Could also use one like this for an unexpected element in your rustic decor

Aside from you, I don't know that people would notice/realize the lack of one unless it's pointed out to them. I know that's happened to me many times in homes, especially when their is a bay or windows/great view/etc.

Also- be sure you've explored all your options. Stone up through the roof and exiting is expensive; stone surround in the home with siding on the top of the chimmney is much less (they don't need the metal braces going all the way up, we did this- looks like your pic). Different kinds of fireplaces are different expenses- look at gas vs wood vs gas starters vs. blowers and whatnot . Parts of them can vary- we left our doors off and purchased a $200 set from the manufacturer when the FP company wanted 1300 to purchase/install through them, for example. We are also in S. texas, and use it rarely if ever!

You could still do a thin brick veneer 'accent wall' as shown in your pic, just without a fireplace. Or put in a wood or gas stove as shown above. Your TV, or art - you name it - could go on that wall. See examples at the link below.

Art hung on brick walls with no fireplace

We had an orange version of the red one above - it screams MCM, not rustic.

can you just do stone on a wall without the fireplace?

Try searching for "rustic living room -fireplace". The minus sign is used by search engines to say you want to exclude sites with that word (like when I was trying to search for information on windows but didn't want info on Microsoft operating systems--"-Microsoft"). I did the search and it STILL returned a lot of pics with fireplaces, but definitely some without.

Good luck.

I found this picture online. The white shelves makes it feel more like shabby chic?

Then I also found this second picture. What if we just have the builder build a faux non working fireplace. This pictures looks like it's not a real fire place. We could add a small amount of stone on the bottom and then wood planks on the top. We could throw in some fake logs or some candles. Would that look good?

Thanks for the hint cawaps! I'll try that.

bossyvossy I love wood stoves like that. My husband just crinkled his nose at me when I showed it to him. lol The red stove is very pretty but to modern for our taste.

Renee Texas- The price is why I'm looking for alternatives. Our builder has quoted us 10,000 to 15,000 depending on the type of stone we use. I would rather save that amount of money.

Thank you everyone. I'm going to keep searching and checking out the links y'all have provided.

I would not recommend doing a false fireplace. I think it would look more like an "oops" than an intentional design element. Although a fireplace would be the focal point in a rustic room, I think you can still bring in other rustic elements to give the look and feel you desire.

You can definitely just do a stone accent wall without a fireplace. google stone accent wall and you'll see lots of examples. I also wouldn't do a false fireplace. I saw some examples that had rustic beam shelves which would give you the decorating possibilities of a mantle.

No to a fake fireplace, yes to that wall of wood with shelves, but no white paint - just stain or natural.

I agree, no fake fireplace. But you can still do a brick feature wall with a vaulted ceiling and beams and don't need to have a fireplace to pull off a cozy, rustic look. Here are a few examples I found that I think achieve the look and feel without a fireplace. A beautiful brick wall with solid wood mantel and a piece of carefully selected artwork with good lighting can certainly crate a wow factor without the fireplace. Not sure about the curtain here, but love the brick and beams as an example.

This one uses the beans vertically and the brick on the ceiling (if the fireplace was out of budget i'm sure this would be too) but at least you can see the options to play with and then scale them to your taste/budget. I love how this one has a great open concept but uses the beams/island to create separation between kitchen/ (and I'm assuming) family room.

Would you consider an electric fireplace with a mantle? There are some very nice offerings and I'm sure your builder could "beef it up" with stones or moldings to suit your taste.

Fireplaces

To answer the question in the title ABSOLUTELY!! Keep searching I have no doubt you will find plenty of options. I second the no fake/faux/impression of a fireplace. Those always make think about the why of it? Did one fail? Why did they go part way with the idea? The wood stove would be for what? To take up space? Fire code will make you build a large hearth around it...just let go of the entire idea--YOU DON'T NEED THE HEAT!! Your space will be beautiful with the wood beams and other features.

Thank you everyone. I agree with y'all! No fake fireplace. I love that brick wall photo that rebeccamomof123 posted. The second picture has way cool ceiling but all I can see with that is $$$$!!!

Thank you again. I'm going to keep hunting the internet for more ideas. I

Good decision on the fake fireplace. My parents built a house back in the 50s and the one thing my mom really wanted was a fireplace, but the builder persuaded her that was stupid in S FL, so they compromised on a fake one. She regretted it every day they lived in that house.

Of course you can do rustic without a fireplace. I agree with others, do not do a faux fireplace. An old brick, limestone, or reclaimed barn wood accent wall would work great. If this is your dream home though, now is the time to install a fireplace especially if you think you might have regrets not putting one in. Totally personal taste.

No fake fireplace. They are tacky.

And rustic without a fireplace is definitely possible. Just leave it out of the design. Put a window there, or a wall with art, or french doors to a veranda.

Rustic means rougher and imperfect surface textures even on bling. You could have very smooth brickwork and fireplace- the little Swedish red fireplace shown above will look modern not rustic.

Thanks everyone, We've decided to leave off the fireplace all together. Living in South Texas we'll probably never even use it. So we've decided to put some of that money into wood planks on the ceiling with wood beams. Like the middle picture. Sorry it's the only picture I have saved. We might go more of a darker wood stain to bring in the country rustic. We're going to do built ins instead of the fireplace.