The Best Ways to Add Stone to Your Home Design
Our Austin Architects Share Our Guide to Using Stone in Design — From Your Exterior to Interior
Natural stone has been a popular building material for centuries thanks to its beauty, durability, and longevity. You can find natural stone used everywhere, from centuries-old garden walls in the English countryside to contemporary kitchens right here in Austin, Texas. Because stone is such a versatile building material, you can use it in exterior and interior applications throughout the home. So, what are the best ways to use stone in your home design? Our Austin architects outline everything you need to know about the different types of stones and their applications in our natural stone guide. Discover the best stone choices for your taste and lifestyle and the optimal spots to use stone around your home for the biggest design impact.
Stone Walls by Dianne Kett
Types of Natural Stone to Consider in Your Design Plan
Limestone
Limestone is a popular stone option here in Texas, thanks to the abundant quarries in the region. It’s a porous sedimentary stone formed in layers that create subtle color variations. Typically, limestone is given rustic finishes showcasing interesting textures. It’s great for exterior applications and fireplaces.
Limestone Fireplace by DK Studio
Marble
Like limestone, marble is a sedimentary stone. However, pressure has compressed its layers to create stunning veining. Marble is typically finished with a smooth polish and associated with luxe design. It’s excellent for indoor applications, including bathrooms, tile, and backsplashes. While you can use marble for kitchen counters, it is a porous material that needs to be sealed regularly.
Marble Fireplace by DK Studio
Slate
Slate is a metamorphic rock composed of clay, shale, or volcanic ash. Unlike other stones, slate is easy to break into sheets, making it a practical choice for flooring, pavers, and even roof tiles.
Travertine
Travertine is a calcareous stone that forms with small holes throughout, making it more delicate than other stones. It’s typically used for indoor applications like tile, and the holes are filled with resin, cement, or aggregate.
Granite
Granite is a magmatic stone formed under high pressure and heat, creating a material with unique crystal patterns. It’s resistant to heat and spills, making it a great choice for kitchen counters. However, it is still a porous material.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a natural metamorphic stone not to be confused with man-made quartz. It has a similar appearance to marble. However, it is much more resistant to spills and heat. As a result, quartzite is currently a very popular countertop material.
Soapstone
Soapstone is an incredibly strong metamorphic stone. Unlike other natural stone options, soapstone is nonporous, making it a sanitary and low-maintenance choice for kitchen countertops that doesn’t need to be sealed. It has a dark and moody look with beautiful variations and veining.
Soapstone Backsplash by DK Studio
Brick & Stone Combination
While stone is natural and brick is man-made, you can combine both materials to create visual contrast and interest. For example, you can contrast the rigid brick structure with more organic flagstone patterns on your patio or use brick on the lower section of a garden wall and stone on the upper.
Brick and Stone
The Top Ways to Add Stone to Your Home Design Plan
Stone is versatile enough to be used in any residential design style, from Craft Revival to modern. Here are some of the best ways to add stone to your home design plan — from exterior to interior applications.
Exterior Stone Applications
Facades
Natural stone is one of the most durable (and beautiful) building materials, making it an excellent choice for your home’s facade. Here in Texas, we use limestone to achieve that iconic Hill Country style with all its rustic charm.
Stone Facade by Dianne Kett
Patios
Stone makes for attractive and welcoming patios. You can create a freeform design with flagstones or use a uniform paver similar to a brick. Natural stone is a lovely option for bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor spaces.
In Progress Patio by DK Studio
Pool Decks
It is important to design a pool to match your house, and one of the biggest factors to consider is your pool deck material. Natural stone relates back to your home better than artificial materials like coated concrete. Plus, stone is a safe choice for pool decking because the rough honed texture offers grip, and porous stones like travertine absorb water to minimize puddles and slips.
Walkways
Walkways, whether a path to the front door or a trail around the garden, are important transitions. Using natural stone pavers is a great way to connect your indoor and outdoor spaces and create beautiful paths that feel like a journey rather than a means to an end.
Stone Walkway by DK Studio
Garden Walls
Garden walls offer an old-world European feel, adding privacy and definition to your outdoor spaces. These are beautiful structural elements to combine brick and stone for a cozy feel.
Stone Garden Wall by Dianne Kett
Fire Pits
Outdoor fireplaces are the key to cozy outdoor living, and building your fireplace or fire pit with natural stone is the perfect choice! Stone is heat resistant, so you can create a safe and beautiful place to gather outside.
Seating Ledges
Outdoor seating ledges can be multipurpose. For example, these small stone walls can contain flower beds or serve as retaining walls while offering a nice place to sit in the garden.
Stone Ledges and Pool Decking by DK Studio
Interior Stone Applications
Countertops
Natural stone countertops are popular for a reason — they offer beauty and durability. Our Austin architects love incorporating quartzite and soapstone counters in our designs because they’re resistant to heat and spills, making them lower maintenance than other materials.
Backsplashes
While you could go with a tile backsplash, natural stone slabs provide a clean look and a beautiful opportunity to bookend match veining. Plus, they are easy to clean!
Flooring
Finding the best flooring options for your home depends on location, lifestyle, and personal taste. However, natural stone is a popular choice for its durability in high-traffic areas, beauty, and variety of options. Popular stone tiles include marble, travertine, and slate.
Stone in the Bathroom by DK Studio
Wall Cladding
Cladding an interior wall in natural stone is a great way to bring in natural materials, connect to the exterior materiality of your home, and create a sense of indoor-outdoor living. Consider placing stone feature walls close to outdoor spaces, like patios, so that you can see the material carried from the exterior to the interior.
Indoor Outdoor Stone Flooring by DK Studio
Fireplaces
We all love a stone fireplace! Natural stone is one of the best materials to use on a fireplace surround because of its heat resistance. Plus, stone is versatile enough to fit any interior decor scheme. For example, you could use rustic stacked limestone for a cabin look or clean marble slabs for a contemporary retreat. Additionally, brick is versatile enough to create a mid-century modern, transitional, or Craftsman look.
Rustic Stone Fireplace by DK Studio