Use unexpected materials. A unique fireplace does not have to be supersize or bright to make a big impact. This traditional fireplace stands out because the designer, Rodolfo Castro of Castro Design Studio, replaced the expected brick surround with fieldstone, adding more texture and variations in color tones.Castro explains the logistics: "The stone is dry stacked with mortar — the mortar is used in the back part of the stone, so it does not show. The stones are 3 inches thick, so they can be stacked like bricks in front of the firebox, which is an Isokern unit."