The soft pale look of limestone mantels has always appealed to you. It is as elegant as marble (and as formal) but not so cold, not so formidable. The question you might be wondering about is the difference between real limestone and cast stone composites, which you've heard about.

FAQ on Limestone Mantels

Genuine stone, for a start, weighs considerably more than cast stone and is equally more expensive. The load bearing issue, in fact, is the first to consider. This makes sense when you think about the opulent "summer cottage" architecture of Newport, Rhode Island. These Gilded Age villas of America's wealthiest recreated the spirit of the French chateaux. Marble and limestone mantels were appropriate in those solid architectural wonders.

You'll probably be happy enough with a cast stone replica, however. Its appearance will be identical to any of the limestone mantels you've long admired. Cast stone is a very fine grade architectural concrete, used for in both exterior and interior design for the last 100 years or so in both the United States and Britain. The real difference--price aside (and that is after all a significant factor)--is that you'll have a fireplace that looks like limestone, that only an architect or fireplace specialist will know is not.

If you're a purist, however, and really want the genuine article, another option is limestone composite. It has the same advantages over quarried and cut limestone that cast concrete has over other natural stones such as granite and marble. It's lighter in weight. There's much better control over color, design, finish, and--in the case of limestone--stain resistance. Cast limestone will, however, be more costly than regular cast stone.