Focus on Indian Stone
Blending cultures and stones
Designer Naomi Reese of Naomi Reese Associates in Dallas, TX, wanted to create a look that would successfully mix elements of the East with the West in a private Dallas residence. To achieve this, she specified Indian slate in both the kitchen and the sunroom.
The owners of this home were looking for a flooring material that would not require an extensive amount of maintenance. Because they own several dogs, they were concerned about putting in a material that could be easily scratched by their pets' nails. Slate was specified in order to solve these dilemmas as well as provide a clean look with Old World charm.
Polished copper slate from India was selected for the sunroom to provide this old, worn look for the flooring, according to Rupy Shah, president of Stone-Tec, supplier of the stone. The warm hues of this slate create a mood perfect for capturing the morning sun, Shah said.
The sunroom is also accented with a granite table. The Viara granite used for the tabletop and the Volcano Black granite used for the table's base are also both from India. These stones were supplied by Imperial Granite.
In the kitchen, a rough Ocean Green slate was chosen. The coarse texture employed on the kitchen floor is complemented by the polished surface of the same Ocean Green slate used for the backsplash, which was specified in smaller 6- x 6-inch tiles. The kitchen is also highlighted by Blue Bahia granite, which forms a border around the floor and was also used for the countertops and the diamond-shaped inserts in the backsplash.
Approximately 400 to 500 square feet of tile were used in the sunroom and another 400 to 500 square feet was brought in for the kitchen, according to Shah. "The polished copper slate tiles in the dining room were thin-set with 1/8-inch grout joints," she said. "A mud-set installation was used for the rough Ocean Green slate tiles on the kitchen floor, and the grout joints measured 1/4 inch." Sealers manufactured by Stone Care International were used to seal both the slate and the grout after installation. This was done to protect the stone from stains and to enhance its hue, according to Shah. The project was completed in approximately two months.
About the project:
Private ResidenceDallas, TX
Designer: Naomi Reese Associates, Dallas, TX
Stone Supplier and Fabricator: Stone-Tec, Garland, TX
Maintenance Products Supplier: Stone Care Interntional, Owings Mills, MD
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