How to choose natural stone surface in 4 steps?

This short article talks about tips & tricks on selecting natural stone surfaces. Often, we experience excessive doubt and lack of clarity when it comes to choosing materials & finishes for different purposes. It is also quite hard to always rely on the judgment and recommendation of suppliers, hence to make it easier we want to discuss factors that are most important.

The most popular choices are marble and granite, however there are many more that can be used including travertine, limestone, slate, onyx and other.

STEP 1: Consider natural stone factors

Every stone is a unique formation from a different location on our planet with distinctive environmental conditions. Hence, every stone is unique in its qualities and how it reacts to various impacts. Mostly acknowledged features are:

GRANITE is a very structurally strong and impact resistant rock. It is a non-porous surface that never fades it colour, so is very good to use as counter tops. However, to maintain these qualities it is important to regularly reseal it as per manufacturers recommendations. The perfect characteristic of this material which makes everyone want if for the kitchen counter tops is that it is bacteria resistant.

MARBLE is widely appreciated for its aesthetic characteristics. But it is not only beautiful, it is rich with physical and technical qualities too. It is resistant to scratching and due to its strength can sustain heavy loads, which is why it is popular to be used in floors. Yet, appearance-wise, it demands knowledgeable care, as various chemicals might irreversibly impact the finish. Hence, due to being prone to stains it is not advisable to be used for kitchen counter tops, even though it is so attractive.

LIMESTONE and TRAVERTINE are both beautiful stones that mature and weather over time. Stone structure is relatively porous and therefore stains easily, so rarely used in interior applications, unless on walls or other vertical surfaces. Externally, though, it is very popular for both walls and floor construction.

ONYX is very distinct for its rich colour and active pattern. It transmits light beautifully but is also very resistant to physical and heat impact. Application-wise, it is practical to apply it to any surface – table tops, kitchen counter tops or walls which can be designed to let the light through from one space to another.

STEP 2 : Selection process

TYPE of stone chosen for the project depends not only on the designed look and feel intentions, but can be very much driven by the budgetary constraints too. Here the estimations must be considered carefully, as often the price is given in two parts: one is the cost of the raw material per/m2, which is then highly increased by the fabricator’s input. The latter includes cutting to size, applying the necessary finish, forming any designed shape and ultimately installing in place.

FINISH depends on the intended use and aspired aesthetics. The list of options is generous enough to make the stone work for you the way you want.

SUITABILITY or intended traffic affecting the stone has to be taken into account, as some are more resistant and hard wearing than others.

Finally, even though some level of MAINTENANCE is expected for any finish, frequency and type of maintenance will really be affected by how well you choose the stone. Sealing the surface of the stone is important as it will be exposed to various physical and chemical impacts. With a correctly specified seal and detailed maintenance programme, the stone will last for a very long time.

STEP 3: Consider the rest of the palette

Stones have got the exquisite power to add luxurious feel to the space. There is the risk of making the space look heavy and old-fashioned if the stone is overused or not matched correctly with the rest of the palette. Stone is a rich material that often is the hero piece or the accent in any room. By adding a very colourful and highly patterned stone, or using too much of it, in the room that is already busy will create a very overwhelming experience and stone will lose its presence.

 STEP 4 : Quality checklists

One quality that is very hard to control is the pattern of natural stone. As obvious as it can be that the look of the natural rock at cut is unpredictable, this is something that you must be aware of. Each stone sample is unique, and it will not be replicated exactly in the final pieces. The pattern and direction of veins can be specified in the design stage, but there is another way too. To ensure the best match to the approved sample, it is possible to choose the slab at a quarry and know what to expect. This, however, will inflate the cost dramatically.

Lastly, the lighting in which the stone will be seen is not less important and has to be taken into account. The appearance of colour and tone can vary a lot depending on how it is lit. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, it is safer to look and pick the stone in a similar lighting condition to the one it will live in.

Ultimately, the beauty and charm of natural materials, stone in this case, is that it inherently has the strength and character that makes it a centrepiece. If the application is well designed and the stone is picked correctly, it will bring you joy indefinitely.

