Whether used to bring patina to a period home or to provide a coo clean look in a modern room, employing the right type of stone for the desired application will create a beautiful and worthwhile investment.
Stone, that most ubiquitous and fundamental of architectural materials, predates life on earth as we know it, yet the myriad forms that resulted from ancient geological processes can bring a fresh look to interiors today.
All stone can broadly be classed into one of three categories: sedimentary, comprising millions of years of deposits of various kinds, specifically sea shells in the case of limestone; metamorphic, in which sedimentary stone is transformed through intense heat and pressure into an altogether more dense and resistant material, such as marble and slate, and igneous, commonly granite and basalt which, formed through volcanic activity, is the most hard wearing stone type of all.
WHISPER OF SEA SHELLS
Occurring in a great swathe along the east of England from Dorset to Yorkshire, limestone is as popular today as it was nearly 350 years ago, when Christopher Wren submitted proposals for St Pauls Cathedral to be built out of the renowned Portland stone variety. "It is highly prestigious and the cost is there to back it up," says Steven Daniels, managing director of Templestone, a company specialising in British limestone. Charles Margetts of Martin Moore Stone says the best grades of limestone occur lower down in the quarry where it has been compacted by the weight of the earth above. Lower grade stone occurs higher up in the quarry and, being less compacted, more porous and softer, is more likely to mark and scuff. This makes it suitable for carving, walls and door surrounds, rather than heavy duty, high - traffic areas and where water resistance is required. "Look at the back and sides of a piece of stone for open pores, fossils and veining, compare weights," Margetts advises those trying to determine the quality of stone.
"People like limestone because of its soft, matt colours," Margetts continues, adding that it is as suitable for a London pied a terre as it is for a country retreat, especially in hallways where its light tone is useful but where variations in shade are advisable for hiding grubby marks. Specialist in luxury stone applications, Lapicida recommends limestone for orangeries, conservatories and swimming pool surrounds, alongside regular kitchen floors.
Other named English limestone includes Bath, Purbeck and Cotswold stone. All stone must be sealed professionally to improve longevity and prevent problems with damp and staining. While it is possible to saturate more open textured limestones with sealant, doing so depends how true to the nature of the stone you wish to be. Daniels advises against it from an aesthetic point of view. "Too much sealant on a porous stone can destroy the look of the stone," he says, as the process will fill every large pore, which can then give a varnished look.
BEAUTY IN IMPERFECTION
Travertine is a form of limestone that is popular today but it was also favoured by the Romans, who used it to construct the Coliseum. Formed from freshwater lime deposits, travertine is well known for its many pocks, which were once air bubbles. These pocks are filled with either resin at the quarry or with grout once installed. It is, however, common for the filling to pop out and accepting the presence of both filling and pocks is essential when using the material. "Accept that stone isnt perfect," says Ella Morgan, director at Mandarin Stone, "but do choose the colour of the floor before anything else —it will be the element that is least easily changed once it is installed."
A PLACE FOR EVERY STONE
Travertine is ideal for areas receiving a medium amount of footfall, such as conservatories and bathrooms, where the filling will be less exposed to wear and tear. Sandstone, typically used in the construction of great country houses, is porous and best reserved for outdoor use unless it is sealed thoroughly.
Marble is, according to Jason Cherrington of Lapicida, enjoying a surge in popularity. With a dense, regular grain and high resistance, the stone is ideal for bathrooms, kitchen worktops and floors, halls and front entrances where its low porosity and lighter shades are well received. Cherrington adds that desirability drives up prices, citing renewed demand for Italian Calacatta marble, starting from ?100 a square metre.
Morgan says consistency is critical when tiling both bathroom floors and walls in marble and other stones. "In bathrooms, stick to the same sized floor and wall tiles and order stone from the same block to achieve consistent colour," she says.
Synonymous with Welsh landscapes, slate is ideal for floor and wall tiles, where it can be honed for a subtle shine or used riven, where its inherent layering remains visible because stone is split rather than sawn. Local slate, often referred to as heritage slate, is much less common than it used to be, with imported stones from China filling in the gaps. Morgan points out that Welsh slate will cost around ?38 a square metre, as opposed to Chinese, which comes in at ?12 for the same area.
Stones of volcanic origin are generally the hardest and least porous of all. Available in a vast array of shades and patterns, granite is perennially popular and ideal in high traffic areas. "It is still the best material for a kitchen worktop," says Margetts, but it is also a good match for bathrooms and especially wet - rooms, as well as hallways and front steps.
With a particularly close grain, basalt is also highly durable and works best in contemporary interiors where its dark grey colouring will complement clean lines.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT
Timera travertine wall tiles in Imperiale, with a pillowed edge from ?139.84 a square metre. For similar, try Breton limestone from ?84.98 a square metre, all Fired Earth. Limestone ranges from off - white to warm, honey - coloured tones. Field Stone limestone from ?88 a square metre, Stoneage. Elegant cream shades and sophisticated gold veining make St Adrien polished marble a stylish choice for bathrooms, from ?95.93 a square metre, Mandarin Stone. Reconstitued stone, cast from stone dust and cement, can be cost effective, with a similar effect to the original. Limestone floor tiles from ?6.47 and infill blocks ?1.82, Haddonstone. Antique effects can be achieved with hand finishes or mechanical tumbling. Tumbled marble in beige, from ?69.95 a square metre, Earthworks collection, Original Style.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
Soft Bath limestone is ideal for carved, decorative applications such as fire places. Carved Loire fireplace, from ?5,360, Templestone. The aged and pillowed finish of Gevrey limestone, sourced from Burgundy, France, brings subtle texture to kitchen floors. From ?125 a square metre, Martin Moore Stone. Durable, high - quality grades of limestone are ideal for areas subject to heavy footfall. Grey Tuscany limestone floor tiles -?119.95 a square metre, Lapicida.
Related news items:
Newer news items:
Older news items:
|
Landscape Design