Tile installations — natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, mosaic tile — traditionally enhance kitchens, bathrooms and landscapes. From eye-catching kitchen backsplashes to marble tile in the foyer, tile is a captivating element of design that effortlessly transforms the interior design of a space. Step outside the box and use tile as a decorative solution for the ...
When master builder Jon Luce was contacted by a long time client, he knew his experience this time around was going to be quite different than the earlier journeys. Previously, when they had all worked together for the first time, it had been about thirty years ago. At that point, the home the clients were ...
Webster’s online dictionary defines brick as “a handy-sized unit of building or paving material typically being rectangular and about 2 1⁄4” × 3 3⁄4” × 8 inches and of moist clay hardened by heat”. Given the fact that all the basketball fans out there are currently immersed in the legend that is March Madness, we ...
The aesthetic appeal of hardscaping will bring vibrant beauty back to your outdoor space. Successfully blending plants and stone, various textures, and greens and grays can transform a banal yard into a landscape with impressive visual splendor. Landscape Balance When deciding to incorporate hardscaping onto your property, ensure that the elements complement your landscape. You ...
A swimming pool at home creates an additional gathering place for family and friends, adds an inviting and beautiful feature to the landscape (or interior), and offers a private area to relax, unwind or get some exercise. Regardless of the climate, it is about lifestyle. The color values and shapes now available in architectural stone ...
Door surrounds are one of the most creative opportunities for designers, architects and homeowners to think outside-of-the-box. From front doors to entryways and thresholds, door surrounds made with architectural stone can make a powerful statement, enhance the overall décor and create an impressionable way to say “welcome” to all who enter. I have had the ...
A balustrade is a row of repeating balusters – small posts that support the upper element of a railing for example. Obviously, staircases and porches often have balustrades. Therefore, in many ways the “heart” of the balustrade becomes the balusters. Decorative baluster designs run the gamut from sleek and modern to traditional and classically inspired. ...
In the vernacular of the construction process, there are very few terms more important for the design team and the homeowner to understand than “value engineering”. Too often this process, and that is truly what it is, a “process”, is unfairly categorized as a cheapening of the end product in a simple effort to save ...
Frank Lloyd Wright once said, that “the rock ledges of a stone-quarry are a story and a longing to me”. While I have never fully understood the “longing” aspect of the quote, it is very easy to get your arms around the “story” part. Simply visit a quarry and observe the ledges as they present ...
