Decorating: How to Incorporate Tactile Stone into Your Scheme
Rustic, textural and strong, stonework can bring depth and character to any space. But what’s the best way to work it into a room?
Jo Simmons
3 January 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Smooth, painted plaster is very much the default option for interior walls, but there are other choices – exposed stone for one. If you live in a solid old farmhouse, you may already have sections of uncovered stone bringing masses of rustic heft to your home, but even regular bricks and mortar properties can rock the stony look, thanks to the innovative stone cladding now available. So whether you’re exposing the flinty bones of your property or inserting some contemporary stonework into a scheme, check out these inspiring spaces, which incorporate the hard stuff in stylish and exciting ways. Rock on!
Harness some history
This Dartmoor farmhouse was derelict before its recent renovation, but the original stonework fireplace was intact and simply needed cleaning and repointing. As much of the fabric of this building had perished over the years and needed replacing, this fireplace is a welcome link to the property’s past.
Explore this Dartmoor farmhouse in full
This Dartmoor farmhouse was derelict before its recent renovation, but the original stonework fireplace was intact and simply needed cleaning and repointing. As much of the fabric of this building had perished over the years and needed replacing, this fireplace is a welcome link to the property’s past.
Explore this Dartmoor farmhouse in full
Take it higher
A renovated barn in the Channel Islands has been transformed into a kitchen and artist’s studio. The building uses a range of traditional materials, such as lime render and reclaimed timber, but most eye-catching of all is the section of exposed stonework at one end. It provides a triangle of rustic colour and texture without interfering with the functionality of the kitchen.
A renovated barn in the Channel Islands has been transformed into a kitchen and artist’s studio. The building uses a range of traditional materials, such as lime render and reclaimed timber, but most eye-catching of all is the section of exposed stonework at one end. It provides a triangle of rustic colour and texture without interfering with the functionality of the kitchen.
Darken the edges
Bring some on-trend dark grey to your walls the natural way by cladding a section with slate. In this living space, the chimney breast has been clad with black slate split face mosaic tiles, which, teamed with a huge column of logs, brings warmth and texture to the room.
Bring some on-trend dark grey to your walls the natural way by cladding a section with slate. In this living space, the chimney breast has been clad with black slate split face mosaic tiles, which, teamed with a huge column of logs, brings warmth and texture to the room.
Combine with colour
A wall of original stonework in this home on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza brings earthy character to a simply whitewashed dining space. The brightly painted chairs steer the room away from looking too traditional, adding a bright pop of contemporary colour.
A wall of original stonework in this home on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza brings earthy character to a simply whitewashed dining space. The brightly painted chairs steer the room away from looking too traditional, adding a bright pop of contemporary colour.
Celebrate the structural
Exposed stonework is often more than simply aesthetically pleasing. In this barn conversion, the stone enjoyed as part of the scheme inside is integral to the architecture of the house. The glazed doors allow you to see this, giving a view of the stonework outside and helping you to read the architecture of this ancient building.
Exposed stonework is often more than simply aesthetically pleasing. In this barn conversion, the stone enjoyed as part of the scheme inside is integral to the architecture of the house. The glazed doors allow you to see this, giving a view of the stonework outside and helping you to read the architecture of this ancient building.
Restrict to a pillar
A thick supporting pillar of stone stands at the heart of the kitchen in this converted farmhouse, but its gnarly character is balanced by the modern units and honed granite worktops, creating a pleasing contrast.
Celebrate the beauty of bare bricks
A thick supporting pillar of stone stands at the heart of the kitchen in this converted farmhouse, but its gnarly character is balanced by the modern units and honed granite worktops, creating a pleasing contrast.
Celebrate the beauty of bare bricks
Expose on two surfaces
This room is in the stable block of a lighthouse in northern Scotland. Part of the planning consent requested a patch of the original cobbled floor was kept and, because the wall was so attractive, the designer decided to keep it exposed, too, with the old stone flooring adjoining.
The wall was cleaned, repaired and repointed, and where the door was broken through to the bedroom, it was built up on each side of the doorway. The whole building had to be gutted during renovation work, but this wall is an authentic element, helping to preserve the character of the building.
This room is in the stable block of a lighthouse in northern Scotland. Part of the planning consent requested a patch of the original cobbled floor was kept and, because the wall was so attractive, the designer decided to keep it exposed, too, with the old stone flooring adjoining.
The wall was cleaned, repaired and repointed, and where the door was broken through to the bedroom, it was built up on each side of the doorway. The whole building had to be gutted during renovation work, but this wall is an authentic element, helping to preserve the character of the building.
Install it yourself
You don’t need to live in a centuries-old farmhouse to enjoy exposed stone walls. A huge range of interior stone cladding is now available, in all sorts of stone types, colours and textures. It will bring some rugged texture and character to any room and can be used in big expanses or simply as a feature wall, in a stairwell or on chimney breast, for instance.
You don’t need to live in a centuries-old farmhouse to enjoy exposed stone walls. A huge range of interior stone cladding is now available, in all sorts of stone types, colours and textures. It will bring some rugged texture and character to any room and can be used in big expanses or simply as a feature wall, in a stairwell or on chimney breast, for instance.
Bring warmth to a bathroom
If you are a bit over the bright white tiles and sleek surfaces of many contemporary bathrooms, then working in some rough, tactile stone is the perfect solution. This bathroom feels warm and rustic, thanks to an exposed stone wall and a chunky surround for the bath, yet white sanitaryware prevents the space looking too dark or ‘heavy’.
If you are a bit over the bright white tiles and sleek surfaces of many contemporary bathrooms, then working in some rough, tactile stone is the perfect solution. This bathroom feels warm and rustic, thanks to an exposed stone wall and a chunky surround for the bath, yet white sanitaryware prevents the space looking too dark or ‘heavy’.
Bring old character to new
This renovated barn has an open-plan living space on the first floor that flows onto an integrated south-facing balcony. The stone wall was constructed from locally sourced sandstone that is quarry faced and laid by hand, giving this renovated area a sense of solidity and authenticity.
TELL US…
Love exposed stonework? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This renovated barn has an open-plan living space on the first floor that flows onto an integrated south-facing balcony. The stone wall was constructed from locally sourced sandstone that is quarry faced and laid by hand, giving this renovated area a sense of solidity and authenticity.
TELL US…
Love exposed stonework? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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This is what I do every day. Cladding adds weight and breathability whereas my stone coat offers every stone you would want from a bag. Timeless limestone based