
For a spec home in North Carolina, Platinum Builders, Inc. of Greensboro, NC, wanted to ensure natural stone would be a focal point of the design. To achieve this goal, Granite & Marble by Malavé of Greensboro fabricated an extensive amount of Verde Linda marble for the kitchen space. Photos courtesy of Fabio Camara, www.fabiocamarastudios.com
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.

Verde
Linda marble 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,” said the
fabricator, Len Malavé. “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.”

Additionally,
Malavé fabricated the sinks from Verde Linda marble.

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.”

All
of the countertops were fabricated with an ogee edge.
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.