Category Archives: Home Decoration

There is something to be said about using natural materials as the finishing touches and furnishes around your home.

Firstly, natural materials have a sense of warmth and beauty that plastics and man-made materials can never compete with.

Secondly, real wood or natural stone are evocative and flexible in design and purpose and are an excellent way to blend the textures of your outdoor and indoor aesthetics.

Thirdly, natural materials can be used literally anywhere in the house and add cosiness and a sense of grandeur to the space. For example a fireplace with a cobbled wall or stone cladding adds an instant age-old cosiness. Meanwhile travertine tiles, with their luxurious textures and cool, contemporary touch, can transform the living room into a majestic palace.

And finally, natural materials like real wood and natural stone pavers, are sustainable solutions for home construction purposes. In fact, reclaimed wood is a booming industry, which makes sense since wood is a versatile material making it a logical idea to reuse it.

In today’s article we share a few simple and effective ways you too can utilise natural materials in your home in such a way that they will turn heads.

** Gris Granite Cobblestones

Facades and veneers

It might seem obvious, and yet we will say it anyway: adding natural stone to the veneer of the front of your house or side of your house gives the entrance a touch of regal elegance, that no amount of man-made and artificial materials can match. For example, nothing quite compares to the complexity and beauty of a smooth sandstone entrance or a feature wall built from natural stone wall panels.

Fortunately, with advances in technology, installing a natural stone wall is much less labour intensive than it used to be. It also doesn’t require as much investment. The only requisite is choosing the right natural stone for your home and hiring an experienced professional to help you!

Whatever stone you choose, installing a rock veneer to the front of your house will transform it into a striking entrance that neighbours and passers-by will enjoy from close up or at a distance.

** Elivette Stone Cladding

Tiling

If you’re looking to add style to your home with a natural material without needing to restructure the entire house, an easier solution is retiling your floors (or even walls) with marble, limestone, or travertine.

In case you want to add elegance to your home, nothing commands this as much as marble does, and with good reason. Each piece of marble has a unique texturing and veining, which is why it is no surprise that it’s been used by everyone from Ancient Greeks to modern day museums.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to add warmth and contemporary style to your space, travertine pavers offer the most versatile solution because they are available in sleek jet black options all the way to the marbled mystique of silver and cinnamon tones. Travertine tiles are an excellent choice for refitting a bathroom that’s seen better days, re-touching a kitchen that lacks character, or transforming the kitchen floor into a cool oasis for the feet during the Australian heat.

Pietra Grey Marble Tiles adding a royal touch to this bathroom.

As a patio

Paving your patio with natural stone tiles or pavers, or even using them as a garden path, allows you to blend the natural space with a natural material. Whether you want to install beautiful stepping stones, or a block of stone with grass running through it, you can achieve either design with natural stone pavers.

If you really want, you can even use natural stone to build a feature wall in your patio or garden. It can be an attractive focal point and when contrasted with the right colour scheme, can work very nicely with the overall design of your backyard.

The same Gazebo Wall Cladding mentioned above, used as a feature wall in a patio setting.

The fireplace

There is nothing in the world that transforms a place into a cosy and snug environment like a stone fireplace. Wouldn’t you agree? Just imagine getting cozy next to one on a cold winter night (okay, it is Australia, so maybe a coldish winter night, unless you’re in Tasmania or Melbourne – it does get cold there). Maybe you have a cup of cocoa in one hand, a book in another, wine works too: either way, a stone fireplace and mantle makes for a romantic – or relaxing – way to enjoy your winter day or night.

Some people pay a lot of money to be able to rug up near the fire, why not have one in the comfort of your home all year around?

Bench tops and tables

Whether you use it for the entire set, or only as a bench top, natural stone is an excellent way to turn a mundane surface or object into a beautiful focal point and feature of a room.

This is actually a very popular design trend at the moment where practical objects are used to influence the overall aesthetic of the home. Transforming a necessary item like a bench top into a decorative feature of a room, allows you to save space on other areas that might otherwise be used for decoration. And even if you’re not trying to save space on the beautifying elements of house, adding a unique natural stone bench top will definitely add character to a room.

