Calacatta Marble by CDK Stone
Calacatta Marble by CDK Stone
Mercury Basalt floor tile by CDK Stone
Basalt stone inlay on island bench.
Vein cut Roman Travertine bench top filled and honed, unfilled Roman Travertine large format floor tile
Vein cut Roman Travertine filled and honed
Nero Tempesta slab from CDK Stone
So often we are asked whether natural stone is appropriate for kitchen bench tops and bathrooms and if they will scratch and stain. On the contrary we always encourage friends and family to choose stone over man made surfaces and appreciate stones natural quality. For hundreds of years the streets, train stations and piazza’s throughout Europe have been lined with marble and granite which now show the passage of time and the traces of people passing by.
We also understand that selecting stone can be overwhelming due to the vast number of choices so it can be advantageous to do some research and visit the supplier (we are regular visitors of CDK Stone) to make your personal selection of slabs and tiles prior to installation.
For kitchen bench tops and bathrooms we love honed and filled Travertine, Carrara, Calacatta & Statuario marble and Pepperino just to name a few. Unfilled travertine has an incredible natural texture for walls and floors but obviously is higher maintenance than the filled alternative.
The true beauty of stone is in the natural variation of colour and texture, which can often be lost with smaller tiles. Larger format tiles for floors and walls (600 x 600mm, 800 x 800mm, 800 x 1200 mm) and slabs for bench tops and splash backs are preferable from an aesthetic point of view as larger areas tend to capture the natural variation and ‘movement’ of the stone.
Stones for external areas which are exposed to the elements need to be treated with an appropriate texture so they are not slippery when wet. Brushed, tumbled and sawn stones such as Bluestone, Pepperino, and Travertine will look stunning when first installed and get better over time.
The most important tip is not to be too precious. Just enjoy the natural qualities of stone and allow it to age beautifully over time.
See all CDK Stone on Share Design
Photos: Image 1, 2 & 3 - CDK Stone, Image 4 – Source: Carr Design, Photo: Derek Swalwell, Image 5 – Source: Shareen Joel Design, Photo: Peter Bennetts, Image 6 & 7 – Source: Shareen Joel Design, Photos: Shannon McGrath, Image 8 – Source: Elle Interior Sweden, Photographer: Petra Bindel, Image 9 – Source: Australian Design Review, Architect: Elenberg Fraser, Photo: Diana Snape, Image 10 - CDK Stone
