Choosing the Right Stone for Luxury Residential and Commercial Spaces
There’s no doubt that natural stone introduces a sense of sumptuousness to a space, and it’s the go-to choice for both luxury residential and commercial spaces because its inherent characteristics convey opulence. ‘The beauty of natural stone is that each stone has its individual qualities and there is such a varied selection of what is available in terms of hardness and softness, how rustic or how contemporary the cut of the stone is,’ says Kevin Lamming, Senior Project Consultant at Ca' Pietra. ‘The diverse spectrum of natural stones and wide range of finishes available mean that you will always be able to find the perfect natural stone.’
Interior designer studio Heanly Harris are experts at using natural stone to imbue a luxurious aesthetic. ‘You get an individual piece that no one else has. You’re not getting the same look on repeat,’ says Abigail Heanly, co-founder along with Clair Harris of Heanly Harris. ‘It can be carved into different shapes as well for a luxurious aesthetic.’
Long Island Marble Honed | Meraki Design
Vieux Bourgogne Limestone Ancient | Dunning & Everard
When it comes to choosing a natural stone, consideration should be given to whether the maintenance or aesthetic is more important. ‘If maintenance is at the top of the client’s list, we would immediately eliminate some of the more open-pored stones that will require more upkeep,’ says Kevin. ‘Likewise, If aesthetics is the priority, the options are fairly limitless.’ The aesthetics often override maintenance considerations. Kevin cites the example of a vintage wine shop and tasting venue. ‘The clients considered the maintenance, but in the end chose marble because they wanted something that was on brand for their commercial space. To some extent, there is going to be wear and tear whatever you put down.’
Marble is regarded as more luxurious than limestone because of its ability to inject the wow factor, but location also comes into the equation. ‘Clients wouldn’t install a Calacatta marble floor at the entrance of a property in the heart of the Cotswolds because it’s not fitting for a rural location,’ explains Kevin. ‘It’s more appropriate to have a limestone feature floor in a country estate, whereas in a London property marble would look more opulent and typically be a more desirable finish than a limestone. Of course, there are some extremely white, clean cut limestones that are very popular for London townhouses and more contemporary spaces. Marble tends to be used in master ensuites and bathrooms, regardless of project location, because it’s perceived as more special. We also work on many properties where the chef’s kitchen has stainless-steel worksurfaces for practicality, while the show kitchen - used mainly for display - allows for more luxurious materials, such as marble, since wear and tear isn’t a concern.’
Marlborough Terracotta Parquet | House of Grey
Mayfair Marble | Rigby & Rigby
Domus & Avant Garde Marble | Alexander James Interiors
Concordia Marble | Ascot Design
Limestone is the stone most widely used in luxury properties because it comes in a range of colours, finishes and formats, and is fairly affordable in comparison with marble, ‘which is typically why it’s used for larger areas,’ says Kevin. ‘You can usually get a very close grained product - for example, our Buscot or Wychwood limestones are products that are easier to maintain, which is why people like them. Limestone is often used throughout the ground floor of a property, as well as externally. If there’s a swimming pool or a spa, then limestone will typically run throughout and around the pool, and can be used inside the pool as well.’
Buscot Limestone Etched | Your Garden Design
Portland Limestone Honed | David Collins
Portland & Amaya Limestone | Melissa Wyndham Design
Heanly Harris gravitate to limestone on floors in their projects. ‘We use limestone with a lovely tumbled edge and we tend to use that most of the time because it softens the space a bit and has a lovely warmth to it,’ says Clair Harris.
However, their go-to product for luxury projects is marble. ‘We are drawn to marble more than any other product. We always want to showcase a beautiful piece of marble in all its glory in the shower, on the walls and on a vanity top,’ says Clair. ‘We often put details on the walls and we also like to really finish edges in bathrooms to elevate the design and finish it off nicely.’
Onyx is a luxury stone more rarely used because of its expense and is a more niche product, used for feature areas. ‘The appeal of onyx is the aesthetic. There are some phenomenal colours and cuts in onyx, from blush pinks through to honey shades, with unbelievable colours running through it as well,’ says Kevin. Onyx is typically the most expensive stone. ‘It’s one of the easier materials to backlight so it’s very popular for walls behind bars to make a real statement.’
Calacatta Marble | Heanly Harris
Folio Marble Honed | Heanly Harris
Fior de Bosco & Folio Marble | Heanly Harris
Caribbean Island Marble | Jess Weeks