By Amy Meadows

	Natural stone can be used to dazzle clients and attract future customers. Photo courtesy of Sisler Johnston Interior Design

Once used in only the most high-end custom applications, natural stone has become one of the most sought-after materials for residential and commercial interior design projects of all types and sizes. In fact, throughout the country, everything from granite and marble to limestone and travertine is making an appearance in homes, office buildings and commercial properties such as restaurants and hotels. It's being seen in clubhouses, community sales offices and banks. It's so popular these days that it's even being found in the interior design plans of hospitals nationwide.

Although a variety of trends have emerged in the way natural stone is being used in those settings, the material is far from trendy. "Once interior design gets past reality TV and quick fix decorator approaches to design problems, the solid elements remain — good use of texture, pattern, lighting, space planning and basic design principles," says Gary McCurry, IIDA, interior designer and showroom manager for Granite Mountain Stone Design-California in Fresno. "Natural stone has always been a material used in interior spaces and will continue to be a mainstay of good design."

There are several reasons for this. "We all yearn for a better balance with nature in our increasingly 'neon' world, and bringing stone indoors is bringing a natural element into our everyday sensory realm," explains Marcia Weese, director of design for 4240 Interiors, a division of 4240 Architecture Inc. in Denver. By bringing elements of the outdoors inside, McCurry adds, people are fulfilling "the need for materials that speak to quality, have a feeling of stability and impart a sense of time and history in today's fast-paced disposable society." Natural stone is enduring in both its composition and its aesthetics, making it a perennial favorite in terms of design. What's more, he continues, natural stone products fit into the widespread and ever-growing "green" movement seamlessly, giving people the opportunity to select sustainable materials that are not only beautiful and timeless, but also beneficial for themselves, their families and the environment.

Natural stone helps create a spa-like atmosphere in master bathrooms — a design style growing in popularity among baby-boomers especially.
Photo courtesy of Sisler Johnston Interior Design

Of course, while natural stone has always been a popular tool for interior designers, recent advances in the industry have allowed it to be seen in an entirely new light, making it one of the more creative devices design professionals can use to enhance and personalize a space. According to Karen Ferguson, ASID, a designer with Harrison Design Associates Inc. in Atlanta, "The industry has changed, and the options associated with natural stone materials and the areas in which to use them are virtually endless." Much of this can be attributed to the new fabrication technologies and techniques that have been developed and introduced to the market, notes Mark Fernandes, president of Charles Luck Stone Centers, headquartered in Richmond. It's those methods that have provided designers with an extensive palette of innovative finishes, textures and shapes with which to work and transformed a seemingly conventional material into a truly versatile and multifaceted design element.

Home Sweet Home
In the past, natural stone was exclusive to the most upscale homes. However, Judith Sisler Johnston, president of Sisler Johnston Interior Design in Jacksonville and ASID allied member, reveals that the availability of materials such as granite and marble, as well as a considerable drop in price over the years, has made it possible for almost any homeowner to include natural stone in his or her design plans. "[Natural stone] used to be confined only to the world of the custom home market," she asserts, "but now it's even being seen in entry level markets." Also, she observes, the demand for natural stone has increased significantly because "consumers are better educated than they ever were before" about the various ways stone can be incorporated into their interiors. And one of the first places they consider using it is in the kitchen.

	Natural stone is being carried through the design of floors in commercial office buildings and used in corridors, bathrooms and other common areas. Photo courtesy of Charles Luck Stone Center

Granite countertops are nothing new in regard to kitchen design. The sturdy material provides a perfect surface for the multipurpose space, and for food preparation in particular. But what has changed is the finish being applied to the stone. Homeowners have moved away from shiny polished granite and are going with other options. According to Weese, honed stone has moved into the spotlight. "It has to do with touch," she says. "Honed stone feels softer and warmer to the hand." In addition, Fernandes indicated that granite featuring the leathered look is growing in popularity. And even marble and limestone are making their way into the kitchen. The trend is reminiscent of the styles found in Europe, where kitchens are not meant to be pristine and clean; a kitchen that has been used properly — to prepare large meals for family and friends — should look aged. The imperfections of natural stone provide that appearance. They also bring depth to the rest of the kitchen when stone is used in a variety of other ways.

