Natural Stone for Interiors

[edit] Introduction

In the world of interior design, in a sector where aesthetics lead the way and individuality is a unique selling point, natural stone can be the ideal material.

Quarried and mined from the earth, bearing a unique characteristic that is the result of complex geological processes, natural stone offers the interior designer more than just a material, it offers a story.

No two pieces of natural stone will be exactly the same, and when embraced, this unique material can provide a wealth of options in both texture and colour.

[edit] Characteristics

Below are some of the characteristics natural stone has to offer the world of interior design:

[edit] Texture

From the fossils found in Portland stone to the natural, subtle layers of slate, texture is a strong selling point for interior spaces. The three-dimensional dynamic that a feature wall of unpolished, naturally-textured stone can provide can be stunning and definitely a trend that is on the increase.

Unlike many other materials the same piece of stone can be finished in a number of different ways to provide the texture best suited to the application. Flamed, honed, blasted, sanded, polished and line textured are all finishes that can give the same piece of stone a very different appearance.

[edit] Impact

The geological striations and natural colour streaks found in marble create a striking aesthetic used across the interiors world, from hotel lobbies and internal walls to floors and countertops. In a market where individuality is key, the unique visuals that natural stone can create are striking, bringing a strong identity to interior spaces of all description.

[edit] Durability

As a result of the geological processes, the thousands of years of compression, natural stone is an incredibly hard wearing material. You need only look at the centuries old, limestone clad streets of London, the granite paved streets of Aberdeen or the Clipsham rich buildings of Oxford to see evidence of the longevity of this natural material.

When it comes to choosing the right stone for the project in hand, it’s worth exploring the wealth of options that natural stone offers.

To start your search for the ideal material and company for your next natural stone project, go to http://bit.ly/FindAMember.

The Natural Stone Awards are run by Stone Federation and seek to celebrate the best examples of the use of natural stone across a wide range of applications including interiors.

The interiors category is a showcase for the successful use of natural stone in bathrooms, hotels, high-end apartments, churches and so on. The 2014 and 2016 Awards have seen a wide range of natural stones used in the successful projects stretching from British limestones through to Italian marbles.

The finished projects cover everything from the dramatic to the understated, but all have one thing in common, the designer or architects’ skill in choosing the perfect stone for the desired application.

--Stone Federation Great Britain

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• 2016 Natural Stone Awards.
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• Defects in stonework.
• Inspecting stone sample panels.
• Lime mortar.
• Natural stone.
• Natural stone cladding.
• Natural stone tiles.
• Patio stone
• Pattern staining and soiling in stonework.
• Refacing stone.