______________________________________________________

Inside the Shop
__________________________________________ 

Til-Mar Designs, Philadelphia, PA

by Jennifer Adams, Managing Editor

Til-Mar Designs of Philadelphia, PA, has experienced several transformations since it first opened for business in 1996. Owned by the father-and-son team of Thomas Giordano Sr. and Thomas Giordano Jr., the company initially concentrated its efforts on tile sales and installation. The business then expanded nearly four years ago, when the owners decided that it would be more productive to fabricate their own countertops rather than relying on subcontractors. Approximately a year and a half ago, Til-Mar Designs once again transitioned by opening its 2,000-square-foot showroom to place added focus on homeowners. Click here for full article

Michael Homchick Stoneworks, Inc. of Kenmore, WA

by Alexis Fisher, Assistant Editor

The owner of a successful stone fabrication company that bears his name, Michael Homchick has worked in the stone industry for more than 30 years. The current facilities for Michael Homchick Stoneworks, Inc. in Kenmore, WA, rely on advanced machinery to meet the demands of its high-end market. Click here for full article

__________________________________________

Fabricator Issue of the Month
________________________________________________

__________________________________________

Project Spotlight
__________________________________________ 

Private Estate, Miami Beach, FL

by Jennifer Adams, Managing Editor

Built in 1939, a private estate located on LaGorce Island -- an upscale residential development in Miami Beach, FL -- was recently renovated. The primary design intent for the project was to preserve the character of the home, while developing a more contemporary living space. The desired look was achieved with the use of natural stone. Full article

Private Residence, Austin, TX

by Jennifer Adams, Managing Editor

When building a spec home in Austin, TX, Steve Wauson of Craftsman Homes of Austin adhered to a few design objectives. Above all, it was a priority to utilize as many natural materials as possible -- making for environmentally friendly architecture. In doing so, an assortment of natural stone -- including several regional varieties -- was employed throughout the home's interior and exterior spaces. Full article

__________________________________________

Shop How-To
_____________________________________

__________________________________________

Industry Happenings
__________________________________________

Brazilian State of Ceará hosts quarry tour

by Michael Reis, Editor

For American fabricators looking to stand out in the eyes of homeowners, offering exotic stone choices is one way to go. These materials come from all corners of the world, and Brazil has become a leading nation in the production of exotic material in slab format. Recently, Stone World was invited to tour the stone quarries and stoneworking plants in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Located on Northeastern coast of Brazil along the Atlantic Ocean, right below the equator, Ceará has a wealth of natural resources -- including a broad range of exotic stone materials. Click here for full article

Producing slabs of exotic materials

by Michael Reis, Editor

Located in the state of Ceará, Brazil, near the city of Fortaleza, Granos S/A is well positioned as a quarrier and supplier of exotic slab materials. The company was founded20 years ago by Francisco Silveira, whose background included work in the residential construction sector. In the course of his work, he became interested in the granite industry. The company began by supplying stone for commercial projects in Brazil, and it started exporting slabs to the U.S. in 2002. This included a range of exotic materials. Full article

A sampling exotics from Northern Brazil

by Michael Reis, Editor

A diverse range of exotic stone products can be found in Northern Brazil, and they were highlighted during Stone World's recent tour of the region. Materials are extracted in the state of Ceará as well as neighboring states, and they are exported to locations around the world -- especially the U.S. market. Click here for a look at some of the materials that were on display at Granos S/A.

New Product Announcement

__________________________________________

AEC Store Corner:

Architectural Stone: Fabrication, Installation and Selection

Provides building professionals with everything needed to select, design with, and install the full range of natural stone on any project. From history of stone use, to explanations of quarrying process and fabrication techniques, this book is a one-stop resource for building professionals. Contains over 100 photographs and illustrations. 225 pages. $140.40  CLICK HERE to order!

Visit AECstore.com to view all of our resources for the Stone Industry. Call Stephanie at 248-244-1275 with any questions.

_____________________________________________________________________

This edition of Stone World Fabricator e-News was sent to you because of your expressed interest in natural stone and ceramic tile. This monthly e-newsletter offers industry updates, application features, practical tips, and commentary on stone and tile design, sent directly to your inbox. We welcome you to a readership of architects, interior designers, specifiers and consumers.

To ensure safe delivery to your inbox, please add stoneworld@bnpmedia-email.com to your address book or safe senders list. To unsubscribe from receiving future issues, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this e-mail.

Visit StoneWorld.com