When we think about construction, we are often inspired by dramatic exteriors and modern awe-inspiring exterior building facades. What we need to realize, what happens inside is more important, as that is where we spend the bulk of our time. The health of the space, the mood it creates, its functionality and efficiency are all important factors.
We LOVE the bright colors available in our products! How do they inspire you?
I am good for a massive eyeroll or two every time I land on a stone fabricator’s website. Seriously: granite or quartz. That’s it? Oh, but there are 15 different kinds of each, with the most prominent one being oddly named: JoeBob’s Quartz by JoeBob’s Surface Solutions. Guess what JoeBob? That is not a solution. That is a rapid four foot dash in a crowd of lemmings off the cliff that is resistance to change.
Growing up in Vermont, there was an artisanal aspect to granite. Fine Italian craftsmen and sculptors created beautiful works from the black speckled gray granite that was a beautiful, vital part of the Vermont landscape. The headstones in the graveyards are beautiful to see, and walking through a graveyard is not an eerie experience, but rather like walking through a historical monument. But this is not the granite graveyard that is the blight on the stone fabrication industry today.
Everytime an article comes out touting the “green” countertop options available on the market, it is woefully inaccurate. Often listing the same material multiple times in different formats, or completely misunderstanding the green claims of others, the lists just don’t stand up to reality.
We went to KBIS this year to check out the current trends in kitchen and bath design! Read our thoughts here.
2018 inspiration coming your way! Check out these blues and snowy hues to get you in the mood for a fresh new year.
Sintered Stone is the hottest new entrant to the surfacing market, with superior performance and durability – but does it have a sustainability story?
The hot new topic in design and architecture is human health in the built environment. It is not just about materials with recycled content having a positive impact on the planet; it is about the experience of the people in that space. Biophilic design is an easy way to introduce a few techniques without embracing a full-blown standard, and it can be done in an existing space pretty easily. We will give you some ideas below, but first, let’s be clear about the efficacy of biophilic design.
Most manufacturers are finding themselves forced into a honed or matte finish, and the stone fabrication market is having to scramble to make sure they are staying on top of this trends. Difficult to match the surface texture on the edges, most shops usually polish to a high gloss, and as customers are starting to ask for more texture, the industry is having to shift.
Heading home for the holidays? Channel the warmth that is felt in this vignette for inspiration and have a happy boliday season!
The true thought leaders in the industry are not racing to the bottom; they are innovating for the future by finding smarter, healthier and more sustainable ways to provide a surfacing product that has a positive impact on the environment, and respects the desires of the new homebuyers who care inherently about the environment.
