MAKE A STATEMENT WITH STONE FLOORS

For enduring sophistitication and style, today's homeowner continues to select natural stone as the premier choice of flooring. Shaped through time beneath both land and sea, stone offers a variety of options in both colors and surfaces. Marble, slate, limestone.....honed, unfinished, laid in circles and patterns, Spanish Revival or Itlalian Renaissance - the design options are endless! The versatility of stone is limited only by your imagaination - so take a minute to image these design options in your home:



- Rough, irregualr shapped pieces laid in a random pattern lend a casual, rustic feel.


- Detailed mosaics give an entry polished elegance.

- Slate tiles are both durable and affordable - a naturally beautiful choice for fireplace hearths, kitchens and patios.

- Create a sophisticated look by combining styles such as granite and marble.

- Polished stone floors create a beautiful, glossy shine - perfect for formal areas with lots of light.

- A honed finish (skip the polishing step) offers a natural, casual look and hides scratches and dirt too!

- Consider small granite or limestone inserts to add punch to simple designs.

- Love it or hate it - colored grout is making a comeback. Use it to pick up tones from fabric, wall colors or backsplash designs.

- Checkboard pattern marble floors have been around forever for a reason, they are classic, dramatic and fun.

- Head to the beach with pebbled granite. Virtually indestructible, it also provides great taction for bathrooms and kitchens.

Stop dreaming of natural stone in your home and start planning! It's an investment that is worth every penny!

GRANITE SLAB "Movement" IS A MATTER OF CHOICE

When selecting your granite, many homeowners and designers consider the type of stone and the color. But...there is one VERY important feature in stone that literally sets the tone for the look of your slab and that is "Movement". Often considered works of art in their own right, the HOT trend today is for heavy character created by decades of evolution or "Movement". Like a blank canvas, one visit to your slab yard and you can select stone with a pattern that no one else will have - completely unique for a custom countertop unlike any other.

Movement is classified in two ways: Linear or Randon

Linear Movement is when the sonte has color patterns moving along a horizontal or vertical plane. The movement spans throughout the stone. If you select a slab with linear movement, you'll need to consider that the pronounced look when you are working on design details. Like clothing, should the stripes go down or across? Hiring a quality fabricator is very important if you select granite with a look. Your Bedrock fabricator will carefully plan and lay out your slab to insure precise seam matching and material flow. If you are looking to make a REAL STATEMENT, Linear slabs are the way to go.

Random Movement is by far the most popular sought after characteristic in stone. Admired for its random swirls and multiple colors, random movement is a fun, creative way to give any kitchen or bath personality. The slabs can go from subtle to wild, so they work well in among any design style.

Random or Linear? Either way, your stone choice will be a beautiful one.

Marble vs. Granite - The pros and cons

If you have looked at model homes and contemplated the most advanced choices in countertops - marble or granite - than read on. Both are eco-friendly materials that are coveted by most homeowners today.

Both marble and granite are elegant and available in a wide range of styles and color patterns that meet almost anyone's standard of excellence today. Marble is a metamorphic rock. Marble is porous. It stains easily, it scratches. Marble is ideal for low traffic areas. But for high traffic - granite should be the preferred choice. Now about granite. As it resists staining, wearing, chipping, scratching - there's not much more you could ask for.

Granite is nearly perfect. granite hold up better in widely used areas. Granite lasts practically forever. You can find quarries in South America, Europe, Arizona and New Mexico. Marble on the other had is primarily picked from quarries in South America, Europe, South Africa and China. Less expensive from marble, granite offers a viable alternative to the high cost of marble for your home.

Regardless of your preference, both marble and granite offer elegant options to the homeowner who wants to create a luxurious and decadent yet functional feel. Granite and marble are two of the desirable mediums for use in private homes today.

In various ways, both marble and granite are perfect elements to combine - functional minerals that allow you to live in a natural yet practical functioning space.

MAKE YOUR DESIGN DECISIONS REAL JEWELS!

Making design decisions is a lot like picking an outfit. What does the interior of your closet look like? Are the clothes bright and colorful? Are the designs bold or subtle? Is there a lot of bling, or do you go for simple, textured fabric instead? These selections provide clues about other design preferences that you may have - including tile, stone or carpeting.

What does your jewerly box look like? Is it full of small delicate pieces, or big, flashy stones? If you love strong style, pick big 12"x12" tiles. If you like tiny, tasteful pieces, go for smaller tile with intricate borders and trims.

Do you take fashion risks? Then you'll do the same while designing your bath and kitchen. Go for unusual stone for the countertops and dramatic flooring choices like herringbone wood or creatively patterned rugs. Find fun and unique hardware for your cabinets and interesting window coverings that make a statement.

