Working with stone

Insight Keen on the exposed stone in Caroline and Nick’s home? Reveal its beauty in your own property Stone age Natural style profe ssional a dvice

With its irregular patina, subtle colour variations and durability, stone is a timeless material that ages wonderfully. If you are fortunate enough to live with stone already, there are plenty of ways to emphasise its natural beauty. Otherwise, introducing it via flagstone flooring, marble walls or rustic countertops will add texture and interest. Caroline and Nick Godden added depth and texture to the interiors of her home by exposing stone walls for a rough, rustic finish, and by renovating the stone exterior of her property. If you are looking to do the same, research the history of your house by consulting a stone specialist.

Original flagstone flooring requires maintenance and must be sealed to protect against stains, and cleaned with a non-acidic ph-balanced solution. ‘Some natural stone is more practical than others,’ explains Tamsin Brooke-smith, from Domus Tiles. ‘Granite is hard and relatively non-porous, making it popular, whereas a soft and chalky limestone suits lower-traffic areas. Light stone may look stunning but it stains easily.’ And consider aesthetics, as mass-produced stone tiles are far more uniform in width and length. From geometric mosaics and modern brick-format tiles to fossil-speckled travertines and veined marbles, stone offers endless design possibilities. ‘Stone works well layered with other natural materials, such as wood, copper and wool to create a relaxed and tactile palette,’ says Fired Earth’s Caroline Gow. ‘It can even be used over underfloor heating.’

Perhaps surprisingly given its origins, not all stone tiling is suitable for outdoors. It may be prone to frost damage or become dangerously slippery when it gets wet, so always check suitability. Fired Earth has introduced the Anthology stone collection, which is ideal for creating a seamless transition from kitchen floor to terrace, or for simply using in the garden. ‘Exposed stone is a very “real” material that connects us with the natural world. It sits well in both traditional homes and more minimal interiors, bringing an authentic warmth and intrinsic character to any space.

Few of us are lucky enough to have original stone floors or walls, so getting the look means laying stone floors or cladding walls. You can use new stone or choose reclaimed materials with a time-worn patina, born out of hundreds of years of use.

New or old, the wide choice of stone on the market, including limestone, marble and slate, gives an almost infinite range of decorative options. Technical considerations of weight and thickness define what you can use in any given situation, so it’s important to work with a quality stone specialist who can advise on installation and which products are most suitable. We split some reclaimed stone, making it much easier to use on modern floors and walls rather than antique flags in their original, usually very random, dimensions.

■ Lapicida 020 3012 1000, lapicida.com

Natural stone specialist, including antique, reclaimed stone

■ Fired Earth 0845 366 0400, firedearth.com

Find a large selection of contemporary and traditional floor tiles here

■ Domus 020 7819 2300, domustiles.co.uk

Offers a supply of contemporary stone, tiles and mosaics