Stone Fireplace Buildouts: Modern or Traditional? How to Choose the Right Stone Finish for Your Fireplace Wall
When it comes to upgrading your living room, few features add the same level of elegance, warmth, and investment value as a Fireplace Buildout with a stone finish. Whether you’re designing a cozy living space in Orlando, Florida, a luxury home in Denver, Colorado, or a modern residence in Los Angeles, California, incorporating natural stone textures or stone-look tiles can dramatically elevate your interior design.
A promotional graphic showcasing two popular styles of fireplace build-outs: the modern look with clean stacked stone tiles versus the traditional design using textured natural stone. This visual illustrates the aesthetic contrast and design options available for stone-accented media walls
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At Avileve, we specialize in building custom fireplace walls, and today we’re sharing a detailed look at one of the most common client questions:
What type of stone should I choose for my fireplace build-out?
Two Types of Stone Finishes for Fireplace Buildouts
Our team generally categorizes stone finishes into two main types:
1. Modern Stone Tile (Stacked Stone Ledger)
This option, often referred to as stone tile or stacked stone panels, offers a sleek and contemporary look. These tiles are flat, clean-cut, and available in over 20 color variations, including whites, greys, charcoals, creams, and warm earth tones.
Best for:
Modern interiors
Minimalist or transitional homes
Compact or mid-sized media walls
Projects with an accent lighting setup
Fireplace walls where the client wants to balance texture with simplicity
Example: Stone Media Wall Fireplace – Palm Bay, Florida
This design showcases how modern stone tile can be integrated with an electric fireplace and mounted TV, offering a crisp look with elegant lighting and symmetrical proportions.
2. Traditional Mosaic Stone (Textured Wall Tile)
These are thicker, rougher, and more organic. They imitate natural fieldstone or river rock, with uneven edges, deep textures, and a striking 3D effect. These materials work beautifully in classic homes, farmhouses, or transitional spaces with rustic charm.
✅ Best for:
Tall walls and vaulted ceilings
Rustic or traditional interiors
Large-format fireplace build-outs (10–18 feet high)
Design combos with shiplap, wood mantels, or natural oak shelving
Example: Stone Fireplace Media Wall Build-Out – Melbourne, Florida
This 18-foot masterpiece proves how large-format stone can turn a simple media wall into an architectural focal point.
Best of Both Worlds: Combining Stone with Modern Materials
One of the most elegant solutions our team often recommends is a hybrid build-out:
Use traditional stone or mosaic from floor to mantel height to establish weight, warmth, and natural texture.
Then switch to painted shiplap, smooth MDF panels, or even accent color drywall above the mantel to open up the space and add contrast.
This method combines the natural beauty of stone with the clean lines of modern design — especially effective in homes where the ceiling height exceeds 9 feet.
Cost, Materials & Custom Options
At Avileve, we offer full customization of your stone fireplace buildout:
Electric fireplace installation (standard size: 60”)
TV mount included (up to 85”)
Wooden mantel and bench options
Built-in shelving or floating shelves
Recessed lighting or LED strip lights
Professional paint finish in any Sherwin-Williams color
The average price for a stone fireplace wall starts around $5,500 and varies based on size, materials, and upgrades. We handle everything from design and framing to tile setting and final paint touch-ups.
Where We Build: Our Service Areas
We design and install fireplace walls with stone finishes in:
Colorado (Denver, Boulder, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch)
Florida (Orlando, Tampa, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Daytona Beach)
Illinois (Chicago and suburbs)
California (Los Angeles & Bay Area)
Maryland & Washington, D.C. metro area
Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin)
North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh)
And more to come!
¿Piedra moderna o piedra tradicional? Nuestra guía en español
Muchos propietarios en Estados Unidos buscan un diseño de chimenea que combine elegancia, funcionalidad y estilo duradero. En Avileve, ofrecemos dos opciones: baldosas modernas de piedra tipo stacked stone ideales para interiores contemporáneos, y baldosas texturizadas que imitan piedra natural para un look clásico. Ambas son perfectas para Fireplace Buildouts con chimeneas eléctricas, repisas de madera y nichos con luz. Trabajamos en Colorado, Florida, Chicago, California, Maryland, Texas y Carolina del Norte. ¡Contáctanos para transformar tu sala!
Why Choose Avileve for Your Stone Fireplace Build-Out?
Choosing Avileve means you’re choosing:
✅ Design expertise: We reinvent even the most common fireplace layouts with thoughtful upgrades.
✅ Top-tier materials: From Floor & Decor stone tile to Sherwin-Williams paint, we use only trusted brands.
✅ Flawless execution: We combine carpentry, tiling, lighting, and painting into one smooth process.
✅ Clear pricing: No surprises. Every quote includes labor, materials, and cleanup.
✅ Full customization: From size and color to layout and accessories — you dream it, we build it.
Ready to Build Your Dream Fireplace Wall?
Request a free estimate and let us help you choose the perfect stone or tile option for your living room fireplace. Whether you’re looking for modern elegance or classic charm, Avileve delivers elevated design-build — inside & out.
A custom Shiplap Fireplace Buildout in Denver, Colorado – featuring a 60” electric fireplace, wood shelves, soundbar integration, crown molding, and seamless factory-quality painting.