Whole Stone Fireplaces are Making a Comeback

With regards to Cabins and Lake Homes, we are seeing a lot of whole stone selections from our customers for both interior or exterior finishes .  Whole stone fireplaces are becoming the on-point go to new cabin, replacing stack stone which had been all the rage over the last fifteen years.  As with any trend, cabin and lake home trends change and repeat. What we are seeing in stone finishes is a perfect example of a change in cabin/lake home stone trends.  Whole stone fireplaces are becoming popular again, because of the authenticity.  The stones are not cut into any shape. They are simply used the way they are seen in nature and because they have not been in pictures lately, the look is perceived by people as more unique (This is true with any trend).

Authenticity of Stone Fireplaces

Below you will see several projects showing a stone trend. The fireplace pictured show raised hearths topped with 20” x 20” cultured hearth stones.  Mantels shown are both peeled ½ log with ½ log supports and cut timber.  Both go well with any stone façade whole stone or not.  Real whole stone and cultured whole stone are both shown.  Cultured stone is man made of concrete in forms that look like real stone and are much less expensive for product and installation and used most often.  Real whole stone is much more expensive and requires concrete footings beneath each face of stone, thus more expensive. 

Whole Stone Fireplaces making a Comeback

Interestingly, the whole stone fireplace look was very popular in the 80’s, fell off as a trend up until a few years ago and is now starting to show up again much more often in our customer’s selections in both interior and exterior application,  Exterior stone is normally capped with either real or cultured stone drip cap at top of stone as shown in one of the pictures.  This type of stone is most indigenous to Western Wisconsin streams and lake bottoms as well as in fields and wooded areas.  It is available in many styles and colors in both man made stone and real stone from nature.  This type of stone gives a more massive and natural look than the popular stack stone and is in keeping with good cabin styling.  Either type can be sealed with a clear seal products to bring out a more pronounced stone color which our customer’s often ask for.

At Tice Construction, we work with our clients to show them different stone options for both interior and exterior. Stone fireplaces add a dramatic and rustic feel to ay cabin or lake home.

 

 

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