Yesterday I posted about the world of options in stone yards , here’s a bit of a rundown of what I’ve seen lately in stone yards from New York to Missouri to California…..
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- This is a Master Bath in an historic Mission style home in Salt Lake City that we completely renovated. A black and white marble checkerboard floor added character and drama to the space.
Granite, the most expensive, is also the hardest of stones, formed by volcanic activity, shimmering with crystals of quartz, mica and feldspar. Hot pots cause no problems, and though scratch resistant, the lighter granites are extremely porous and must be sealed. Granite is perfect for outdoor tables as well though it conducts the summer heat dramatically.Marble, though classic for serious bakers, is stainable, scratchable and expensive. It is also waterproof, heatproof and beautiful and practical once sealed. Green marble, because of its dense composition, is generally believed to be the hardest of the marbles.In my atelier space, I used limestone in 3 colors for the entryway, which has mellowed beautifully with age.
Travertine is formed by molten striations floating above hot springs, whose gas bubbles are trapped, forming holes that are now filled and honed. Travertine, the stone of choice in the 60’s when Lincoln Center was built in NYC, is now having a revival of sorts, particularly in the West.
Quartzite, dense, durable, stain resistant and iridescent, is formerly sandstone that has morphed into a more beautiful substance. Flaky to the cut, quartzite is only available in smaller slabs. It has a beautiful metallic modernity to it, a shimmering surprise—effective in small doses.
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- In my atelier space, I used limestone in 3 colors for the entryway, which has mellowed beautifully with age.
Limestone, sandy in nature and often capturing fossilized animal and plant life, is popular for its informal mellow appeal and colorations, especially when honed to a matte finish. Imperative that it be sealed, limestone ages gracefully, but scratches, stains and chips as well.
Slate, less porous than granite, belies its humble clay beginnings, exhibiting a matte consistent surface that scratches easily, but displays a clean, modern, utilitarian appeal. Its cousin, soapstone, popular in New England because of its availability there (no longer—most comes from South America now) , is frequently seen in historic homes as both sink and countertop material. Very dense, typically gray, soapstone comes alive once oiled.
A favorite of mine is Kirkstone or Burlington stone, quarried in England. Formed of volcanic ash, this teal blue, greenish stone is hard, nonporous and oceanic in appearance.
If you’re working with a contractor and he offers you the chance to go to a stone yard to pick your countertop, by all means make a date to do so. A visit to a stone yard is endlessly entertaining in this age of availability!
