Ahead of the Surface Design Show we explore some of the interior design trends for 2023. With new materials coming onto the market everyday, is natural stone still the best choice to tick every box on your design project?
Put very simply by Petina Julius, Biophillic Design is “connecting you to nature through beautiful and sustainable living”. It has been an Interior Design concept that has risen in popularity as we seek ways to build that are more in-keeping with the world around us. Looking to bridge the gap between the natural world and the built environment. We’ve spent more time than ever at home over the last few years. This has changed our relationship with our home and what we look for it to provide. We seek comfort, sanctuary and connection. Our homes have become somewhere that we can travel without leaving and reach loved ones from afar. Looking to combat the impact of covid on our mental health we now turn to our homes to provide an energy that is holistic and optimistic.
Petina notes “As humans, we have an innate relationship with nature. It is scientifically proven that being in natural environments has a positive effect on our mood and health. This impact on our well-being is at the heart of biophilic design principles”.
Natural stone is a beautiful way to incorporate nature into your home. There has long been a trend for using a limestone or sandstone extending through the house and into the garden. More simply than that, a stone feature sink, worktop or even shelving can help connect your home an the environment.
Cited as a key interior design trend for 2023 by Good Housekeeping, natural stone slabs are one way to add a touch of nature to your home. 2022 saw a rise in popularity of bold colours in marble choices. Calacatta Viola became one of the most popular stones for those aiming to make a statement and still compliment a soft and subtle colour palette. Whilst Rainforest Green, Verde Guatemala and Verde Luana were the top choices for those with a little more daring. As muted colours are an incoming trend for 2023, these remain great choices to add some drama to your kitchen or bathroom.
One of the key considerations when installing a stone slab, whether for a backsplash, worktop or floor is the finish. Marble is typically thought of as being shiny and showy. But we are seeing an increase in honed/ velvet, satin or leathered finishes. Not only can this highlight the natural veining and beauty of the stone, but can also be more practical in your home. Although a honed or velvet finish isn’t more hard wearing, it does have the benefit of not showing etch marks and scratches quite as starkly.
Marble is highly acid-sensitive. This means that fruit juice, vinegar and other everyday liquids can cause a burn or etch mark on the surface. With a polished stone, this will show as a dull patch in high contrast to its surrounds. When the stone is finish to a satin or honed look, this is less obvious. Consequently ongoing professional maintenance is sought less frequently and is less expensive. Many of our client opt to have their worktops, tables and backsplashes refinished to be less shiny during the restoration process. And if you change your mind, it can be polished again at a later stage.
There is some juxtaposition when it comes to the colours that are cited as key interior design trends for 2023. House Beautiful references warm neutrals and subtle shades of bold alongside vibrant orange, as well as browns and beiges which can feel a little contradictory. Notably, they also hint towards a need for versatility. Could natural stone be the way to tie all of these things together?
We are all familiar with the beautiful veining of marble. The minerals littered throughout the stone that add hints of greens, blues, reds and gold. This is a perfect way to use a neutral background in a subtle base palette, whilst adding a pop of vibrancy that will fit nicely with brighter colour choices.
Whilst limestone, sandstone and travertine might on the surface seem to tick the brown colour trend box, they might actually be the perfect way to marry together a mixed palette too. One of the greatest pleasures in using natural stone is its uniqueness. No two tiles will be the same. A limestone or travertine floor can provide shades of greys, brown and beige in one space. This can easily compliment the warm hues of a colour scheme, as well providing a soft background for bolder choices. For the more orange toned palette sandstone can be the perfect partner whilst slate adds shades of green, red and orange to a darker scheme.
Most importantly, natural stone adds versatility and durability. When maintained properly, the stone will last beyond the latest trend and will never go out of fashion. Colours, cabinets, fixtures and fittings can be changed as often as you like and the stone will be the one steadfast feature.
The durability of stone is one of its key benefits that makes it the perfect choice for sustainable design. Noted by Stylist as one of the key Interior Design trends for 2023, sustainability has been a hot topic for some time. We recently explored this concept with Stone Federation and when compared to other building materials stone came out on top.
Sustainability means assessing the whole life cycle of a project. This includes the raw material extraction, production, distribution, use and end of life. The fewer processes required to get the material from raw material to finished product, the better for the environment.
For natural stone the process is relatively simple: stone is quarried from the ground, cut into slabs or tiles, transported to site and installed. Once in place it will often last for decades, and in some cases, centuries. Thanks to this durability, there is also the potential for the creative re-use of many stones.
The longevity of stone is one of the main advantages. A chipped or cracked porcelain tile will need replacing. However natural stones such as marble, limestone and travertine can be restored.
Furthermore, the processes used to restore stone are mostly chemical free. The stone surface is ground away using diamond abrasives. This removes scratches and etch marks to reveal a fresh layer of stone that can be polished. This can be done many times, simply using water and electricity from your home. Most of the sealants then used to protect the stone have been developed to be eco-friendly too.
Ahead of Decorex 2024, we are exploring the hot topics of the show that so naturally throw stone into the limelight.
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