Applications
Stone Fireplaces & Hearths
A stone fireplace is more than a source of warmth — it's the soul of the room. Whether you're drawn to the organic warmth of limestone, the timeless drama of marble, or the enduring strength of granite, a hand-crafted stone surround or hearth becomes the defining centrepiece of your living space.
Inspiration
Beautiful Design Styles
A stone fireplace doesn't need to be complicated to be beautiful. Clean lines, honest materials, and the right proportions are all it takes to transform a room. Here are three simple approaches we love.
Granite Hearth with Log Burner
A polished dark granite hearth slab paired with a simple straight-edged stone surround and a cast-iron log burner — clean, unfussy, and built to last a lifetime.
Stone-Clad Chimney Breast
Large-format porcelain panels wrap the chimney breast in a seamless marble-effect finish, framing a sleek linear fire — contemporary minimalism at its best.
Limestone Surround with Stove
Warm cream limestone cut into clean, straight-edged legs and lintel, paired with a classic stove and granite hearth slab — simple proportions that let the stone speak for itself.
Inspiration
Beautiful Design Styles
A stone fireplace doesn't need to be complicated to be beautiful. Clean lines, honest materials, and the right proportions are all it takes to transform a room. Here are three simple approaches we love.
Granite Hearth with Log Burner
A polished dark granite hearth slab paired with a simple straight-edged stone surround and a cast-iron log burner — clean, unfussy, and built to last a lifetime.
Stone-Clad Chimney Breast
Large-format porcelain panels wrap the chimney breast in a seamless marble-effect finish, framing a sleek linear fire — contemporary minimalism at its best.
Limestone Surround with Stove
Warm cream limestone cut into clean, straight-edged legs and lintel, paired with a classic stove and granite hearth slab — simple proportions that let the stone speak for itself.
Granite Hearth with Log Burner
A polished dark granite hearth slab paired with a simple straight-edged stone surround and a cast-iron log burner — clean, unfussy, and built to last a lifetime.
Stone-Clad Chimney Breast
Limestone Surround with Stove
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Browse Colours and Styles for Stone Fireplaces & Hearths
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Guide
Your Guide to Stone Fireplaces & Hearths
The Focal Point of Your Home
There’s something almost primal about a stone fireplace. Long before central heating, the hearth was the heart of the home — the place where families gathered, warmth was shared, and the day wound down. Stone made it possible then, and it still makes it extraordinary today.
At In2stone, we’ve been crafting bespoke stone fireplaces and hearths for homeowners across Portsmouth, Hampshire and the surrounding area for over 25 years. As Ian often says, this is the kind of work that requires real masonry skill — not just cutting slabs, but understanding proportion, weight, depth, and how a piece of stone reads in a room. “The difference between a stonemason and just suppliers of worktops is huge,” as one customer put it. With fireplaces, that difference is especially visible.
Choosing the Right Stone for Your Fireplace
Every stone behaves differently around heat, and choosing well means your fireplace will look as beautiful in twenty years as it does on day one.
Granite — The Hearth Material of Choice
Unpolished granite has largely replaced slate as the traditional hearth material, and for good reason: it’s far harder wearing, handles thermal shock without cracking, and its natural grain gives each piece a character you simply can’t replicate with manufactured materials. For modern fire boxes — especially those with contemporary inset designs — polished black or dark grey granite creates a strikingly dramatic effect.
Best for: Hearth slabs, modern fire box surrounds, traditional hearths with long service life.
Limestone — Classic Elegance
Limestone’s soft, warm tones make it a natural choice for fireplace surrounds. We cut it into clean slabs — straight legs and a flat lintel — letting the natural colour and grain of the stone do the talking. There’s no need for ornate profiles; a well-proportioned limestone surround in cream or buff tones brings a quiet elegance to any room, especially those with period features, wooden floors, or classic furnishings.
Best for: Simple slab surrounds, flat mantel shelves, period properties, rooms with warm neutral palettes.
Marble — Luxury and Drama
Few materials make a statement like marble. Whether it’s the dramatic grey veining of Carrara white or the rich warm tones of Crema Marfil, a marble surround immediately signals luxury. Ian’s worldwide knowledge of quarried stone means we can source and advise on the right grade for a fireplace — marble varies significantly in density and heat tolerance depending on its origin.
Best for: Statement surrounds, contemporary-luxury interiors, homeowners who want their fireplace to be a genuine conversation piece.
Ceramic & Sintered Stone — The Modern Alternative
For more contemporary fire box designs — particularly the sleek inset styles that have grown in popularity — large-format ceramic or sintered stone panels offer a clean, grout-free finish that’s easy to maintain and highly heat resistant. These materials can wrap the breast of the chimney seamlessly, creating a flush, architectural effect.
Best for: Contemporary and Scandinavian-style interiors, inset gas or electric fires, feature wall cladding around a fire.
