The Stone Source Blog

Pietra Bedonia is sandstone quarried 35 miles NNW of Carrara. The stone is a hearty sandstone, with centuries of history as a building stone in and around the town of Bedonia. The stone can be used as exterior paving and cladding, and it’s comfortable on a residential floor or as a bath or kitchen counter. As is the case with most sandstones, it is a bit porous, but if properly sealed, Bedonia will work well in most environments. We always suggest that clients test a sealed piece to see if it works for them.

The stone is predominantly greenish gray with a swirling pattern highlighted by particles of mica. In flat section, the stone has depth and character with a silken feel. For a real treat, inspect a cubic piece of Pietra Bedonia and the three dimensional quality combined with the marking in the stone, which give the material an indescribable depth. For an even better treat, run your hand over a piece that is carved or sculpted on a radius; the visual texture highlighted by the way the light plays on the curves is only bested by the almost  life like way the stone feels to the touch….and people say it’s just another rock.

Basaltina, quarried outside of Rome, is one of the world’s truly special stones. Looking at the stone most people feel the material has the warmth and alluring subtlety of a limestone, but the composition of the stone is igneous of root, with only trace amounts of acid sensitive calcium carbonate. In the end we have a warm inviting material that performs more similarly to granite, without the problems typically associated with limestone. We’ll talk more about acid sensitivity at a later date; but for now remember that calcium carbonate the predominant component of most limestone  and marbles reacts to acid, and most granites and similar igneous material are siliceous and are resistant and do not react to most common acids.

We actually found a stone reference book published in the 1930’s that refers to Basaltina as Black Travertine. Travertine is limestone, quarried throughout the world, with some of the most famous quarries  from Tivoli, also just outside of Rome. Both Basaltina and Travertine have small holes in the stone, which are often filled before use. In both materials the holes are formed by gases moving through the stone as it solidifies in the earth.  We don’t know if the gases are the same.

Basaltina  does have some porosity, but the stone seems to do very well when properly sealed with a high quality oleo phobic impregnator. We’ve lost count, but we have supplied thousands of Basaltina kitchens.  I have a Basaltina kitchen in my home. Don’t think this stone is only good for kitchens. We have supplied scores of commercial floors, exterior facades, bathrooms and more.

A small number of materials in the world can boast this combination of warmth and durability: but it’s hard to find a stone as alluring and as inviting as Basaltina.

-Mark

Ashfield Stone was created over twenty years ago by the creative duo Jerry and Johanna Andersen-Pratt whom stumbled upon the stone while hiking in the woods surrounding their property. The gorgeous metallic Galaxy Schist quarried from the hills of the Berkshires, can be used in projects ranging from landscaping to architecture… including a solid 150 ft stone boat built by Jerry himself!

Bow of the boat in progress

completed boat

Schist used in landscaping project

Galaxy Schist used as floor tile

Each year approximately 40,000 interior designers, architects, facility managers, specifiers and design professionals descend upon the Merchandise Mart in the heart of downtown Chicago for the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair.

This year’s NeoCon proved to be another success for Stone Source. In addition to the introduction of several new series — Lignes, Material, Q-Stone, Sana Stone, TorZo and Wood by Stone Source — this year’s booth featured a number of interactive displays. The displays revisited some of our classic stones and presented them in a new way, inviting dialogue and collaborative brainstorming for new applications of old favorites.

Stone Source walked away from the show with a Best of NeoCon Gold Award in the Surfacing Materials category for Silver Gray Phyllite. Silver Gray Phyllite is one of the more recent introductions to our natural stone catalog. The material somewhat resembles a slate, yet has a shimmer more commonly seen in this type of stone.

The recently introduced green and white vein cut onyx stones garnered quite a bit of attention and were featured in a full page spread in Interior Design Magazine’s show daily.  Additionally, our water-cut stones paired with recycled glass were featured in the NeoCon Daily Fix, an online overview of the show from the editors of Interior Design Magazine.

Best of NeoCon Award:

http://www.contractdesign.com/contract/gallery/Best-of-NeoCon-2010–2256.htm
 

Show Daily pick-up:

http://digitallibrary.interiordesign.net/doc/Library/showdaily2_complete/2010061501/

Daily Fix pick up:

http://dailyfix.interiordesign.net/products/1154/karim-water-jet-cutting-ceramic-wood-what-i-saw-on-neocons-7th-floor/comment-page-1

-Sarah Roorda

The Jacob Javitz Convention Center hosted this year’s innovative, 22^nd annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair from May 15-18 in NYC. ICFF describes itself as a “global summit for what’s best and what’s next in design”. To those in attendance, it was an “inspiring” event that allowed the creative minds of the design world to commune and draw inspiration from their peers and competitors alike. Imagine 14,500 square feet of the best of the world’s contemporary designs ranging from carpet floor covering to lighting. The diversity alone of the countries represented, (Brazil, Argentina, France, Senegal, Singapore, etc) is enough to encourage any forward-thinking designer to secure a spot at the annual event. Stone Source was there to represent the world’s best in natural stones and decorative surfaces. Sarah Roorda was there to represent Stone Source and gave us her perspective of this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair:

What does ICFF mean to both the industry and Stone Source?

