Before relocating to the U.S. to serve as CEO of Island Stone North America, Nigel Eaton constructed what he thought was going to be his family home in Australia for the next decade. The 5,000-square-foot residence was designed to be clean and modern with a balance of natural elements.

Hospitality at its core is about creating a welcoming space. When entryways, kitchens and bathrooms have stained stone, tile and grout, they are far from welcoming. Be sure to protect all your jobs with a quick application of a penetrating sealer, because as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.

With the hospitality design sector in a seemingly constant state of change, tile and other alternative material manufacturers need to stay up-to-date on current trends in colors, shapes, finishes and sizes to meet the demands of the architectural and design community.

Contemporary Stone & Tile Design magazine had the opportunity to talk with Mercury Mosaics owner Mercedes Austin about her 20 years of experience, how she got started and some of the experiences she has had working with customers.

Additional space and storage ranked as top priorities for Katie Katzman when renovating her dated kitchen, as well as to have views of the picturesque lake in the backyard of her Michigan residence.

Set in the Texas hillside on the outskirts of Austin, TX, a newly constructed residence reflects its surrounding habitat with regional limestone featured extensively on the exterior design. And while the native material is also the showcase of several interior applications, the retired homeowners opted to diversify the palette by incorporating additional materials into their living space – making it unique and colorful.

Boston-based architectural firm, Finegold Alexander Architects, recently transformed Boston University’s (BU) historic Tudor Revival-style castle into the new Dahod Family Alumni Center. The 15,371-square-foot gathering place, which serves BU’s 300,000-plus graduates, features original sandstone masonry on the exterior that was carefully cleaned, repointed and patched to restore the building back to its original grandeur.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross on the campus of Jesuit High School in Tampa, FL, is now housed in a beautiful new building that is adorned with a host of natural stone varieties, including Indiana limestone, Pennsylvania Bluestone and Italian marble.

Charmean Neithart loves interior design and all things houses. For the last 18 years, she has been designing homes throughout Southern California for a varied clientele. “The collaborative nature of projects with clients is my favorite part,” said the senior designer at Charmean Neithart Interiors in South Pasadena, CA.