Hearths, Surrounds, and Fire Boxes — What We Make
Our fireplace work covers every element of the stone you see:
- Hearth slabs — the floor extension in front of the fire opening, typically granite or limestone
- Back panels — the stone visible inside the fire box behind the flames
- Surrounds — the stone frame around the opening (two vertical legs and a horizontal lintel or mantel shelf)
- Mantel shelves — the horizontal stone shelf above the fire
- Full chimney breast cladding — stone panels covering the entire breast from floor to ceiling or dado level
Each piece is hand-templated at your home, fabricated in our workshop, and installed by the same team who took your measurements. That continuity — from first visit to final fix — is what we’ve always believed makes the real difference.
A Word on Proportions
A common mistake with fireplace surrounds is getting the proportions wrong. A surround that’s too heavy for the room feels oppressive; one that’s too slight looks like an afterthought. Our team will always advise on thickness, projection, and height relative to your ceiling and room size — because we’ve seen enough fireplaces to know what works and what doesn’t. If you’re not sure what you want, Ian or Sam can walk you through options at our showroom, or we can bring stone samples to your home.
Care and Longevity
Most stone fireplaces require very little maintenance, but a few simple habits will keep them looking their best:
- Granite is virtually maintenance-free — wipe with a damp cloth and avoid acidic cleaners
- Limestone benefits from an impregnating sealer applied every couple of years, particularly around the hearth area where foot traffic occurs
- Marble is softer and more reactive to acids — avoid cleaning products with citrus or vinegar, and use a specialist marble cleaner
- Ceramic and sintered stone are the most resilient — clean with any standard household cleaner
We’re always happy to give aftercare advice specific to the stone you choose — it’s part of a service that doesn’t end when we leave your home.
Frequently Asked
Stone Fireplaces & Hearths Questions
What types of stone are suitable for fireplace surrounds?
Can In2stone create a fully bespoke fireplace surround?
Is marble safe to use around a fireplace?
What stone finishes work best for a fireplace?
How much does a bespoke stone fireplace surround cost?
Can stone be used to clad an entire chimney breast?
Does a stone fireplace surround require ongoing maintenance?
Can you integrate a stone hearth with the surround?
Related
You Might Also Be Interested In
Interior Stone Cladding & Feature Walls
Few things transform a room quite like a wall of natural stone. Whether it's the translucent glow of backlit onyx behind a home bar, the mirrored drama of book-matched marble flanking a fireplace, or the quietly confident texture of dark ceramic panels in a hallway — stone cladding turns an ordinary wall into the centrepiece of your home.
Stone Staircases
A stone staircase transforms an ordinary hallway into a grand entrance — sculptural, enduring, and unmistakably luxurious. From sweeping marble flights to dramatic granite spirals, stone stairs make a statement no other material can match.
Stone Window Sills
Stone window sills bring a quiet sense of permanence to any room. Whether you're matching them to existing worktops or introducing stone as a standalone feature, a well-crafted sill transforms an overlooked detail into something genuinely beautiful.
What Our Customers Say
"Excellent Service and Beautiful Results - Highly Recommended! I recently had In2stone install new quartz worktops in my kitchen, and I couldn't be happier with the results. From start to finish, the experience was completely stress-free. The team was not only competitively priced but also incredibly friendly and professional throughout the entire process. They handled everything seamlessly - removing the existing sink, hob, and old laminate worktops before fitting the new quartz surfaces. The finished worktops are absolutely beautiful and have transformed my kitchen into a modern, minimalist space that I love spending time in. The quality of workmanship is outstanding, and the attention to detail really shows. I'm a very satisfied customer and would highly recommend In2stone to anyone considering new worktops. Well done to the entire team - you've exceeded my expectations!"— Ashley ChapmanGoogle
"I've had two kitchen worktops from In2stone, both times the service and quality of the product has been great. Templating and fitting were also seamless. Definite recommend."— Victoria BrindGoogle
"So pleased with my beautiful new worktops. In2stone were brilliant. From helping me to choose from their wide selection in the showroom, through the whole quote, template and installation process the service was excellent. I still have some decorating to do to complete the kitchen makeover, but the new worktops look fabulous. Highly recommend the team at In2stone."— Shirley MoremanGoogle
Why Choose Us
Why In2stone
Real Stonemasons
Same team from quote to installation. No subcontractors, no call centres — just craftsmen who care about every cut.
"The difference between a stonemason and just suppliers of worktops is huge."
Robert Squire
The Quote Is the Price
No hidden costs, no surprises. We consistently beat competitor quotes — even online discounters decline to match us.
"Beat 6 other companies by a mile. Even an online company that claims to beat any quote declined to."
Dean Fitzpatrick
Customers Come Back
10-year relationships. Families who've had three kitchens done with us. That kind of trust isn't bought — it's earned.
"10 years ago had Ian and Kev do our kitchen… our daughter also used them… today had the team do our new place. 11/10."
Martine
Get In Touch
Let's talk about your new stone fireplaces & hearths.
Whether you know exactly what you want or you're just starting to explore, we're here to help. Call the showroom, visit us in person, or request a quote — there's no hard sell, just honest advice from people who love what they do.
Open Monday–Friday 10am–4pm, Saturday 10am–2pm.