6 why’s we draw inspiration from history

More often than not we are looking for inspiration from the past to sprint our ideas off in the unknown direction. This approach can be torn apart by many contradicting opinions of whether it is thorough or it is unimaginative and actually hinders designer’s creativity. Frankly, it depends of how literally ideas are interpreted into the new concept, but most importantly how strong and visionary this concept is. This article reveals how to get the most out of the inspiration boards and use past models to underpin new original schemes.

Historical references, precedent studies and inspiration boards are pooled together to describe all precedent content that we use for building the story. So, diving straight into why it is so important not to skip the storytelling or narrative phase in the project development, we emphasise the following 6 reasons:

1. Learning lessons

Being such far-reaching resource, there is plenty to discover, but not only it is a place to study the best ideas, it also is a place to learn what not to do. It is not any less important, because a comprehensive study of relevant examples reduces chances of disappointing results in the future. Lessons don’t always have to be learnt from your own mistakes.

2. Relevance to location

Storytelling inspired by concepts, events and meanings from the past is a very powerful tool to create something exceptional. Links between present and past help us imagine new original ways to approach design. Particularly, location linked historical references give weight and value to new proposals. Very big role is played by interpretation, which is a great skill unique to each individual.

3. Layers of interest

With such easy access to information, once the research has started it is really hard to stop digging. There always are more stories and meanings linked to any concept than you have ever planned to find out. The designer is the only one in control and has to be able to filter concepts for inspiration and know when to stop. Ultimately, curiosity is the driver here and it can get very addictive. But, quite often, inspiration comes from looking at something completely unrelated, so let’s bare the risk and enjoy the process.

4. Material palette

Cultural relevance can be expressed strongly through materiality. Tactile and visual associations are at the very heart of what we feel in any space. The experience of design through direct contact with materiality, that is inherited from the past or is inspired by the relevant bits of history, is very easy to connect with. Anything that allows us to start thinking of how things came together and to connect the dots between the place and the design into a story is a sophisticated type of experience that people will remember.

5. Romantic concepts

Dreamy imaginative motifs capture our emotion and hence reaction to the designed space. Our mind wonders away on a creative journey and lets us enjoy it from a very personal perspective. This is the kind of added value that is hard to capture but yet very clearly identifiable through experience.

6. One step further

Inspiration does not appear out of nowhere. Designers have to be looking around and learning from both past and present. Discrete links and subtle parallels can be formed when its least expected. Fascination can inspire great things. It motivates to create something amazing and strive to supersede the precedent. 

 We keep discovering more and more perks of doing research as we go along. All of the above overlap and merge into one argument to why we let our curiosity delve into the density of precedent study: Inspiration is an emotion-borne artefact and emotions ought to be borne out of experience.

Arcnote branding

We are very excited for the brand new business cards arriving this week.

Minimal sophisticated monochrome graphics, designed by Arcnote for Arcnote.

95 symbols + 53 dots + 3 tones + 2 fonts

10 Things that add value to a house / Part II

If you are asking questions like: What are the hidden qualities that with little effort will allow you to boost the value of your purchase? How to make the right choice that will keep the property in demand at all times? What are the characteristics that can improve appearance and use of the existing space without remodelling?, then below are the remaining 5 points that will complete your checklist from the last week’s issue:

6.   Brick façade rather than render

Having weighted pros and cons of rendered and brick facades, and not taking personal preference into account, terraced houses with brick façades seem to embrace more value than with render. Briefly: Brick is a robust material, which when done properly is maintenance free and withstands all different weather conditions. Risk here is the cost to repair of old brickwork resulting from potentially bad workmanship in the past. With render, there are many more disadvantages. Firstly, it requires more maintenance, which is time and cost. Dirt, water marks, cracks from ground or building movement all are more apparent, and will require renovation or repair. Any defect in the rendered surface would allow moisture to get beyond the building envelope into the structure and cause serious damage.

7.     Pressurised plumbing system rather than gravity fed

Typically, you will find a gravity fed system in the majority of houses, however, it might have been changed to a pressurised by previous owners. This would be an advantage in terms of a better water pressure as well as potential cost saving if you are planning internal remodelling (many new plumbing products require higher water pressure to operate). In a nut shell, installation of booster pumps or change of the system to achieve better pressure is an additional expense, whereas an advantage of the mains pressure is that hot and cold water is delivered at the same pressure. In addition, loft space gets cleared and gives an opportunity for a loft extension once the header tank/cold water cylinder (gravity fed system) is removed.

