Decorating a fireplace with decorative stone: spectacular examples and design tips

The hearth is the “heart” of the house, and this truth has not changed over the years. In the era of advanced technologies, a complex life rhythm and constant stress, people begin to gravitate towards truly homely and cozy things. This rule also applies to the interior, and in particular, the fireplace in modern designs.

The fireplace fits easily into almost any interior, regardless of the style direction, colors and variety of shapes and textures. It quickly fills the space with special warmth and becomes the main "highlight" of the room. At the same time, the fireplace not only embodies dreams of home comfort, but also acts as a heating element and part of the heating in general.

If everything is clear with the functions of this piece of furniture, then the appearance raises a lot of questions., because the variety of shapes, colors and textures is simply amazing. The result depends solely on the vision of the designer and the materials used to decorate the fireplace. They can be of both natural and artificial origin. By its appearance, it is difficult to determine how the material was produced and what its cost is, which allows you to reduce the cost of installing and finishing the fireplace, and the beauty of the product will not be affected.

There are a lot of advantages of stone finishing, but at the same time there are certain disadvantages that can affect the decision of the master.

• the high cost of the materials themselves, especially such beautiful stones as marble and granite;
• problems in terms of installation, since it is difficult to find a specialist who has experience in this matter and is well acquainted with stone cladding;
• marble and granite are heavy, which also makes installation difficult.

At the same time, the building materials market is replete with decorative stone, which is an ordinary tile with a surface that imitates the natural texture of individual materials. Its cost is not so high and installation does not cause great difficulties, therefore such materials are chosen by those who prefer a budgetary, simple, but no less attractive option. Falshkamin often has a wide variety of designs. Such portals can be overlaid with all kinds of materials.

Ceramic tiles are the most popular material for facing fireplaces. It is distinguished by its relatively low cost, durability, long service life, ease of installation and attractive appearance. Specifically for the fireplace, those types of tiles are used, the surface of which is an imitation of natural materials.

The main advantage of using ceramics for decorating a fireplace is that you can do it at home and with your own hands. The tiles are easy to fit, so you don't have to spend extra money on the services of specialists in the field of repair.

When choosing a tile, it is important to consider that an unusual tile should be used., which is laid on the floor or walls in the bathroom, are species with high thermal conductivity. The main materials for its manufacture are ceramics, porcelain stoneware and clinker.

In some interiors, you can find fireplaces tiled with plaster tiles, which imitate natural stone.

The main reasons for choosing tiles as a material for finishing a fireplace are:

• A wide choice in terms of design, since the tiles are made from different shades, textures and shapes, which makes it possible to choose the most suitable option.
• High thermal conductivity, which is the main criterion for using the material when decorating a fireplace.
• Ease of maintenance.

• Not only specialists are familiar with tiles, but also many men who at least once carried out repair work with their own hands. The cladding process does not require special knowledge, therefore the installation takes place without any particular difficulties, which is important when repairing with your own hands.
• In addition to the fact that the tile must have special thermal conductivity, heat-resistant glue must be used for masonry. Experts recommend choosing small-sized tiles, because this reduces the risk of cracking, and the material will last much longer, and the appearance will always be attractive.

If we talk about the cost of tiles, then the price varies greatly depending on the manufacturer, composition and collections, which are constantly updated. The average price will be 700-800 rubles per 1 sq. m.

Installation is carried out in the same way as with conventional tiles., but after the end of the work, it is advisable to cover the entire surface with heat-resistant varnish. This will greatly facilitate the cleaning process, getting rid of soot and other unpleasant contaminants, since it is extremely difficult to remove them later.

No less popular material for decorating a fireplace is ordinary brick. This is especially useful if the fireplace is completely made of bricks, since such masonry can be left in its natural form. You just have to decorate the surface a little and tidy up the seams to get a finished and attractive look.

Experts advise finishing in several stages:

• The surface of the brick requires grinding, although some options can do without these manipulations.
• At the second stage, the edges of the brick are chamfered.

