• Cultured stone is engineered to resemble a variety of stone surfaces.Ancient fireplace image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
  
  A romantic fireplace surrounded by elegant stone slabs adds character and value to a home, but the cost of real stone as a building material restricts homeowners on a budget. Cultured or manufactured stone is a more affordable building option for fireplace design. Most cultured stone products are created by mixing and bonding aggregates and fillers like concrete before finishing the pieces with a stone veneer. The versatility of cultured stone lends itself to a variety of fireplace design aesthetics.
  
  

Castle Stone

• Castle stones are particularly versatile options for fireplace design. Castle stones are large pieces of manufactured stone with highly textured finishes. The stones are designed to appear natural and are untreated with glossy finishes or fine carving. Such cultured stones are suitable for a variety of decor styles; choose a floor-to-ceiling fireplace surround for a traditional colonial style, or limit the stone to just the perimeter of the fireplace and hearth in a rustic country cottage. Choose a stone color that complements the wall and room colors. Sand- and cream-colored finishes warm up a room done in yellow tones, while gray stone with green or red undertones complements a pale green or burgundy room. A wall-mounted wood mantel featuring a decorative milled edge provides functional space without distracting from the distinctive stonework.
  
  

Stone Pavers

• Stone pavers are traditionally an expensive and customizable option for outdoor walkways or patios. However, cultured stone pavers are lightweight and low-cost alternatives for a rustic country or eco-inspired fireplace. Stone pavers are processed to resemble river stones; they are a bit more polished and purposefully shaped than castle stones. For a warm visual centerpiece in a log cabin or country home, opt for multi-colored cultured pavers in warm red tones, cool grays and neutral creams. More contemporary homes inspired by Asian design elements are better suited for monochromatic pavers in cool whites and grays. Choose a wood mantel with a distinctive wood grain or light-colored stain to preserve the natural feeling of the fireplace.
  
  

Victorian Inspired

• Victorian fireplaces are elegant features of interior design, but the cost of marble or granite fireplace surrounds is inhibiting for many homeowners. Create a Victorian design on a budget with manufactured marble tiles for your fireplace. The high-gloss finish of cultured marble tiles adds a sense of Victorian-era opulence; choose form black tiles with white veins, white tiles with black veins, or rich emerald tiles with white veins. Arrange tiles in neat, symmetrical lines so as not to distract from the distinct veined patterns. Pair the stones with a highly polished black or dark wood mantel supported by milled columns on either end.
  
  

Contemporary

• Contemporary fireplaces embrace simplicity and understated designs; choose large, flat slabs of gray, white or black cultured stone. Create a symmetrical grid with the stones so that they seamlessly blend into the surrounding walls. Complement the understated design with an unusual mantel. A reclaimed piece of driftwood or an unplaned log treated with a thin protective coat of sealant is an unexpected natural element, while a well-balanced black block without any embellishments continues the streamlined design.