Natural stone fireplaces, handcrafted to measure

A stone fireplace suits rooms where the fire needs to feel built in rather than added later. It works in Georgian and Victorian houses, country cottages, farmhouses and renovated rooms where the chimney breast is still the natural focal point. Stone gives the opening weight and proportion, and it can be cut to suit a traditional stove, a cleaner inset appliance or a simple open chamber.

The material choice changes the mood of the room. Limestone is soft, pale and calm, often the easiest fit for period homes. Marble gives more movement and formality. Granite is dense and hard-wearing, especially useful for hearths and border slips. Sandstone has a warmer, more textured character, while slate gives a darker, quieter line where the design needs restraint. We also work with porcelain surfaces where a very clean contemporary face is the right answer.

The Sanderson limestone fireplace is the current example on the site, but the survey is where the right material is chosen. We bring samples into the room so the stone can be judged against the wall colour, flooring, daylight and the stove or fire that will sit with it.

Natural stone changes with the light and the room, so all our surveyors carry a full set of samples. That makes it far easier to choose the finish that complements your interior, whether you are after a soft honed limestone, a characterful gritstone or a contemporary porcelain. Every fireplace is then handcrafted to order and cut to suit your room.

Care depends on the surface. Limestone and marble should be treated gently, with mild cleaning products and no acidic sprays. Granite and slate are harder wearing, but they still look better when cleaned simply and kept free from abrasive residue. We explain the material-specific care at handover so the fireplace keeps its finish once it is in regular use.