Sarah: I think ICFF is an opportunity for manufacturers, designers, architects all to seek inspiration from one another.

What products did Stone Source highlight for this year’s convention?

We showed a wide variety of new products. From new wood finishes to sculpted stone, I really felt like we demonstrated the spectrum of Stone Source’s capabilities.

What product garnered the most attention this year?

I saw a number of customers paying attention to TorZo, but it really seemed contingent on the sort of projects that the client typically works on. Hospitality designers were intrigued by products like Alusion or Silver Gray Phyllite. Commercial designers appreciated the wall of some of our classic natural stones demonstrating the various finishes that were available.

Based on the feedback from other architects and designers, how was Stone Source’s products received at this year’s convention?

Most of our competitors didn’t exhibit at the show, so I think designers appreciated that we were there and that we had new products for them to see. The Onyx stones seemed to capture a lot of attention. It’s a gorgeous material, and we have an impeccable selection for them to pull from.

 Did you see the industry taking responsibility by shifting towards more sustainable methods and products? Compared to previous years?

I don’t know if it was more than previous years. I do think that manufacturers are catering to a more intelligent client. Green washing doesn’t fly. You have to have a significant story to back up any sustainable claims.

 How would you compare this year’s ICFF to previous years?
                                                                                                                                               Attendance was lower, but I felt that the quality of the attendees was up to par.

If you could describe the overall atmosphere in 3 words, what would they be?   

Inspiring. Restrained. Optimistic.

 -Damaris Amachree

This year, Las Vegas welcomed the Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference to the Sand’s Expo and Convention Center where over 900 exhibitors provided the latest in hospitality services and products from the best in the industry. This year’s expo featured peer-based conference sessions, networking events and innovative products, services and seminars. HD expo is an opportunity to network and connect forward-thinking artisans and manufacturers to the vast, growing world of the hospitality design industry. Stone Source was there to represent the world’s best in natural stones and decorative surfaces. Jennifer Pritchard was there to represent Stone Source and gave us her perspective of this year’s HD Expo:

What does HD mean to both the industry and Stone Source? 

Jennifer: HD is the best opportunity to really show what you are made of to the industry taste-makers; not just in hospitality, but also in residential design.  I believe it is a wonderful environment to show many designers who ordinarily just work with the soft side of design (ie carpet, fabrics, furniture) how creative they can be with the decorative hard surfaces.

 What innovative trends did you see emerging this year? 

There is no doubt that the biggest trend this year is sustainability.  In past years, I think this idea was regarded merely as a marketing tool, but this year people are really viewing it as a necessity to incorporate into their spaces, whether it be hospitality, residential or corporate design. 

 What products caught your eye in particular and/or do you see being in high demand this upcoming year? 

The Reclaimed Wood wall textures really caught my eye this year.  Namely, our New England Hemlock Bearwood with the Ebony finish.  This display really spoke to people.  I found that textures like this as well as the windswept finish of our Vegas Rock were in high demand.

 How would you compare this year’s HD to previous years? 

The economy has definitely hit the industry quite hard over the past year or so but the designers and industry leaders that walked the floor were definitely on a mission.  This was not a year to idly browse all of the booths, but to really make the most of the resources that were all under one roof and shop the exhibitor booths for what their projects need. 

 This year’s HD featured the Sustainable Suite Design Competition. What was it about the winning design that trumped the competitions? Are more hotels leaning toward sustainable designs?

 It was really about showing how sustainable design can be both comforting and luxurious.  I was very excited to see our Reclaimed Wood featured in this design.  I’ve been working with many high-end hospitality designers in the past year who have truly embraced this beautiful sustainable product in their designs.  So absolutely, hotels are embracing sustainable designs. 

If you could describe the overall atmosphere in 3 words, what would they be?

Creative-Strategic-Green

For this year’s Sustainable Suite Design Competition winner, click here:

http://www.watg.com/index.cfm?pageID=D5A2DAD4-1372-6883-160F81F16DED0FFC

-Damaris Amachree