Novel accent wall rocks the house
Man-made stone an impressive alternative to the real thing
Q: I am considering adding rock to my home’s interior. What are your thoughts on this as a feature and what should I consider before I start? I have been told it is quite simple, so I am planning on making this a DIY project after Christmas.
A: Stone features have beautified homes for centuries. Field stones that through freeze and thaw made their way to the surface of cultivated fields were soon repurposed into building materials, for both interior and exterior construction. Over the years, lighter building materials were used for internal architecture, reserving the rocks and stones predominantly for fireplace features.
The idea of incorporating rocks and stones as an interior design element has grown in popularity, thanks to a technique called veneering. With this method, slices of the stone or rock are used. Benefits include reduced cost and the development of new and creative applications due to reduced weight.
Manufactured stone has also emerged on the architectural scene as an alternative to real stone. It’s made from Portland cement and can be coloured and moulded, resulting in effects that rival its true stone counterparts.
These high-quality manufactured stone products are generally less costly and lighter than the real rock veneers. Irregular profiles and colour depths now look more natural. There are many exquisite options to consider including limestone, field stone, travertine, rundle rock, stacked rock and river rock.
Rock accents are applicable to virtually every room in your home. Both real stone and manufactured stone veneers can be applied to almost any surface. Making this a DIY project will depend on how detailed the project is. When it comes to designing with rock features, the key is to not overdo it.
Rocks follow the same esthetic principals as any other visual product. Consider the colour, pattern and scale of the rock for the room or feature you intend to use it in. A large fieldstone wall may be overwhelming in a small room, but a perfect accent feature if the wall is vaulted to a second floor. Keep your rock use consistent and limited to highlight features. Too much becomes overwhelming and the rock will compete with other materials in the space.
Another consideration is the style of your home. Charcoal grey stacked rocks may highlight a contemporary design while a travertine wall may be the perfect addition to a traditional European home. River rock may evoke a historical flavour in a sprawling ranch style home with wooden beam ceilings. This is not to say that rocks should be pigeon holed into specific uses, but incorporate the rock that will provide the greatest effect. The right rock on the wall can enhance a staircase, provide ambience in a kitchen or dining room, set the stage for an entrance, provide serenity in a bathroom and create a contemplative mood in a study or a historical statement in a games room. This statement material will be noticed, so integrate it carefully into your home. Q: We are renovating our master bathroom and wondered about the lighting. Currently we have a light bar above the mirror and a ceiling light in the middle of the room, but not over the bath. The room also has a shower and toilet, separated by a wall. The lighting has always seemed inadequate but we are not sure what we should change it to. A: Planning bathroom lighting is similar to planning for kitchen lighting. You’ll need both functional and ambient lighting here. The functional lighting should be bright enough to accommodate detailed tasks such as shaving and makeup application, while ambient lighting provides design flair and sets the mood for a relaxing bath.
The task lighting needs to be close to the mirrors. Light shades that open down will shed more light than those that open up. Your options include bar-style lighting similar to what you have or sconce lighting, which can be mounted lower down the wall.
If you can access the wiring in the ceiling, I suggest you provide a fixture above the toilet and one centred above the bath, while doing away with the central light. If you are not receiving adequate light in the shower, consider glass walls and doors in your renovation. I also recommend dimmers in bathrooms, so you can control the light intensity. Dim light not only provides a great atmosphere for a bath, it’s also a welcome effect in the middle of the night.