• Brickwork becomes more attractive when it is treated with sulfuric acid or saline. This makes the surface bright and beautiful, and painting can be the final touch in the struggle for an attractive appearance of the fireplace. There are special paints for brick, with the help of which it easily takes on any shade.
• After painting, it is advisable to take care of the appearance of the seams. To do this, it is necessary to process all these elements with a special solution and decorative grout.

Quite often, the brick is covered with tiles, mainly clinker, but this will require a lot of effort and expense.

Facing brick is completely unsuitable for such work., as it gives too "bulky" appearance, since the material itself is quite heavy and takes up a lot of space. This is especially inappropriate in a city apartment, where every meter counts. In addition, the cost of facing bricks is high, and there is no point in spending money on something that can overload the interior and thereby spoil it.

This material has long been used to decorate interior surfaces, including fireplaces. The main advantage of this solution is its attractive appearance, since the decorative stone is produced in different shades and textures. Such a surface fits into the overall space and becomes an integral part of the interior, attracting the bulk of the attention to itself.

In addition to its appearance, decorative stone is high strength and long service life. Natural stone is always a durable material, and if we talk about marble or granite, then its service life is simply unlimited. A shelf made of this material looks very elegant against the background of a home fireplace.

The material is also easy to install, because it does not require perfect flatness in terms of the fabric and seams. Natural origin does not give any restrictions in terms of appearance, since there is plenty to choose from here too. It must be understood that the service life and future appearance of the fireplace completely depend on the material that will be used for decoration.

The most budgetary option is shell rock. At the same time, it has an attractive appearance, is sold in most modern stores and is easy to fit even by non-professionals. Among the disadvantages, it is possible to note low strength, since it is easily damaged, and its porous structure is easily contaminated with soot and dirt.

Granite surpasses other types of natural stone in strength and durability. Such material will last more than one century and will delight several generations of owners of a house or apartment. The color scheme allows the fireplace finished with granite to harmoniously fit into the interior design, while the surface looks attractive both in polished and natural form.

Granite is not afraid of aggressive detergents, it is resistant to mechanical damage, and cleaning does not require much effort, because any dirt can be easily washed off. The granite countertop looks very beautiful and stylish - such a fireplace stove will last for many years.

The main disadvantage of this material is its high weight and price, which not everyone will be happy with.

It is also worth noting such natural stones as sandstone and limestone, the cost of which starts around 1,700 rubles per 1 sq. m. Compared to other materials, it is not that expensive. At the same time, sandstone and limestone have a wide palette of shades, as a result of which they can be used in different interiors. Just like shell rock, these types of stones do not differ in strength and create a lot of problems during cleaning due to their porous structure.

A strong competitor to granite is marble, the price of which starts from 3500 rubles per 1 sq. m. The main advantage of marble is its unique appearance, wide range of colors, special durability and ease of maintenance. If we talk about the installation of marble, then it definitely requires the hand of a professional with extensive experience in this matter. Saving at work is clearly not worth it.

Oil shale has a relatively low cost, which in its natural properties is very similar to shell rock and limestone. It is difficult to fit it into the interior, but with the right design solution it looks harmonious, interesting and rather unusual. It is also used for ovens.

Experts have come up with several options for solving the problem with the porous structure of some types of natural stone. One of such solutions is the processing of the structure after installation with a special transparent coating, which prevents the appearance of complex contaminants.

Another good way to finish the surface of the fireplace is with plaster. It combines simplicity and budget price, which is why it is popular with craftsmen. Plastering a surface is a fairly easy process that anyone can handle. At the same time, there is no need to strengthen the foundation, because such a cladding does not add unnecessary weight to the structure.

The disadvantage can be called fragility, but this is not so critical at a low cost and the possibility of repair.

When decorating a corner fireplace, you need to pay close attention to the portal and chimney. These are the main components of such a design. The firewood compartment can be decorated in the same style.

An expensive and beautiful cladding material is dark granite. Such a fireplace will be combined with many interior styles.

In a modern house, a fake fireplace is often installed. The installation process is much simpler, and it looks pretty impressive.

For information on how to decorate a fireplace with decorative stone, see the next video.