If you have ever spent a quiet evening by a rip roaring fire in an old rustic log cabin you have probably been amazed by the natural beauty that can be created with stone fireplace designs. While there are many materials you can use to create truly unique fireplace designs, none allow for more individual expression than those made of stone. These fireplaces truly allow for your imagination to take over and usually turn out to look a little different than was first envisioned as the stones seem to come together and take on a life of their own. Since no two stones are ever exactly alike, each fireplace constructed will just naturally be of a unique design.

There are almost an endless variety of different types of stones available for purchase and many can be from your local area. Some people will choose to construct their fireplace from one type of stone while others will choose to mix and match the different shapes and sizes of stone to avoid the possibility of any type of uniform look. Some of the truly great stone fireplaces you can see are in old rustic cabins where the occupants built their own fireplaces from stone they gathered from their own property or surrounding areas. Luckily, some of these can be seen by visiting state and national park lands that have chosen to preserve these true national treasures. A trip to some of these little cabins in the woods would be a great place to start if you are interested in the construction of a stone fireplace in your home.

Some of the different varieties of stone you can use are flat stones which can be laid either on edge or stacked flat; round stones which are of different shapes and sizes; river rock which resemble smaller flat stones and will be a variety of different shades and colors; and large slabs of stone or boulders that can really provide a massive look in the design of a fireplace. However, you would really only want to consider the use of the larger stones when they will be utilized in a very large room as they may tend to overwhelm the space when used in a smaller room. When you are able to acquire some of all of these and incorporate many different types of stone in your design you really have the opportunity to express yourself and create a truly unique fireplace design.

One of the most important things to consider when planning a stone fireplace is the stone mason. The stone mason you choose will really determine how your project will turn out. Be sure to check with the local builders in your area and ask them for a recommendation. Also, get the stone mason on board as early as possible in the design of the project as he will be able to better guide you in the choices of stone and their placement. If you take the time to research all the different types of stones available and are able to find the right stone mason, you will find that stone fireplace designs are quite simple to envision and your plan will result in a fireplace you can enjoy for many years to come.