In a depressed real estate market, the prospect of building a speculative home becomes more and more daunting for builders, as they seek to make the property stand out to the limited number of prospective buyers currently in the marketplace. For Platinum Builders, Inc. of Greensboro, NC, the strategy of drawing interest in a spec home includes the use of stone in innovative ways.

This approach recently paid off in building a spec home in Greensboro that features Verde Linda marble as the centerpiece of the design. Fabrication of the stonework, which includes a range of specialized elements, was completed by Granite & Marble by Malavé of Greensboro. “The owner of Platinum Builders has always favored stone for spec houses,” said Len Malavé, owner of Granite & Marble by Malavé. “He says, ‘Put the money in the kitchen and bath, and you will sell the house.’ “

The kitchen of the home makes extensive use of Verde Linda marble, which was used for the countertops as well as a detailed center island. “There was also a concern about using a marble in the kitchen, so we did some testing in the shop to show the builder how strong the material was,” Malavé said. “I explained and demonstrated that there are certain marbles that are even stronger and less porous than some granites. Educating the consumer is one of the most important things a fabricator can do.”

The material features an ogee edge, and using CNC technology, the slabs were cut into intricate shapes to match the designs of the cabinetry - particularly at the corners.

Additionally, Malavé fabricated the sinks from Verde Linda marble. “It was a very intricate job, as the sinks were custom made by us to fit the cabinets,” he said. “They also wanted no seams. The bar sink was also the first one we made. All the sinks and the entire kitchen were done in book-matched material.”

Given the extensive amount of stonework, some practical consideration had to be given to making the design work from a structural standpoint. “We worked closely with the builder to make the cabinets strong enough.” Malavé said. “They built shelves in the cabinets to support the weight of the sinks.”

In all, approximately 100 square feet of stone was used to complete the kitchen, including a butlers pantry and bar area, and the stonework made quite an impression when its doors were opened to the public. “The house was sold the first day it was shown, and it also won ‘Best Kitchen’ in the Parade of Homes,” the fabricator said.