If you wear tasteful solids in warm tones and pastels, stones like travertine for tile and flooring have little "movement" and offer a "calm" look that you will enjoy.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. Don't let other people sway your design decisions or you will surely regret it later. Bedrock sales representatives know how to guide you through the selection process in a casual, friendly and productive way. Pick what you are attracted to intuitively - just like you do your clothes and jewerly - and you will fill your home with designs you love!

BATHROOM UPDATES MAKE A BIG IMPACT

Who would have thought years ago that potential home buyers would be so focused on the bathrooms! They care about everything. The countertops, paint, fixtures... and mostly the flooring! It is not uncommon for folks looking to buy a new home to consider the flooring as a top priority. And, for good reason! If the flooring is less than desirable it will be a major expense. Bathroom flooring is no different!

Even though the bathrooms can be the smallest rooms in your home, they have incredible visual impact. Carpet went out years ago, replaced by vinyl and now ceramic or natural stone. Why? Because people spend a lot of time in their bathroom and they want a RETREAT! After a lond day at work (or a long night of no sleep!) they look to their bathrooms as a place to relax! Big, whirlpool tubs, sauna showers and elegant stone designs such as granite and marble - can turn a ho hum bathroom into a classy spa in your own home. And, don't ignore the fact that a small investment in updating your baths can reap you big rewards when you decide to sell your home.

For flooring consider big 12"x12" tile which can expand a space and give it a luxurious look. Go with calm, neutral colors, then accessorize with towels and paint colors that YOU love but can later be changed out when you are tired of it or are ready to sell. Purple towels, hot pink walls...go for it! Just use calm, cool colors for your back drop---countertop, floor and shower -- and eeryone will be happy!

Let your Bedrock designer help you find a style that WORKS for years to come, and your investment will be a sound one.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOR FOR YOUR GRANITE

There are a lot of reasons that people choose granite - the true natural beauty of real stone, the fact that it's a "green" material, and also because there are not tow slabs alike! When you select granite for your bathroom or kitchen countertops, fireplace or vanity top, you will have a truly unique design that will also enhance the value of your home. But...what color to choose? Don't let your visit to a slab yard or design showroom be overwhelming. Consider this:

- The most available slabs come in colors of tan, white, browns, greens, black and blues - with blue and black in high demand and also more expensive.

- There are subtle differences in color but dramatic differences in veining.

- Tan and brown slabs work well in virtually any style of home and go well with most color schemes.

- Take your time! There are so many types of granite, it will be worth the effort if you go slow and enjoy the process.

- Bring fabric, wood chips and tile samples with you and play them against the various slabs. Sometimes a slab that you might never consider comes alive against the other material that will be featured in the room.

- Ask for samples to see how they "read" in the lighting of your home.

- If you choose a dark wood for your cabinets, the contrast of a lighter stone provides a classic look with lots of interest.

- Consider your flooring when selecting the color and type of granite for your bath or kitchen. Don't mix a busy floor with a busy countertop.

- Trust your designer! Your Bedrock and Rite-Loom contacts can guide you through the selection with the right information and great ideas.



Have fun!

STONE FINISHES OFFER VARIERY AND UNIQUE LOOKS

Not long ago most people purchasing stone selected this natural material because of the polished, sleek look that marble and granite provide. But today, many homeowners are looking for a relaxed, aged look and suppliers are meeting that demand with some interesting finishes. Whether you are looking for a contemporary look, or the warmth and romance of a French chateaux, these stone finishes will highlight the natural beatuy of your real stone:

Tumbled - a special technique used to create a worn weathered affect, a tumbled finish is achieved by placing the stone in a "tumbling drum" with aggregates, chemical and pebbles. This combination batters the face of the tile as well as rounding and softening the edges.

Chiseled - Normally found on aged marble, travertine or limestone, a drill bit is used on the edge of the tile to give a highly distressed look.

Brushed - A coarse wire rotary brush is passed over the face of the stone to give it a worn but satin-smooth finish.

Undulated - This finish recreates the look of exposure to extreme elements and/or thousands of years of foot traffic.

Reclaimed - Original stone flooring that has been carefully removed from old homes, streets or shops.

Flamed - Flaming stone is done to dull stone and is accomplished through exposure to extremely high heat.

Honed - Honed stone offers a smooth flat or matt finish.

Polished - Very hard stones such as granite can be polished for a shiny, high glass finish that can draw out the true color and full character of the stone.

Thanks to the introduction of these popular stone treatments, your stone design possibilities are endless!