Interior with a heart of stone
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| Photo MS more than WINDOWS |
Stone in living rooms
Stone, considered a noble and luxurious material, fits perfectly
in representative rooms. In living rooms, halls and dining rooms, it is mainly used on floors, as a cladding for walls, stairs or fireplaces, and as countertops, window sills and other decorative elements. Its durability is incomparable to any other covering. It does not require maintenance, is easy to clean and is very difficult to damage. After many years, there is always the possibility of renovation, after which the material will look new again. Depending on the style of arrangement and the taste of the household members, there is a wide range of materials to choose from: granite, marble or travertine. However, you should remember to make a decision taking into account practical considerations first and foremost.
It is better to avoid soft stones (marble, travertine) on floors, unless we place them deliberately and consciously, but granites will work perfectly.
In turn, when decorating walls, we can use rocks with a heterogeneous surface and less durability, e.g. travertine. Modern fireplaces get hot very often, but this does not affect the natural stone casing.
However, unusual, exclusive stones such as onyx look very impressive. Its coloring and characteristic transparency combined with the live fire of the fireplace will beautifully emphasize the play of light. The company in which we place the stone will be important for the overall arrangement. This material goes perfectly with wood, glass and metal.
It is worth knowing that interesting arrangement effects are also achieved thanks to a different stone finish. - Polishing achieves the smoothest, almost mirror-like surface that reflects light - says Grzegorz Nowakowski, a stone expert at MS more than OKNA. - In turn, satin-finishing and patinating give an interesting structure. The satin-finished stone has no shine, but is delicately semi-matt, and allows you to subtly feel the irregularities of the stone. There are also techniques, such as flaming, that highlight the heterogeneous structure of the stone. The boards are treated with live fire, resulting in a rough surface with anti-slip properties. This is an ideal solution, e.g. on external stairs.
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| Photo MS more than WINDOWS |
Kitchen revolutions
Granite is one of the materials most recommended by experts for kitchen design. Apart from moisture, it is not afraid of high temperatures, mechanical damage or discoloration. Due to their expressive, characteristic pattern, granites are most often chosen as countertops in classic and rustic kitchens. In modern arrangements, quartz conglomerate, i.e. a mixture of quartz and granite (90%) and polyester resin, works better. This combination makes it an exceptionally durable material, with greater color options and at the same time having the natural beauty of stone.
– Customers very often choose the color of the countertop in a contrasting shade to the kitchen furniture. With such fashionable, high-gloss, light fronts, they choose a conglomerate in a uniform black shade. In turn, kitchen furniture made of dark veneer or laminate combines perfectly with white, cream or gray countertops - says Grzegorz Nowakowski from MS more than OKNA.
Marble and limestone are not recommended as countertop stones because they react with substances used every day in the kitchen. Due to their properties, the latter are absorbent and may permanently discolor when in contact with coffee, borscht or oil.
Stone in the bath
Resistance to moisture makes stone a common raw material used in bathrooms and successfully replaces ceramic tiles. It can be used as a wall or floor covering, but also as an attractive washbasin countertop or even a shower tray. Properly impregnated granite will not absorb water and is also resistant to chemicals contained in detergents used to clean bathrooms. However, when arranging a bathing room, stone should be used in moderation and in combination with other materials, such as wood. Especially in small bathrooms, its excess can be overwhelming. Rocks with a distinctive pattern and smooth surface go perfectly with the white ceramics. In addition to color and texture, size is also important. Currently, two extremes are in fashion, which often go hand in hand: small mosaics and large-format slabs.
Stone window sills provide an excellent setting and finishing for windows, and should be matched to the type of windows, wall color, and interior style and furnishings. Thanks to this, they will be a natural decoration of the house.
Regardless of the type of room and the material used, the quality of installation is very important when arranging an interior with stone. Even the most beautiful material will not provide us with the desired effect if manufacturing errors are made. Meanwhile, they are very common - from the use of inappropriate assembly materials to sloppy workmanship. Therefore, it is worth entrusting the work to professional contractors specializing in stone processing.
