8 Natural Stones Now Trending in Connecticut’s Luxury Homes

While natural stone surfaces rarely go out of style, there are certain colors of stone that are more trendy and popular in Connecticut’s luxury homes than others. Natural stone has always been a popular choice among architects and builders for landscape design, kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor kitchens, and flooring. Its durability, aesthetics and classic appeal are a given, but more and more homeowners are bringing their own sense of color and style to the design process, and this is what they’re choosing.

Marble

Marble has been a symbol of luxury for centuries. The Taj Mahal is made of marble. Michelangelo carved his most famous statue, David, from marble. Most of our museums and institutions are made from marble. It’s just wildly popular and always has been. It’s hard, but looks deceivingly soft, warm, and inviting.

Dolomite marble is trending, partly due to the popular white color, but also because consumers are learning that Dolomite tends to be harder than other kinds of marble and holds up better against acids (lemon, vinegar, tomato juice etc.) than others.

Granite

Why some would say that granite is less popular than it was 10 year ago, it is also on trend given the fact that it is rock-hard and lasts forever. In terms of hardness in naturally occurring stone, granite runs a close second to diamond. That means that your granite counter or surround will virtually last forever when installed, sealed and cleaned properly. Granite is not only chip, crack and stain resistant but the stunning beauty and enhanced value that granite brings to your home will always make this a trending favorite. See a sampling of our granite varieties here:  https://academy-marble.com/products/granite/  Some of our most popular granites not pictured there:

Delicatus granite

Quarried in Brazil, this granite features white, black, gray, and gold tones. The gold tones can vary from a taupe, to a more caramel, or even peach shade. The veins are bold and variance in movement of the stone is what makes it unique.
Delicatus Granite coordinates well with most cabinet colors. Deeper tones like black and espresso cabinets contrast the stone particularly well as they illuminate the stones’ golden highlights.

Academy Black Granite

Academy granites vary in color from dark grey to almost black and comes from the western edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The dark gray to black color of the granite allows for excellent contrast between polished and unpolished faces. Other than diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, granite is the hardest natural stone in the world, and is extremely resistant to heat, scratching, and stains.

Colonial Gold Granite

Quarried in India, this granite works best with gold toned themes. Depending on the specific piece, this stone can vary in background colors. Some slabs have a pronounced yellow-beige tone, while others have a consistent gray background tone. Colonial-Gold Granite features high variations from slab to slab. Brown and gray veining of all size swirl throughout, while red garnet specks line the entire stone. Colonial-Gold is perfect to apply on kitchen countertop, bathroom vanity, fireplace, shower walls, floors, walls and backsplashes. This stone is versatile when it comes to matching other elements and fixtures in the home.

River White Granite

River White Granite, a smooth easy-going granite, is quarried in India. River White Granite has soft gray veins that flow similar to a river, creating an overall uniform effect. Unlike other lively patterns of granite, this stone can be calming to the eye. This stone is made up of white, gray and red tones. It appears very light gray in color almost off-white as a slab, when viewed from a distance. What sets this stone apart from the rest, is small red mineral deposits found throughout. This consistent touch of warmth makes River White agreeable in multiple areas of the home.

Quartz

Quartz and quartzite are two very popular choices for countertops, and both are trending right now. Their names sound the same, but they are not the same material. They offer differences in looks, durability, care and price. Quartz countertops are engineered countertops that contain about 93 percent loose quartz that is blended with a binder and pigment, then formed into countertops. Because these countertops are engineered, they are less prone to chipping and etching, as well as easier to maintain than other natural stone surfaces.

If you’re considering quartz, Alleanza quartz is the trending stone for 2018. Stain, acid, impact, and acid resistant, Alleanza quartz is the top pick of many architects, builders, and homeowners. Alleanza Quartz was developed by Italian engineers, using the most refined and highest-grade quartz crystals, and their dedication to providing a better quartz definitely shows, especially in the European Alleanza Quartz countertops.

As the name implies, this beautiful countertop quartz is imported to us direct from Italy. Not only is the product exceptionally beautiful, but European quartz is held in high esteem for the value it places on customer service, quality and green production practices. Our Alleanza Quartz comes with a lifetime warranty. While the production process for this quartz is complex and proprietary, it does allow for greater slab size―up to 20% larger than other engineered stone brands. This makes their slabs ideal for large counter and vanity projects – both of which are current design trends.

Quartzite

Quartzite is showier than granite because it sparkles in both sunlight and artificial light due to tiny bits of quartz crystals naturally embedded in the stone’s matrix. This stunning effect can really set your home apart and, for that reason, quartzite is prized by many builders, decorators and designers. These two quartzite colors are trending right now.

Dolce vita quartzite

Found in the quarried stones of Italy is Dolce Vita Quartzite. A yellow-orange glow is cast from this stone, projecting a more traditional appearance from afar. There are many variations of the stone due to the rapid movement of the veins and tones. Most contain swirls of white, ivory, gray and peach as the stone’s main color sources. When applied to kitchens or bathrooms, this is one golden stone that works incredibly well with white cabinets.

White macaubas quartzite

White Macaubas Quartzite is a Brazilian granite of whites with deep random charcoal veins. It adds character and drama to both indoor and outdoor applications.

As popular and trendy as some colors can be, what matters most is that you’re happy with your color selection or choice. It’s always a good idea to see for yourself what colors, brands, and styles can do for your home. Make an appointment today to see what Academy Marble can do for your home!