Décor & Design
Sensual Stone
Enduring, resilient, natural… and aesthetically diverse
Natural materials are currently one of the greatest influences in interior design. With inspiration emanating from the Nordic landscape, a minimalist contemporary look can be achieved with a feeling of depth and earthiness that only stone can give. It is a material that is timeless, adaptable and highly durable.
Natural or even man-made stone floors can transform a rather average-looking home into a luxurious jaw-dropping living space. With such a wide selection of stone materials available, the world of stone is an exciting one.
Granite has been a popular stone, particularly for work surfaces, due to its durability, decorative appearance and diversity. Granite is an igneous rock formed as lava or molten rock and cooled and solidified over many thousands of years – allowing the minerals time to grow into the crystals that give it its distinctive patterns. Depending on the elements within the granite, this material is available in many different colours.
Travertine has taken the world by storm. It is a natural stone and comes in a variety of sizes, shades and characters. It is formed in hot springs or in limestone caves as opposed to marble or limestone, which falls into the metamorphic rock category. Travertine stone has holes within it, caused by a lack of carbon dioxide. The typical thickness of a travertine tile would be around 13 millimetres. Usually, travertine is cross cut, which means the blocks are rotated and cut across the vein. As with a tree, when you cut travertine vertically the veins are not visible; but if you cut horizontally you can see the veins.
For a natural earthy feel, slate is extremely effective. It is 100 per cent natural, long-lasting and environmentally friendly because it does not release any harmful substances into the environment and is recyclable. But, like most materials, there are different grades of quality – with the finest slate mined from underground. Good quality slate is non-porous, and stain and slip-resistant, whereas slate of an inferior quality is sourced from the ground’s surface, making it is less durable and more porous due to weathering.
Marble is one of the oldest natural materials but is still used today and works best when you are aiming to achieve an opulent classic look. Marble is durable and easy to maintain. It is quarried in the same way as granite and soapstone, with each piece of marble being completely unique, and it can be found in an enormous range of colours and patterns. Marble has been used for years for floors and to keep a home cool during the warmer months; and, due to its heat-resistant qualities, is often found on kitchen countertops.
Onyx is an eye-catching stone that is made up of natural layers of ivory and amber. Due to its unique aesthetic beauty, it is often used on bar façades, in bathrooms or in kitchens as it is visually striking and can be wiped down easily.
Quartzite is a decorative stone and is often found on walls, as roof tiles and for floors, and is slowly entering the kitchen for countertops. It is more durable and more stain-resistant than granite. Quartzite is also sparkly, giving it a depth and shine.
Sandstone is known for its characteristic grainy appearance and tactile appeal. This material has been used in construction and home-ware since prehistoric times. It is a relatively soft stone that is easy to cut and is often used when making statues or fountains. Some sandstones are weather-resistant and it is a popular building and paving material. Limestone’s soft texture and neutral colour tone are often used in kitchens or bathrooms due to its ability to stand up to wet environments. This calcareous stone is generally light in colour and has a delicate shell and mineral mottling, making it great for wall tiles.
Stone tiles can make the room feel much larger than it actually is, which is of particular benefit for a smaller property. Other advantages are that they are hard-wearing and easy to maintain, can be used inside or outside, and can cool down a home during the hot summer months – while providing an upmarket and unique look as no two stone tiles are exactly the same.
Re-Work stoneware collection from Italian ceramics manufacturer ABK.
One of the most commonly used natural stones in contemporary architecture, travertine is used for paving patios, garden paths and other outdoor areas. It is ideal for façades and wall cladding as well as flooring, can be polished to a smooth, shiny finish, and is available in several different colours, including grey and coral-red. Provided and installed on the Costa del Sol by construction company and building materials supplier Concept Building.
Gunni & Trentino’s natural stone collection includes more than 70 different marbles, for indoor ambiences (kitchens, bathrooms, etc.) and outdoor façades and landscaping, both classic and contemporary constructions.
Estepona-based company Guadalmansa offers a wide and varied range of natural stone and marble products, available in a variety of colour combinations and tones, for homes, buildings and commercial outlets.
On an initial viewing, Lucem appears to be polished natural stone but, when light shines on one side, this versatile and robust material for walls, furniture and other interior elements – translucent concrete – becomes light-transmitting due to thousands of extremely fine, embedded glass fibres.
Villeroy & Boch’s Pure Stone range – comprising toilet suites, bidets and washbasins, in either a white or grey stone finish – adds a combination of elegance and warm simplicity to the bathroom environment. Available in Marbella at Puya Diseño.
