“We wanted to have a durable stone with easy maintenance that complements the house's color,” said supplier Lokesh Morada of MS International Inc. “We wanted to provide warmth and an affluent appeal to the home.”

The Golden White quartz has tones of gold, yellow and tan, creating a unique, varied aesthetic. “The warm colors of the stone complement the exterior of the house,” said Morada. “We chose the stone for its hardness, warm earth tones and durability.”

The slate flooring was set in a random flagstone pattern, with broken pieces of stone set throughout the patio and walkways. The pathways run throughout the exterior of the residence, and the patio edges are curved, adding to the overall look of the space.

A feature element of the exterior space is an elaborate stone barbecue on the backyard patio. This component of the design is clad with gauged 4- x 8-inch “bricks” of Golden White. These are part of MS International's “Brix” collection, which used natural stone varieties to replicate a brick pattern. “The line is catching on in the market in a big way, and we are very excited that it will do well for us,” said Morada, adding that the brick line is stocked in 15 different colors.

In addition to the stone brick facing, the barbecue has countertops of Kashmir Gold granite. “The colors of the granite blend well with the Golden White,” said Morada.

The stone was installed in about five days in January of 2004, with five installers on the job. Overall, it was a straightforward installation, and it went very smoothly. “It has turned out to be absolute gorgeous, and has fetched a lot of complements,” said Morada.