The masonry walls are a combination of Ohio sandstone and Pennsylvania bluestone. There is cut sandstone trim and the rubble stone walls are a custom selected blend of fieldstone. The substantial corner quoins were reclaimed from an old stone wall formed of large hand-hewn blocks. All of the stone walls batter in slightly from top to bottom.

This contemporary 18,000 sq. ft. home in Paradise Valley, Arizona is a perfect mix of Gray limestone used on all horizontal surfaces and Cream, vein cut limestone on all vertical surfaces. The Gray limestone flooring was mud packed to meet 1.5 in. wood flooring areas using uncoupling membrane throughout. Numerous hours went into the layout to insure architectural detail lines were met. Oversized tiles were planned to ensure all layouts met crucial lines per the design. Blue limestone was used setting the path to the front entry. All pieces at the edges were mitered to appear to be thick, block stone. The veneer walls were alternated in size to reach the exact width at the top band of the walls. The edge detailing created interesting shadow play, both day and night, at interior and exterior locations. This detail is also noted on the fireplaces. Blue limestone hearths, which floated at all locations, used the same quirk mitered edges. Five showers throughout the main house share the same veneer and flooring materials. Blue limestone slab benches were fabricated to rest on a stainless steel frame. The shower floors were mapped out to the exact dimensions so there were no cuts, but rather the same size pieces continually framing the space to the center drain.

Home design - modern home design idea

The challenge for this project was to find materials that fit into the owners' architectural style, selfentitled "Texas Hill Country Contemporary"; warm and inviting, but also clean and contemporary. The architect and the owners were determined not to copy the typical "Tuscan" style so popular for upscale homes in the Austin area. The main feature of the house is the use of both indoor and outdoor spaces and is designed so that everyday life flows through all of the spaces. The material selections had to be compatible to color schemes inside and out, blending with the local cut stone used on the exterior of the house, but also functional in their application. Interior flooring: AG&M furnished hone finish Selina Gold limestone tile from Egypt for the majority of ground floor paving. This material has a wide range of color, the selection was made from a particular quarry and a particular layer within that quarry. Exterior paving, pool coping, fireplace facing: Goldstone granite was chosen because it performs well in exterior applications and has the soft coloring of limestone. The paving and coping is chisel finish and the outdoor fireplace is clad with split face Goldstone to match. Kitchen countertops: Apollo Storm granite in a polish finish with matching full-height, endmatched backsplash.

Pool - pool idea in Central Coast

Home design - modern home design idea in San Francisco

Cape cod built with vinyl and other polymeric siding
Traditional exterior home idea in DC Metro

The clients were committed to creating an expression of the art of living by way of the thoughtful design of their ultimate home. The relationship between owner, architect and designer was a shared and genuine search for the most perfect solutions. Exterior walls of Old Spruce Mountain Stone flow seamlessly to enrich the interior. The Interior stone floors consist mainly of Cara Grande Marble with selected use of complementary stone where special patterns have been used to dramatize certain architectural spaces. An irregular kitchen island countertop consists of Azul Aran Granite with a triple laminate reverse bevel edge. The guest level powder room, referred to as "The Jewel Box," consists of multi color Persian Onyx and Red Jasper Marble arranged in angular patterns that connect across the floor, extending up the four walls and across the ceiling. Two additional guest bathrooms feature piano key stone floor patterns that turn up the wall. The custom wine room tabletop features Tiger Eye Blue, a hand-inlay of semi- precious stones. The master bathroom features a 12 foot elliptical floor medallion consisting of Bianco Laso Marble, with angular and circular pieces. In all, the interior utilizes 27 species of stone, mainly from the Verona region of Italy.

Photo Credit: © Matthew Millman © Nic Lehoux © Best Impressions
Inspiration for a contemporary black two-story exterior home remodel in Vancouver with a shed roof

Architect Architects Luc Bouliane, Toronto, ON Stone Installer D. L. Engineering Inc., Richmond Hill, ON Gentile Stone, Stouffville, ON Stone Suppliers Owen Sound Ledgerock Ltd., Georgian Bluffs, ON Stone-Tile International, Toronto, ON

Boca Hexagon Mosaic in Seamist by Shaw Floors. Boca Hexagon Mosaics are another classic beauty in the world of mosaics. Using hexagon mosaic is a great way to spice up a kitchen backsplash. Be a little adventurous and try hexagons to create a cozy bathroom floor.

The client’s coastal New England roots inspired this Shingle style design for a lakefront lot. With a background in interior design, her ideas strongly influenced the process, presenting both challenge and reward in executing her exact vision. Vintage coastal style grounds a thoroughly modern open floor plan, designed to house a busy family with three active children. A primary focus was the kitchen, and more importantly, the butler’s pantry tucked behind it. Flowing logically from the garage entry and mudroom, and with two access points from the main kitchen, it fulfills the utilitarian functions of storage and prep, leaving the main kitchen free to shine as an integral part of the open living area. An ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Royal Oaks Design Designer: Kieran Liebl From: Oakdale, Minnesota

The architectures stands out by the use of non-orthogonal angles, broken lines and arch shape windows. The use of stone is innovative in several ways. The grey slate cladding the building is used in a rough grinded finish away from the standard natural cleft surface promoting the slate as an all application building stone. The project sets a new way to use natural stone for roofing. The large roofs which are set below the 2 parallel balconies are paved with 300 x 1200mm slabs installed on plastic stands using the same technique as elevated floors for the terraces or technical floors. The architecture innovates the use of stone as a link to blend modern architecture with the landscape; the building appears to be suspended in air above ponds, planters and trees. The bluish gray slat blends perfectly with the grass, plants and trees and creates a feeling of nature, and fosters a smooth connection between the inside and outside.