On the other hand, tables made of natural materials have been a popular choice for centuries. While wood is a classic choice, outdoor or indoor dining sets made of marble add a majestic touch to any room. Just be mindful that marble tables are very heavy and much like pianos require specialised movers, marble tables do too.

An example of a wooden outdoor table setting.

There you have it!

A few simple ways you can transform your home using natural materials.

If you have any questions about which material or natural stone tile or paver would best suit your renovation and home, reach out to our natural stone experts at Armstone online or calling 1300 560 560. We stock the world’s best quality natural stone pavers and tiles and would love to help you choose the best size and design for your project.

We’ve helped many homeowners and would love to help you too.

Though current trends suggest otherwise, our homes do not always have to be conventional, modern, and sleek.

Sometimes adding rustic features to our indoor and outdoor spaces can diversify the appearance of our home and add a unique touch to an otherwise clinical looking, space.

And what better way to transform your home than with natural stone? This majestic material has been used to build and decorate homes, palaces and other architectural buildings for thousands of years, and it continues to be a favourite interior decorating material for homeowners, builders and designers alike.

In today’s article we share a few creative ways you can utilise natural stone inside and outside your home to give a natural and raw touch in amongst the modern and sleek finish.

Feature Wall

Instead of painting over your feature wall with a new colour, why not spruce it up with a stone cladding masterpiece? Simple to install and cost-effective, stacked stone cladding adds a textured and earthy touch to your modern aesthetic. Whether you add the feature wall in your living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or patio area, it’ll instantly transform the space!

This Benjamin Stacked Stone veneer featuring creams, ochres and olive colours throughout, is ideal for a modern home.

Shower Walls

As a space where we go to cleanse our body and spirit, a well designed bathroom can help induce calmness. Although most bathrooms install tiles as they are an easier choice, natural stone pavers or even porcelain pavers are an excellent way to modernise your space and transform it into a pleasant oasis. While natural stone pavers require a higher initial outlay and need to be carefully chosen for slippage and water resistance for bathroom areas, they truly give an air of elegance and majesty to your bathroom. Additionally, if you enjoy a massage underfoot, natural stone pavers in your shower will feel earthy on your feet.

Add a royal touch to your bathroom with natural stone pavers like the one’s pictured above.

Pebble River Rock Mats

If you love the smooth pebble feeling under your toes while you shower, why not extend this feature into other areas of the bathroom? Pebbles give a textured and earthy appeal when installed near bathroom sinks or bathtubs, and can essentially remove the need to ever have to buy bath mats, ever again. If you install pebbles near the bathtub, make sure you have drainage incorporated under the stones for adequate water removal.

Ivory Natural Garden Pebbles beautifully blend with this modern and chic ivory bathtub.

Bathroom Bench-top

While we’re still in the bathroom, add a majestic touch to your bench-tops by installing natural stone ones instead of conventional designs. Match these with your floors or mat designs to create a continual flow within the room’s aesthetic.

Marble stones, with their unique veining, add a majestic touch to your bathroom bench-tops.

Kitchen Splash-backs

If you aren’t keen on renovating the entire kitchen with natural stone, simply incorporate it through-out by installing a stone splash-back. Stone splash-backs are just as easy to install as kitchen tiles and additionally, natural stone pavers are easy to clean! Simply wipe down the surface of the stone and voila! The surface is clean.

These white natural stone pavers create a beautiful natural splash-back in this modern kitchen.

Outdoor Steps

Outdoor steps typically get a lot of foot traffic, not to mention wear and tear from environmental factors like sun, wind and rain. As such, investing in a hard-wearing and durable material is ideal. Enter: natural stone step treads! Depending on the style and choice of stone, you can easily match them with your current landscaping. You could also colour coordinate them to match the home and other outdoor features.

Natural Stone Step Treads are durable and beautiful for your high traffic outdoor areas.

Water Features

If you want to attract wildlife and create a soothing, relaxing and zen area in your garden, installing a water feature is ideal for you. Whether you install a waterfall or a fountain, natural stone works well with water features because it’s easy to install and works well with running water. A word of caution: avoid using sandstone pavers with water. Sandstone is porous and we have seen many pool-scapes and other water features go awry because customer’s were not advised that sandstone and water are not a great mix.

This relaxing three-tier water feature makes an ideal focal point and zen destination in this garden.