8.     Bathroom has an extractor fan for ventilation

Straightforward, yet, very important: helps to avoid mould on the bathroom walls and ceiling in future.

9.     See if surrounding properties have loft extensions

Loft extensions can add up to 20% to the property value. Neighbouring loft extentions indicate that there is sufficient head height in the attic of that row of terraces for a loft conversion. However, always check for yourself and keep in mind that roof and floor renovation will take up to 100-200mm of the existing head room. Also, remember to check the roof structure: attic trusses or cut roof timbers. Former might result in a more expensive conversion, so always important to consult with a professional for a more careful consideration of follow-on benefits vs delivery cost.

10.     Check for trees or Japanese knotweed in close proximity to the property

Large trees that are in close proximity to the building can cause structural damage as well as block day light and sun light from coming into the rooms. There are guides that suggest minimum distances between the building and certain tree types that should be kept in order to avoid damage occurring from physical pressure of roots on the building foundations (ranges from 3.5m to 20m). Secondly, something that should be completely avoided is Japanese knotweed, which is a type of an invasive plant that grows through concrete and is very hard to remove. It can do substantial damage to your property as well as cause problems and delays in getting a mortgage.

Ultimately, there is a creative solution for every challenge. Existing features and inherent characteristics of the property are key to a worthy investment and a dream home. Always consider more than just how long ago it was redecorated and what furniture fits in the room, as physical qualities of the property can provide unforeseen freedom, flexibility and scope for enhanced value. 

10 Things that add value to a house

Victorian 1837-1901 / Edwardian 1901-1918

So many things to think about when making a decision to invest into a property. Market value, location, business plan, type of investment, size and regulations etc., are all the topics that are very well described elsewhere on the web, hence we will not discuss here. This article particularly aims to interrogate only one particular side – ARCHITECTURAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Evaluating properties from an architectural point of view can often be part of your due diligence exercise, from the information available online. If you are asking questions like: What are the hidden qualities that with little effort will allow you to boost the value of your purchase? How to make the right choice that will keep the property in demand at all times? What are the characteristics that can improve appearance and use of the existing space without remodelling?, then please keep reading.

However, before we attempt to answer those questions, it is very important to reiterate that your final choice should not be emotion driven. Property where you think you see yourself living might not exactly be the best choice, whereas the one which you feel is not your ideal home, after unleashing its hidden value can surprise you and bring higher returns. Frankly, do not be put off if the property you are looking at is massively cluttered. Contemplate and see beyond the chaos to discover the true potential.

Inherent assets that you should look for in real estate/terraced house:

1.     Period property: Victorian or Edwardian

Generally, Victorian houses have more generous spatial proportions than homes of the later era. For instance, to compare the common case: ceiling height of up to 3.2m as opposed to 2.4m of current standards; or width of Victorian terrace internally usually is more than 4m, whereas the later terraces are usually up to 3.7m wide. It also usually has a double reception room as well as a feature fireplace in every room, which historically was often clad in terracotta tiles. On top of this, you might be lucky and find some original geometric terracotta tiles on the floor, which is typical for periodic homes.

2.     Existing timber floor

Existing timber floor can bring you considerable rewards. There are two good opportunities: first, existing floor boards can be given another lifetime by sanding and finishing with either vanish or oil to look like new; or, secondly, reclaimed timber floor boards can be sold online starting from 10£ per m2, depending on the quality and type of wood.

3.     Wide slot with stair oriented along the length not the width of the terrace

Orientation of the stair in the house has a significant impact on the layout and size of habitable rooms as well as spatial planning opportunities. There can be many more design solutions to re-zone the house to meet your specific aspirations when the stair is parallel to the long side of the house, and, ideally, is in a separate hallway. In the case where the stair runs across the width of the terrace, which usually happens in the narrower terraces, it essentially divides it in two, leaving less options for conversion of the space.

4.     East-West orientation & South facing garden

Usual terraced house is designed to have kitchen, dining and bedrooms facing the garden. Having a South facing garden will make liveable areas of your house brighter and will allow you to enjoy both morning and evening sun.

5.     Is there any dead space that could potentially become additional storage?

There can never be too much storage space, and spotting opportunities that are inherent to the existing building can substantially reduce the amount of clutter on show.

to be continued…