Avenue Magazine Edmonton

In an era of faux finishes and synthetics, the natural glamour of quality stonework stands out. Adding stone to a bathroom, kitchen or entryway ups both the property value and the design quotient of any home.

In recent years, stone veneer — a material that replicates the look of natural stone — has become very popular in Alberta. It can offer a more visually intriguing alternative to stucco on buildings, and is sometimes used on interior walls or fireplaces. But there’s no guarantee that any stone veneer or faux stone will age gracefully and avoid going the way of wood panelling. “I think people will start valuing [real stone] when the recession is over,” says Laura Bielecki of Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

However, although real stone may be a safer long-term investment, it’s important to balance esthetics with functionality.

Marble countertops are undeniably sleek, for instance, but the stone is porous. “If you spill something, it might stain,” says Bielecki. Like marble, slate is a gorgeous stone, but it’s not ideal for countertops, either, since it’s prone to flaking and chipping.

Bielecki says the best options are granite, a natural stone, or quartz, which is manufactured by bonding quartz crystals into a solid slab. This makes it more consistent in colour and, unlike granite, it won’t stain.

While renting a home in Victoria, Terry Pithers and Joanne Blake were dismayed at the work it took to look after the granite countertops. “[The homeowner] left us little notes to be very careful if we got oil on the countertop and things like that, that it would stain. There were already stains on it and we may have added the odd little bit,” says Pithers. So, when the time came to renovate the kitchen in their Edmonton home, they chose quartz. “You can get a really rich look, but it’s totally sealed. It resists bacteria even more than granite.”

As with countertops, homeowners considering stone floors should take a good look at the practicality of different kinds of stone, says Bielecki. Granite is popular for flooring, but its colour choices are restricted mostly to warm tones. Marble comes in a broader colour range, but requires resealing every two years. It’s also prone to discolouring if cleaned with hot water or hard water because of the iron content.

Slate can work well for flooring, as long as it’s sealed properly — and you don’t walk around barefoot. While the stone costs less than some other options, its sharp edges can cut your feet.

One of the most creative and flexible ways to use stonework in a home is with wall applications. Bielecki suggests onyx, which is translucent and creates a beautiful glow with a light source behind it. Slate is also gorgeous and can be used with a water feature or fireplace — “something that’s not going to get touched too much.”