Landscaping

Provided you have the creativity and imagination to help, using natural stone pavers to landscape around your house is relatively easy, and if you don’t, that’s alright too. Reach out to us and we can help connect you with brilliant landscapers and outdoor designers who have years of experience with this work. In the meantime, here is an idea: you can utilise these Bluestone stepping stones around your swimming pool or pond, or as a pathway leading to a secret garden. You can either fill the gaps between the pavers with natural stone pebbles, or you can let the grass grow around them. This will increase functionality and give the appearance of a grass lawn.

These Bluestone Stepping Stones were installed by Bondi Landscapes

Garden Ornaments

Finally, your backyard can feature items that have absolutely zero functionality and one-hundred percent beauty and art.  Stone art and decorations give your backyard excellent focal points and add value and aesthetic to your home.

And there you have it!

A few simple (and a few more involved) ways you can enrich your home with natural stone pavers.

If you have any questions on which stone would suit your interior or exterior aesthetic, or a slip or non-slip surface, chat with our natural stone experts at Armstone online or 1300 560 560. We stock the world’s highest quality stone pavers including bluestone, limestone, marble, travertine, and much more. We have helped thousands of Australian’s bring their idea to life and we would love to help you too because this is what we love to do.

You’ve heard the saying: first impressions last a lifetime?

Just think back to every first impression you have about someone, an event or even arriving at a friend’s new home.

You remember every single one, right?

Now, if you think back, what was the first feature you remember before entering someone’s home?

The entrance, right?

Maybe even the driveway, path leading to the door and the steps.

As such, steps leading to the house are an essential garden feature.

However, steps also take a lot of foot traffic and endure a lot of wear and tear from environmental factors like heat, rain, and wind. As such, it’s important that the material you use to build your step treads, is durable and hardwearing.

** Graphene Granite Step Treads

Enter: natural stone step treads!

Stone step treads are durable and hard-wearing, meaning that they can withhold the foot traffic and environmental factors they are exposed to. Additionally, as they’re made from a natural material, they help create a seamless transition from your interior and exterior home environments.

In saying that, natural stone step treads can be used in a few other ways around your home.

In today’s article, we will check out how you can utilise them within your interior and exterior environments.

Outdoors

While the typical use for natural step treads is for steps and stairs, you can use them outdoors for creating pathways and as a means to separate different sections of the garden.

These Bluestone Step Treads lead the way through one section of this garden to another.

Additionally, you can use stone treads as coping to line the edges of pools. This will give your pool a sophisticated and finished appearance.

These Travertine Step Treads create a majestic touch to this home’s entry.

As we mentioned above, stone treads when used as the entryway to the home, offer a stable foundation for foot-traffic. They also make the steps more attractive and add kerb-side appeal to your home. By virtue of their natural properties, some natural stone finishes come in non-slip varieties which increases their safety, especially if the steps are exposed to the elements like rain.

Indoors

As you can see, there is a myriad of ways you can utilise step treads outdoors.

In saying that, natural stone steps are such a versatile material, that you can utilise them within your home as well.

For example, you can use step treads to create stone thresholds. These create an excellent transition between rooms and can create a durable border when entering and exiting rooms that have different materials, for example if one room has carpet and the other has stone pavers as flooring.

Much like outdoors, stone treads are also an incredibly durable and heavy duty material and as such, make an excellent addition to all the stairs within the home. Unlike other materials, natural stone step treads have a superior quality that can truly stand the test of time. For example, over time, stairs made from wood can warp due to moisture and constant use. This causes the nails to loosen and the steps to bow and creak. On the other hand, stone steps do not have this issue and as such, the investment you make now will give you years upon years of return.

Another reason natural stone steps are an ideal material to use indoors is that they are easy to keep clean of dust and debris. Stone also does not harbour unwanted microscopic pollens or mould and as such, is a good material for the house, especially if anyone in your family has allergies or sensitivities to dust and other air particles like pollen and mould.

And there you have it: a few simple ways you can bring your home to life with natural stone step treads!

If you need any help with finding the right stone step treads for your project, reach out to our team of stone experts at Armstone online or at 1300 560 560. We stock the world’s highest quality natural stones ranging from the elegant and contrasting dark tones of raven granite, black slate and dark bluestone, all the way to the heritage colours like Carrara marble and creamy hues of cinnamon travertine and Himalayan sandstone.

