Time to get stoned?
If you’ve navigated here whilst searching for a city break to Amsterdam; you’re forgiven. Yes my Twitter name is Interiorporn, and yes the title says ‘Stoned’; but unfortunately for you I’m referring to the trend of using stone in interiors. Bon voyage.
Now to be honest, I had thought that this stone fad had passed us by and it was sailing downstream with arched floor lamps on a seagrass carpet. I remember when Minotti Cucine released their Porhyr Viola flame textured stone kitchen; it made my eyes water. But after I had got over the price issue, I actually liked it. A lot.
Still do. I guess it is the price point that makes me think that this is more like Art; possibly purchased as a status symbol and to be looked at and not touched. Well, not by the owners anyway. Maybe the association comes from the mid-90′s property-bubble-high and that this type of exuberance is now somewhat limited. Well, Minotti regardless continue the theme to this day, with their latest offerings that are still jaw-dropping show-stoppers.
Is the trend limited to one kitchen company? Of course not; enter stage left TM Italia with their aptly named Petra, recently launched at Grand Designs Live.
Now not only is this technically a great kitchen product, but it also has a vastly more attractive price point. And they offer a completely bespoke service making them high on my supply chain, as they can actually build what I design. Also, their design catalogue actually features fitted projects from clients’ homes, unlike certain Italian suppliers. The normal Modus Operandi is to show products that aren’t in production, wouldn’t work as shown or have been discontinued. What a refreshing change to see products at work. Very happy to say that we are agents for these guys, who after just 10 years in action are the serious new players on the block.
Stone is more traditionally associated with bathrooms and the Italians are at it again. It continues to feature in Zaninelli’s product portfolio, here with a splash of wood:
And the stone bath appears to have had more longevity than anticipated; again here by Zaninelli:
But the 360 range by Altamarea I think noses ahead with these sleek bathroom pieces that merge into living spaces. Like the Minotti & TM Italia kitchens, they challenge our usual perception of the space around us, or our definition of room function:
Or in Carrara Marble below. The idea that bathrooms remain behind closed doors is becoming a bit dated as the boundaries of open planning continue to be pushed.
These are great pieces that would sit well into many schemes, but has stone stood still? Is there no real edginess in the stone products out there? Well, I think Lithea are about as directional as you can get at the minute with this basin Ciuri with their Petra wall cladding. These guys are ahead of the game in my book, and well worth keeping an eye on:
Not only are the basins outlandish, like this version called Dune, but their 3D stone wall cladding of the same name really pushes the boundaries:
So, the question is; has stone grown up? I think so. Long gone are the associations with Neoclassicism and obscenely grandiose variations on the theme (I shall refrain from naming names here; unusual, but I shall). Ushered in are the new stone pieces of Futurism and Minimalism, which I suspect are here to stay. I’m more than happy to get stoned; how about you?
