Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a stone distributor, Marble & Granite in Norwood, Massachusetts, to (re)select the slabs for my kitchen. I won’t get into the ‘re’ part, other than saying I didn’t think I’d have to go back for a second time (absolutely no fault on the part of M&G) – but since I did, I decided to do a bit of exploring and “window shopping.” I was totally slab-happy. Sorry, I can’t resist a good pun…or a bad one.
Anyway, I wanted to share some of what I saw there that challenge some preconceived notions about stone, and that was just plain cool.
You: I thought this post was about stone? Why is she showing a picture of wood? Me: Oh, but it IS stone! Eramosa marble, to be exact.
This black and white slab is Labradorite. It has a lot going on, but what drew me to it is the depth of the stone – it looks very tactile and almost three dimensional (much more so in person). The brushed finish also lends an actual tactile quality, and really suits this stone (vs. a traditional polished finish). Would be so fun perched atop a bathroom vanity!
Calacatta marble is a pretty widely used high-end stone, but this variation, Calacatta Bluette, really does it for me. Even under the awful fluorescent lighting of the showroom, the blue and gold undertones of the slab are evident. Something a little different, and beautiful. It reminds me of a petrified wood pattern, but in neutrals. And made of marble.
I’ve written about granite haters in the past – if you want to know where I stand on the ubiquitous stone, well, let’s say I try to keep an open mind. Granite is not all mottled pink and gray slabs, that just happens to be what you see most. Copper Dune granite is one of those stones that breaks the mold. It has gorgeous copper-brown and black striations, and has a warm, woody feeling.
Cape Breton Midnight is a marble with a bit more going on than most – in a good way. The smoky blue and golden brown hues would look beautiful in a white kitchen (and would work hard at hiding crumbs, streaks, and all of the other great stuff that lands on our counters) – just make sure you seal it, and don’t let anything acidic sit on it, to prevent etching.
When I saw this, I immediately assumed it was quartz. In fact, it is natural stone – Striata Olimpico marble, to be exact. This is a very contemporary looking marble that would look great in a master bath of an urban loft. I’d also love to see it running up the walls as a backsplash with the stripes running vertically – it could impersonate a wallpaper!
This Crocodile Caesarstone quartz slab greeted me upon entering the showroom at M&G. I had never seen anything quite like it. I’ll bet this is big in commercial design. Did you know you could have a countertop that looks like this?
The above (blurry) picture is of a Super White granite slab. Yes, this is also granite. Another white and black beauty – and to my eye, it has the look of a rich marble, with a bit more movement. Plus, I think I see the Virgin Mary in there somewhere…
Speaking of granite, here is one of my (new) slabs for the kitchen in our new house. It’s Costa Esmeralda – green and gorgeous. I can’t wait to see it installed!
So…do any of these slabs tickle your fancy? Do tell!
