The beauty of Stone.
Stone is a beautiful natural material. There are 1000s of different types, and every piece is unique. Stone can be used in almost every aspect of building. Floors; walls; roofs; stairs; windows; door surrounds; fireplaces; the list is endless. It can be used in its natural form, unworked, as in random stone walling, and large block foundations, or it can be used simply split from a larger block as in the case of riven flagstones or riven roof stones. Or of course, it can be used when worked by masons. Simply shaped or smoothed perhaps, or intricately carved and moulded.
Some of the very finest houses in the world are made in stone. Often from a quarry near to where the house is located. The beautiful Bath stone for example, comes from mines deep under the city itself.
Stone also weathers beautifully. Even a new dwelling will soon take on a mellow patina, as the weather and nature leave their mark on the surface of the stone. Sometimes when older stone houses are repaired, various materials are painted on to the surface of the new sections in order to accelerate the aging process, and make the new sections less obvious. Such simple everyday products as yoghurt, are used for this purpose, as they attract bacteria, and this is what encourages growth of organisms on the stone surface which in turn gives it the aged look.
Aging can also be done to stone fireplaces. Just rubbing a used tea bag into the corners of a new fireplace can help to give it an antique appearance if that is what you are looking for.