Natural stone is being carried through the design of floors in commercial office buildings and used in corridors, bathrooms and other common areas. Photo courtesy of Sisler Johnston Interior Design

"You can find natural stone everywhere in the kitchen except the cabinets nowadays," Sisler Johnston notes. For instance, as Ferguson describes, "We are now fabricating sinks out of the stone that we are using on countertops — this allows for a seamless transition, as you do not have materials fighting with each other when you are trying to create a soft or restful palette." Also, Sisler Johnston often applies four-by-four tiles of tumbled marble as a backsplash, turning them on a diagonal to fill in the space and complement granite countertops. Stone is even being applied to such design components as stovetop shrouds and entire floors, giving the kitchen a warm and welcoming ambiance. And with techniques like sandblasting and laser etching, any design element made of stone can be personalized to fit a homeowner's taste, McCurry adds.

That same sentiment is being carried into the master bathroom, which has become a sanctuary for today's homeowners. According to Fernandes, many baby boomers, who travel to spas and resorts around the world, yearn to bring that aesthetic home and recreate the havens they discover while on vacation. He says, "The master bath is the new kitchen" in terms of how important the design of that space has become in recent years. "People want to create a real relaxing, spa-like atmosphere, so that's bringing back neutrals and earth tones, as well as light-colored tumbled materials."

The availability of materials such as granite and marble, as well as a considerable drop in price over the years, has made it possible for almost any homeowner to include natural stone in his or her design plans.
Photo courtesy of Sisler Johnston Interior Design

The vanity area and the floor are ideal places to incorporate natural stone, but it can also be brought into the shower and used on tub surrounds to produce a truly consistent look throughout the master bath. Furthermore, the walls are becoming a fashionable location for a wide array of stone products. "We're seeing more tile going up the walls instead of wallpaper in some bathrooms," Sisler Johnston comments. In fact, stone accent walls in powder rooms are seen much more often these days, as well as in other areas of the home.

Dining rooms, living rooms and entertainment spaces are being adorned with walls made of irregular flagstone, fieldstone, sandstone and even stacked stone. Bringing that natural outdoor façade indoors is a hallmark of architecture found in French chateau, English castle or Pennsylvania farmhouse designs, Fernandes observes. "It brings a warmth and classic sophistication to the space," he says, and it's something many homeowners are trying to duplicate in their own residences. The look is a wonderful accessory for a room with a traditional stone fireplace surround or a decorative stone alcove or one that's adjacent to a foyer that features stone floors. Furthermore, an accent wall can be a very versatile design tool, as stone can change personalities depending on the materials and ornamentation that surround it. With natural stone, Sisler Johnston states, "You can get a rustic look. You can give it a western look, or you can give it a Mediterranean look. You can get a very formal ambiance or a very informal ambiance. You can get a décor that's very traditional or a décor that's extremely contemporary. It all depends on what other choices are made in the room." And that makes stone an indispensable material for anyone who wants to create the look of their dreams in any room of their home.

Designers and homeowners can collect ideas at showrooms such as Charles Luck Stone Center where this natural stone sink is on display.
Photo courtesy of Charles Luck Stone Center

Commercial Interests
Clearly, stone has had a major impact on the interior design plans of homes throughout the nation. But its influence does not stop there. "Natural stone is very applicable in commercial settings," declares Sisler Johnston. "Granite is used in almost every office building in the world because it is so practical and durable. It's on the outside of buildings, as well as on the inside."

When it comes to interiors, many office buildings are known for their beautiful lobbies, which feature wall-to-wall polished marble and granite for a very high-end effect. Recently natural stone has replaced the use of porcelain, which was though to give a comparable look. However, Sisler Johnston continues, "I can walk into a building that's 20 years old with porcelain and it's dated. I can walk into a building that was done in marble and it's not dated." That may be why stone is being carried through the design of other floors in commercial office buildings and used in corridors, bathrooms and other common areas.