Our products suit any decor and stand the test of time. So whether you’re upgrading (or building) your backyard or home interior, our step treads will add a majestic touch to your home. If you prefer to see the products in person, visit our Sydney showroom in Glebe for inspiration. We would love to help you out!

From the intricate veining of the Oyster Limestones to the elegant, subtle and harmonious tones found in Limetta Limestones, if you want to add sophistication, elegance and a lovely touch to your home, you’re on the right track with limestone pavers.

Limestone is a popular choice with landscapers, architects and homeowners alike, and with due reason.

Sporting a fascinating geologic makeup, limestone falls into the family of calcite stones. It’s formed from a range of minerals, including (but not limited to) ancient sea creatures, like corals and other underwater fossils. Over a prolonged period of time, and immense pressure, these minerals and fossils compress and form this beautiful stone that we use in our homes today.

One of the advantages of calcite stones like limestone is, along with being extremely durable, they also reflect heat – which makes them an ideal natural stone paver for areas like steps, pool surrounds, patios and pathways that are exposed to the hot Australian sun.

On the topic of durability, did you know that one of the greatest architectural wonders of the world – the Great Pyramid of Giza – was built entirely from limestone blocks? The Egyptians highly prized limestone because of its physical beauty and used it as a fitting embellishment to their finest work. The Giant Pyramid of Giza is also proof that limestone pavers can truly stand the test of time, heat, and many other adverse and extreme weather conditions, standing strong thousands of years after installation.

Now, back to making your home lovely with limestone pavers and tiles.

If you have a young family with little children prone to spilling things, or if you love to entertain family and friends at your home, maintaining your floors and keeping them clean can become a cumbersome task. You would probably prefer to install pavers that are easier to clean and less susceptible to stains. Enter limestone! You see, limestone pavers are less porous than other natural stone pavers. This makes their surface denser and less prone to stains. So if you’re stretched on time and desire a lower maintenance natural stone paver, limestone is definitely a wise choice for your indoor and outdoor flooring.

While maintaining limestone pavers, as with all natural stones, does require some TLC (tender love and care), if you do small things regularly, it’s easy to keep them looking new and thus increasing their longevity. If you want to learn how to clean and maintain your natural stone pavers in three simple steps, read our blog here.

Melba Limestone Coping & Pavers

Like all natural stones and pavers – even if they come from the same cut and quarry – no two limestone slabs are ever the same . Thus, depending on their density, colour and cut, some pavers are more superior than others. The general rule of thumb is this: if you invest in limestone that has a ratio of higher density than porosity, it’s of a superior quality and depending where you are planning on installing limestone pavers, this is a crucial consideration. For example, if you’re installing limestone pavers in areas that are more prone to high moisture and slippage, like bathrooms and saltwater poolside, then low-quality limestone which are extremely soft and porous, will disintegrate and crumble over a prolonged period of time. This will cost you more time and money to fix than if you initially invested in the correct stone for the area you are paving. Alternatively, if you want to install limestone pavers in your living room where there is less moisture in the air, you don’t necessarily have to invest in a superior quality limestone paver.

As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing where to install the variety of limestone pavers. So if you’d like to learn more about this, or have any questions, reach out to us online or call 1300 560 560, to speak to one of our natural stone experts.

DuToit Limestone Pavers and Coping

Thanks to its physical structure and composition, limestone tiles and pavers can be shaped (and are available) in a variety of edges and finishings. For example, you can choose from a traditional bullnose edge or a modern drop edge: both of which provide an exquisite finishing touch to your pool coping, steps, capping or pathways. And as you can see in the photo above and below, limestone’s wide array of colours, tones and textures, add a whole new dimension to your space. The unique veining and the fossil like imprints throughout the pavers add a prehistoric touch while adorning a modern landscape.

Calabria Limestone Paving

So if you’re looking for durable, elegant, unique, heat-resistant, and dense natural stone, consider making your home lovely with limestone tiles and pavers.

At Armstone we stock a wide variety of limestone available for both indoor and outdoor tiling and paving, pool coping, stepping stones, step treads and more. We pride ourselves in sourcing the highest quality products, from all around the world.

