces is like crossing the street: you need to take a good look at your surroundings before you move.

Few features have the power to set the tone of a living space like fireplace stones—they can make it feel rustic, luxurious, Old World, or Old West. If you’re thinking through fireplace stone ideas, a good place to start is to take a cue from the most prominent visual features in the room or outdoor area where they’ll go. The right stone choice will complement and amplify these elements to make a gathering space that truly stands out.

The way the stone is cut and produced at the quarry, as well as what format it comes in and how it is installed, will all greatly contribute to the living area. Additionally, how the textures, finishes, and stone colors interact with the ambient light and the surrounding color scheme, all influence the final result. Read on to learn about some of the factors you may keep in mind as you make a fireplace stone veneer selection.

The Stone Veneer Fireplace: A Hot Trend

It wasn’t so long ago that builders and designers viewed stone veneer (thin cuts of natural stone that come in small formats) as predominantly a material intended solely for exterior use. A high percentage of fireplaces were clad with brick, and those that used natural stone veneer for fireplaces often only framed the hearth with a small box of stone. But in time, people began to take notice that prolonged smoke exposure can make brick lose its luster and was limited in its design options. Small arrangements of stone began to be used around fireplaces leaving homeowners wanting more and paving the way for veneer to make its way into home interiors. A fireplace with veneer stone connects us with the outdoors and complements a roaring fire. 

Today’s homeowners have embraced the unique natural artistry of stone and become more adventurous in its use. Thin veneer is now rising to new heights indoors, even up to the ceiling, making it look like a full stone chimney is protruding from the wall. It can also become an entire feature unto itself, extending from wall to wall giving the appearance that the home was built of stone.

Technology has pushed the limits of what was previously possible or affordable. Pre-cut and simply packaged veneer stones, along with advances in mortar and adhesives, have made it much easier for DIYers to take on projects themselves. Meanwhile, modular fireplace kits and gas-burning hearths have created new possibilities for the places they can be installed.

Fireplaces are no longer confined to the one wall set up. They can even be placed in the middle of a space that separates multiple rooms and has stone on all sides, creating warmth and a sense of openness between adjoining areas.

Fulfilling Your Vision: Stone Types, Colors & Formats

As we mentioned above, a good place to begin your selection process is to scan your fireplace’s existing environment. Are there prominent existing features – for example, old wooden ceiling beams, modern glass walls, or ocean window views – that give it a flavor you want to augment? The stone types, colors, and formats can all make a significant impact.

Polycor carries four families of stone that all have their own unique appeal: limestone, granite, marble and soapstone. Limestone was formed with compacted shell fragments and seafloor sediments that reveal themselves when cut and split, imparting intriguing layers and grains. Flakes of feldspar and quartz in granite give it a more angular appearance in the details and a subtle sparkle when the light catches it right. Marble’s signature veins were formed by water that carried minerals into the geologic mix, resulting in a wavy movement across slabs, tiles, and veneers.

As we mentioned above, a good place to begin your selection process is to scan your fireplace’s existing environment. Are there prominent existing features – for example, old wooden ceiling beams, modern glass walls, or ocean window views – that give it a flavor you want to augment? The stone types, colors, and formats can all make a significant impact.

Polycor carries four families of stone that all have their own unique appeal: limestone, granite, marble and soapstone. Limestone was formed with compacted shell fragments and seafloor sediments that reveal themselves when cut and split, imparting intriguing layers and grains. Flakes of feldspar and quartz in granite give it a more angular appearance in the details and a subtle sparkle when the light catches it right. Marble’s signature veins were formed by water that carried minerals into the geologic mix resulting in a wavy movement across slabs, tiles and veneers.

White Stone Fireplace

Projecting an image of purity, marble is the gold standard for white stone fireplace designs. The designs can range from bold and dramatic with multiple full slabs creating bookmatched effects or even diamond matched for a feature wall, to rustic split-faced veneers. White stone fireplaces will typically look more modern or contemporary.

Black Stone Fireplace

Moody and mysterious, black stone fireplaces are inviting and warm and beckon dimly lit rooms and exude a sense of calm. Dark granites such as Saint Henry Black and Kodiak Brown can range from rough textured, split-faced veneers to polished and waterjet slabs to command more attention, or honed and antiqued to remain quiet and withdrawn.

Of course, the shapes and sizes of stone can have a major impact on the ambiance of your space. A rounded or stacked stone veneer surrounding the fireplace can give the room a European flavor. 

On the other hand, a large, smooth slab of stone uninterrupted by mortar is a popular choice for contemporary stone fireplace looks while simple fireplace surrounds with 2 legs and a header piece are the norm in most new construction and spec homes.

Perfecting the Look: Choosing the Right Finish

Even after you’ve chosen a stone for your fireplace, you’ll have plenty of latitude to play with its appearance through your choice of finish. The treatment you choose can be subtle, but impactful, opening up plenty of design options. Two different finishes applied to the same stone type can make them look different, but still matching – a difference you can use strategically when you want complementary looks for your fireplace veneer and a nearby countertop, for example.

Here are some of the finishing options Polycor can create for stone fireplaces:

• Polished: A fine abrasive is used to give it a glossy, smooth appearance, which people sometimes mistake as the result of a chemical coating.
• Thermal: Flame is used to heat granite (but not limestone or marble), causing exposed grains to pop off and give it a sandpaper feel. Leaves the minerals within better exposed to sparkle in the light.
• Honed: Looks smooth and natural, but not polished. The edges have a roundedness that softens it visually.
• Antique: Diamond-impregnated brushes are used to scuff the surface to make a smooth, but textured effect. This finish is often called “leathered” for how it feels to the touch.
• Waterjet: A sharp stream of water mixed with abrasives is sprayed on the surface to dig into soft or loose grains while raising up the harder ones.

Outdoor Stone Fireplace

It is becoming increasingly popular to add fireplaces outdoors instead of just indoors. The experience of sitting outside in front of a fire, under the stars, creates an entirely different effect. It brings us closer to nature and our ancestral roots. Instead of a flat firepit, a fireplace opens up a new world of possibilities. They can be tied into an outdoor kitchen, under a pergola, next to a lake or overlooking the ocean – any outdoor location can become an ideal space for an exterior fireplace. 

For installations in outdoor settings, it’s a good idea to consult your dealer, fabricator or contractor to ensure your material choices and finishes won’t present any issues. For the surface of an outdoor kitchen-style fireplace, the smart choice s a smooth or split face veneer stone as the smaller stone unit sizes weather the elements better than large full slabs. And although natural stone is incredibly resilient to the elements overall, does not fade because it contains no dyes or chemicals, some stones such as marble can have slight sensitivities to acidic rain, so it is important to have a good care and maintenance procedure in place to preserve them.

Ready to Ignite Your Fireplace Vision?

With over 60 North American and European quarries, Polycor has a selection of natural stone fireplace slabs, veneers and tiles that can fit any aesthetic you’re looking for. Its deep network of dealers and fabricators can also ensure your materials are finished and cut any way you need to perfect them for your fireplace. 

As you continue to think through stone fireplace ideas for your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to Polycor to ask questions or talk further about your possibilities. We can also provide referrals for dealers in your area who can share their expertise and recommendations for the best local designers and installers.