Stone fireplaces are often more about presence and proportion than function alone. Whether the design is simple and understated or more architectural, the material usually becomes an important part of how the room feels.

A fireplace may include a hearth, slips, surround or cladding and each element needs to feel right in relation to the others. The scale of the feature, the tone of the stone and the way it sits with flooring, walls and furniture all affect whether it feels balanced or too heavy.

The best fireplace stonework tends to feel settled in the room, as though it belongs there naturally rather than competing for attention.