If you have questions, or would like to put through an order, reach out to us online or call 1300 560 560, and one of our natural stone experts will help you. Alternatively, you can find us in Glebe, the heart of Sydney, where you can visit our showroom and see the stones in person.

We look forward to helping you bring you project to life.

There is something quite romantic about walking through a laneway or street that has been lined with cobblestones, wouldn’t you agree? Maybe you remember your last trip to Europe where you tried to navigate the cobbled paths, oozing with history and antiquity and stories untold? Or maybe you’ve only seen cobbled courtyards in movies – regardless, it’s safe to say that cobblestone pavers add an old English and European touch to your home.

Why English?

Well,  the word “cobblestone” comes from an old English word for “pebbles in a riverbed”.

So, these rounded stones, worn smooth by the river’s current, became a popular material for surfacing roads thousands of years ago. They gained popularity for a few reasons. Firstly, they were easy to find and source and were pretty much ready for installation. Secondly, the cobble stones kept dirt roads from washing away in heavy rain and provided traction in deep snow. Thirdly, since they were used before the invention of cars, they kept horses’ hooves from sinking into the mud during a spring thaw.

As well as their practical nature, cobbles proved highly durable, lasting not just decades or centuries, but millennia – at a time. If we take a quick walk down some historical cities like Pompey or Rome – or anywhere in Europe, really – we will see evidence of cobblestone pavers enduring a variety of environmental conditions and extreme climates, with plenty of streets still carefully laid with these pebbles to this very day.

Since cobblestone pavers are durable, quaint and stylish, as well as appropriate for a variety of climates, they are a very popular natural stone paver amongst builders, landscapers and homeowners alike.

So if you’re looking to give your home an ‘old-English’ or European touch, we highly recommend installing cobblestones. Their tough nature makes them ideal for high traffic areas like pathways, entrances and driveways, where many other stones may experience severe wear and tear. In contrast, cobblestones will add a cosy vibe and stand the test of time.

These Bonza Quartzite Cobblestones add a mysterious cool touch to this entrance.

Now, you might be thinking that cobblestones are only for homes that want to achieve an ‘old-English’ look.

While this may be the case, cobblestone pavers can also be installed in modern homes and add a unique touch to the area. At Armstone we stock a variety of cobblestones in different stone types and patterns that will suit your home aesthetic. For example, a solid and dense stone paver such as the Raven Granite Cobblestone (pictured below) is the perfect choice if you wish to add a timelessness to your floors, especially as an entrance to your front door through your driveway. Granite cobblestones are as beautiful as they are practical and can bear incredible weight-loads. So you can rest assured that your car (or cars) will not ruin the stones over time. Their dark colour and textured finish also helps mask stains, tyre marks and oil leaks and blends beautifully with a modern design. Their size and slip-resistant surface also makes them ideal for curved designs and steep or sloped areas.

These Raven Granite Cobblestones add a beautiful blue/grey touch to the driveway and entrance.

If you have a lot of people coming and going, in and out of your house, your pathways will endure a lot of foot traffic. In such areas, you might want to install cobblestones that resemble pavers and have a softer colouring – like Bonza Quartz Cobblestones or Brick Travertine Cobblestones – both of which will create a harmonious balance against your garden and lawn. You can choose to install these in a brick or herringbone layout that will resemble an old-English style street, cottage or pathway.

While historically, smooth cobbles were found by the riverbed, modern day cobblestones are manufactured from stones such as granite, porphyry, quartz, basalt and limestone. In saying this, they still achieve the same aesthetic as their original counterparts, while also being easier to install. Choosing the ideal installation method depends on surface and area where you will be applying the cobbles. As Armstone, you can choose from mesh cobblestones, invariable cobblestones or split-loose cobblestones, in a variety of finishes such as split-face, tumble/rumbled, and flamed/exfoliated. To learn more about finishes and installation methods, check out our guide here.

If you have any questions, reach out to us online or call 1300 560 560 to chat to one of our natural stone experts.

We have helped thousands of homeowners use cobblestone pavers to create enchanting entrances to their home, durable driveways and beautiful paths, and would love to help you bring your project to life as well.