For making a bold design statement, many believe there is no better product than natural stone. Photo courtesy of Charles Luck Stone Center

It's also why the use of stone has become an interior design trend in a variety of other commercial settings. "For professionals trying to differentiate themselves and make a statement, there isn't a better product than natural stone. It is the premier luxury material," Fernandes explains. "It helps establish a price point and say that this is a quality establishment." Restaurants have embraced this concept, using natural stone on the floors and adding it to reception areas, restrooms, bars and other guest spaces. On top of that, much like in homes, Weese says, "Restaurants are pulling stone from the floor up onto the walls. The stone wall can be lit in dramatic ways to emphasize the texture, again bringing the outdoors in." And this movement is not just happening in posh restaurants — even family establishments and fast food restaurants are incorporating stone into their interiors. Fernandes mentions an Arby's in Richmond that used granite extensively in its design plans; the ambiance the restaurant created has allowed it to set itself apart from other well-known fast food chains and really pack in the customers at lunchtime.

In this project, 4240 Architecture Inc. chose Ashlar Rubble stone with a smeared grout joint. The stone was selected primarily due to its warm color, well-matched to the rustic old-world nature of the smeared grout technique.
Photo by David Marlow, courtesy of 4240 Architecture Inc.

Impressing consumers is an important strategy for any business, whether it's a bank, a resort or hotel, a neighborhood sales office or a community clubhouse or amenity center — which is why natural stone can regularly be found in these types of spaces on the floors, walls, counters and conference tables. But sometimes, natural stone is not only used to dazzle or attract potential customers. Oftentimes, it can be used to soothe people who find themselves in a sterile or seemingly cold environment, such as a hospital. Sisler Johnston has added granite countertops to nursing stations and natural stone accents to foyers, entry areas, lobbies, sitting rooms, community rooms and other waiting areas for family members to bring a more comforting feeling to the spaces. That stone has even been used in some patient bathrooms, where Corian was once the predominant choice.

"When the price of granite came down to match the price of Corian, we started seeing some of these more expensive materials being used in more institutional and industrial-like settings," she says. The trend is being found in hospitals across the country and does not appear to be losing any ground. And the same can be said for commercial establishments and locales from the East Coast to the West Coast.

Natural stone is becoming more commonplace in residential and commercial bathrooms.
Photo courtesy of Charles Luck Stone Center

Pressing On
"As an industry, we need to keep doing what we're doing," Fernandes says. "The design community — from builders to homeowners — wants products that are unique and different. So we have to keep bringing new products to the market. If we do, then the future is going to be incredible for the industry."

As people continue to gravitate toward natural products, there certainly will be a continued and increasing desire for a myriad of natural stone options. And while natural stone is a limited resource, it's one that can and will stand the test of time and be a source of delight and pride for homeowners and business owners for years to come. "When people buy natural stone... it's a timeless look because it's so beautiful," Sisler Johnston concludes.

Trends come and go, but the use of natural stone will always be fashionable. Of course, it will be exciting to see the innovative ways it will be used in the future. Fortunately, the material has been around for millions of years, so there's plenty of time — and trendsetting — to look forward to.

Amy Meadows is a freelance writer.

Resources
Karen Ferguson, ASID
Harrison Design Associates Inc.
Atlanta, Ga.
404-365-7760
www.harrisondesignassociates.com

Mark Fernandes
Charles Luck Stone Center
Manakin, Va.
804-784-6320
www.charlesluck.com

Judith Sisler Johnston
Sisler Johnston Interior Design
Jacksonville, Fla.
904-288-0908
www.sislerjohnston.com

Gary McCurry, IIDA
Granite Mountain Stone Design — California
Fresno, Calif.
559-438-2100
www.granitemountainstonedesign.com

Marcia Weese
4240 Architecture Inc.
Denver, Colo.
303-292-3388
www.4240arch.com

• Return to table of contents

www.buildingstonemagazine.com

Building Stone Magazine
©2008 by Building Stone Institute
www.buildingstoneinstitute.org
All rights reserved

Web Site by:
Lionheart Publishing, Inc.
506 Roswell Street, Suite 220, Marietta, GA 30060
Phone: 770-431-0867 | Fax: 770-432-6969
lpi@lionhrtpub.com
www.lionhrtpub.com