Natural stone
Every stone has its own character. Here is a short guide to the materials we work with and their surfaces.
Metamorphosed limestone with expressive veining and depth. The classic premium stone for bathrooms, worktops and statement walls.
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Metamorphosed sandstone, one of the hardest natural stones there is. The beauty of marble with the strength of granite — perfect for luxurious kitchens.
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A limestone formed at hot springs, known for its characteristic pores and warm beige tones. Available filled and honed, or with an open, rustic surface.
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Sedimentary rock with a soft, even tone and a quiet expression. Warm and matte — beautiful in floors, walls and bathrooms. Slightly softer and more porous, so it is impregnated.
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Igneous rock with very high hardness and wear resistance. Withstands heat and scratches well — ideal for kitchens and outdoor environments.
See varieties & read more →Similar in appearance to marble but slightly harder and more durable. Light, elegant shades with soft veining — a beautiful middle ground.
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Translucent, banded stone with a luminous play of colour. An exclusive choice for backlit walls, bar counters and details.
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Soft, milky-white and translucent stone with a quiet, almost silky expression. Beautiful in lighting and details.
See varieties & read more →The journey of stone
It all begins in the quarry. In the mountains around Carrara, marble is extracted in large blocks with diamond wire — a craft that has continued for centuries.
The blocks are transported to the sawmill, where the enormous blocks are cut with diamond-tipped tools — under constant water cooling — into slabs, often 2 or 3 cm thick. The slabs are numbered in order so the veining can be book-matched.
The slabs are reinforced when needed, ground and given their surface — polished, honed, brushed or leathered. They are then displayed in showrooms where each slab can be selected individually.
In the workshop the stone is processed further. Edges are profiled and polished by hand, cut-outs for sinks and taps are milled, and every detail is checked before the stone is sent on for installation.
The chosen stone is cut either into tiles in standard sizes or to exact measurements and drawings, edge-finished and delivered to the site. Finally it is installed by experienced craftsmen — here in a bathroom.
More than two thousand years ago, the Romans chose natural stone for what was meant to last. The dome of the Pantheon has carried its own weight since the second century, the travertine walls of the Colosseum have stood for nearly two millennia, and the marble slabs of the forums have been trodden by soldiers, emperors and pilgrims — and are still there to walk on. The marble the Romans called Luna was quarried in the mountains around Carrara, and it is still quarried there.
What the Romans understood is still the starting point of our work: natural stone does not run out, it ages. The patina is not wear but a layer of time — a threshold ground by the feet of generations, a stair edge shaped by water and hands, a marble surface that has matured into a deeper lustre. The scratches and shifts in tone are the memory of the stone, not its flaws.
That is why we select slabs with the same question the Romans asked of their stone: what will this look like in fifty years? The right stone, the right surface and gentle care give rooms that grow more beautiful with the years and can one day be re-ground and used again — in another home, on another square.
Natural stone · Surface finishes
Same stone, different expressions. The finish changes gloss, texture and feel – from mirror-glossy to softly brushed or sculpturally milled.
Illustrative, AI-generated surface studies. The real surface varies with stone and treatment and should always be assessed on a physical sample.
Glossy · smooth · colour depth
The stone is ground in several steps to a glossy, mirror-like surface. Veining and colours gain clear depth and the stone feels completely smooth.
Common on marble, granite and quartzite, for example on worktops and walls.
On floors the slip risk needs assessing, especially where the surface can get wet. Polishing does not protect marble against acid.
Matte · soft · light texture
Abrasive brushes work the surface and bring out the natural texture of the stone. The result is soft to the touch, with a discreet sense of patina.
Found on marble, limestone and granite, among others. The expression varies with the hardness and starting surface of the stone.
Brushing can be combined with other treatments. A physical sample best shows how the chosen stone turns out.
Tactile · softly undulating · low sheen
Also called leather finish. A brushed treatment giving a fine, slightly undulating surface with a leather-like feel and low sheen.
Common on granite and quartzite, for example kitchen worktops and furniture.
The terms leathered, brushed and satin can overlap between suppliers. The treatment does not make the stone stain-proof.
Coarse · crystalline · clear texture
Intense heat makes parts of the surface crystals pop off, creating a coarse, uneven texture. The colour often becomes lighter than when polished.
Mainly on suitable granites for stairs, paving and other outdoor surfaces.
Not all stones withstand flaming. Slip properties and frost resistance need verifying for the material in question.
Textured · rounded · softer
After flaming, the surface is brushed so the sharpest peaks are rounded. The clear texture remains, but the feel is softer than on a flamed-only surface.
Common on granite where both texture and a more comfortable surface are wanted, for example on terraces.
Brushing changes the grip of the surface. For wet floors and outdoor environments, choose a surface with documented properties.
Fine-grained · even · matte
A blasting medium hits the stone under high pressure, giving an evenly pitted, matte texture. The surface is usually finer than a flamed one.
Can be done on several stones, including granite, marble and limestone, depending on the desired result.
Texture and colour are affected by the blasting medium and intensity. Here too, the slip properties of a floor need separate assessment.
Relief & form
Milling and other treatments can create ribs, waves and graphic patterns. Here are three illustrative directions for a more distinctive stone surface.
Parallel grooves and rounded ribs give the stone a clear rhythm. Grazing light brings out the depth – an expression that works on walls and furniture fronts.
Softly milled waves make the surface sculptural. The pattern is perceived differently during the day as light moves across peaks and valleys.
Dense, straight grooves give a fine graphic structure. The direction, width and depth of the grooves affect both the expression and how the surface can be cleaned.
Stone type, light, use and care determine which finish suits. We provide samples for specific projects, subject to availability.
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