Are marble fireplaces old hat?

[FallenMadonnawiththeBadBoobies]

This is such a first world problem, and it's not very exciting, so apologies in advance.

We are half way through an extension/refurbishment and having to make decisions quickly is giving me a headache. Our house is late 1950s/early 1960s, but we are giving it an uncluttered contemporary but classic look (well that's the aim!).

I'm stuck on what to get as a new fireplace. We want a woodburner effect gas fire (Chesneys do a couple of very realistic ones) and a clean-lined classic but contemporary fire surround. There are plenty to choose from, but most appear to be made of limestone, which are a sandy/beige colour and quite coarse to touch. We would prefer something which is white/grey in colour and smoother. Plaster surrounds seem to have had their day, but what about marble?

Is anyone putting marble fire surrounds in their houses nowadays? Would a marble fireplace look naff in a 1950/60s house?

[Tobuyornot99]

I live in a house if the same era, moved in to a marble effect fire place, I hate it.

I think it looks wanna be ostentatious, and completely out of sorts with a 60s house. Sorry!

[Ttbb]

Why don't you go fir the wooden plank above cavity look?

[FallenMadonnawiththeBadBoobies]

No problem Tobuyornot - that's why I was asking.

Ttbb - I like that look, but DH doesn't.

[FallenMadonnawiththeBadBoobies]

Was thinking of something like this.

[whiskyowl]

I think it's a matter of design. The phrase "marble fireplace" conjures up visions of awful Hyacinth Bucket pomposity with swags, swirls, columns and pediments. But marble can be a lovely material when used more simply - I think if you went for something absolutely modernist with no detail at all, it could be stunning.

Just to note: you don't have to have a fireplace around a logburner - you can board the recess with fire-resistant board and paint it any colour you like. You do need a hearth, however.

[whiskyowl]

Ooops, apologies, just realised you're having a gas fire, not a logburner. I don't know how I misread your post so badly, apologies! Ignore my second paragraph entirely!

[FallenMadonnawiththeBadBoobies]

Thanks Whiskyowl. No swags etc to be involved at all. Something very simple will do the job.

I quite like the idea of a hole in the wall with a hearth and oak mantel, but DH has other ideas. However, initially he hated the idea of a fire that looked like a woodburner. It would certainly be a lot cheaper.

[whiskyowl]

I'm not always keen on those oak mantels either - in the right house, they're great, but in a 50s suburban semi they look a bit out of keeping.

Pinterest has some really nice, absolutely simple examples of marble fireplaces that are literally just slabs of polished stone with a cut-out for a fire. The simpler the better for me, but I have much more modernist tastes than many on here!!