How to use jet black granite in your commercial project for a WOW factor

pietra grey vanity and splashback

Using jet black granite in your commercial project may just be the wow factor you’re looking for. Granite and other natural stones come in a variety of different colours but black offers a unique aesthetic, a powerful impact and a special feel when used in construction, architecture and interior design.

Black granite is among the most popular stones in home and office designs and, due to its durability and luxury look. Suitable for traditional and modern decors, jet black granite oozes sophistication and power with a combined elegant etherealness few other materials offer. 

Knowing just how to use jet black granite in your commercial project for a wow factor however is certainly very important as you can both overdo it or under-sell it.

What is jet black granite?

Black granite is a natural stone that’s been used in construction for thousands and thousands of years. It offers numerous valuable properties, including being particularly reflective of the sun. Available both in tiles and slabs, this dense material is used in a variety of applications in both residential homes and apartments and commercial offices and workspaces. 

Jet black granite is the darkest black colour granite comes in. This pure black variation is also becoming increasingly common. Often referred to as absolute black, pitch black, or Nero Assoluto jet black granite looks refined, high end and exquisite. 

Why choose jet black granite?

You don’t choose a stone material like jet black granite unless you want to make a bold statement. Whether used internally or as part of the exterior, jet black granite stands out and can be a positively arresting image that will draw the eye and certainly impress. 

Modern, sleek and utterly luxurious, jet black granite provides a striking look to elevate just about any space or area with a unique, bespoke aesthetic. That’s not it though: black as a colour and black granite as a material are not bound by fluctuations in fashion. This is one style that won’t fade or look dated ever. 

A big selling point of black granite is that it’s versatile in its complementary design in both colour and texture. Much like clothing styles, black matches, blends and suits just about any other design. Subtle uses of jet black granite can enhance the other colours already incorporated in the surrounding area and it can stand out as its own feature. Inside, outside, floors, countertops, wall cladding… There are  numerous applications for both commercial and residential spaces.

Moreover, black granite requires very little by way of maintenance. Resistant to heat and water, it’s a durable and easy to clean material that will not only last but look great for a long time.

How do you use jet black granite in a commercial project? 

Black as a colour works best when incorporated in minimalist colour combinations and in conjunction with hard yet smooth design lines. When you’re putting together the design for your commercial project you’ll probably be thinking about whether you want to go traditional and opulent, modern and innovative, industrial and striking, or contemporary yet understated. No matter what impression you’re aiming to achieve in your commercial space, there are plenty of opportunities to incorporate jet black granite.

Kitchen countertops

Kitchen countertops are understandably most commonly associated with residential homes. As commercial spaces and offices become more and more accustomed to incorporating home-like elements, like end-of-journey features or lounge/breakout areas, the commercial kitchen is becoming equally more important. A badly designed kitchen can stick out like a sore thumb in an office or commercial kitchen space. 

A polished countertop will add both a sense of depth and versatile colour without requiring you to redesign or rearrange the rest of the space. Jet black granite matches stainless steel perfectly as well, which is why it makes for a great commercial option.

Office bathrooms

Commercial bathrooms can be a sticky issue design-wise. Black granite allows for professionalism in design and yet sophistication in aesthetic in a part of the office that is often neglected and yet used by everyone every day. 

On a practical note, granite is impressively resistant to heat, water, and humidity, so incorporating jet black granite is a win-win option. One important thing to note is that many commercial bathrooms don’t have windows or if they do they’re opaque and block natural sunlight. Bear in mind how much natural sunlight gets in and how strong the electrical lighting is when designing the bathroom.

Flooring

When it comes to creating a “wow” factor this is as bold as it gets. Black-coloured floors can add a sense of intensity to a commercial space while still ensuring a sense of richness and vitality. Commercial spaces are often designed to impress newcomers, visitors, clients or customers and nothing will make an impression like gleaming jet black flooring. Much like the bathroom option, it’s recommended that you keep the black granite flooring to spaces beside large windows with plenty of sunlight. 

Feature walls

A common design component of modern offices and commercial spaces is a feature wall to both break up monotone aesthetics and add a sense of character. There are lots of options for feature walls but nothing quite screams high-class, impressive professionalism like a subtle yet striking jet black granite feature wall. These walls can feature in both open plan offices, in a private office or even as a backdrop for bathrooms, kitchens or lunch rooms.

Outdoor cladding

So far this list has been focused largely on internal design options for your commercial space. There’s no reason to confine jet black granite inside. Your outdoor wall cladding offers a tremendous canvas upon which to add a wow factor. Jet black granite looks absolutely stunning in direct, natural sunlight and it won’t look worn or tacky when exposed to the inevitable dust or water.

If your commercial space is near a thoroughfare or exposed to traffic, jet black granite will be a head-turning feature to help put your business in front of more and more passing people. It’s a surefire way to stand out in public. 

Let’s talk all things jet black granite

If it’s not clear by this point it’s worth mentioning that jet black granite is astoundingly versatile in application and magnificent as an aesthetic design. We know that some people are hesitant when it comes to the boldness of black natural stone but are still curious as to how black granite can be used to bring a real wow factor to their commercial project. If you’d like to find out more about this amazing material, get in touch with our marble-loving team today.

Home renovations: How to choose the right materials for the Australian Climate

White Onyx Fireplace Wall 1 1

There’s a lot to take into account when choosing materials for your house renovations. Of course you want the aesthetic to suit your style, taste and the design of the rest of the home. Additionally, you want long lasting and durable materials (hello, natural stone!). An important consideration to take into account is the climate. Home materials can make a huge impact on the comfort and practicality of your home. 

Before embarking on a home renovations project, it’s important to understand how different materials and house modifications will affect your ability to keep a home insulated and heated in cold climates and cool in warmer climates. The right materials should complement the climate you’re living in and add to your level of comfort. How do you choose the right materials for the Australian climate? 

Let start off with a brief summary of what the Australian climate is.

Australian climate

We’re a pretty big country as it turns out and so there are actually a number of different climates. Northern parts of the country are more tropical in climate with hot and humid summers followed by warm yet dry winters. Southern areas tend to see hot and dry summers with rainier winters.

The general climate zones can be summarised in the following categorisations:

– Hot humid summer with a warm winter

– Warm humid summer with a mild winter

– Hot dry summer with a warm winter

– Hot dry summer with a cool winter

Material choice

External walls in particular, as well as the roofing, make the largest impacts on a home when it comes to climate suitability.

Commonly used materials for increased insulation include roofing tiles, Colorbond sheets, bricks, weatherboards, and polystyrene foam and more. These materials are widely used across Australia to offer both insulation in colder winters without creating a hot box during the summer.

Of course, depending on the specific climate your home is in, the ideal material or combination of materials will fluctuate. 

Colour choice

As a general rule darker colours absorb heat and lighter colours reflect it. This is why dark rooftops are not ideal for particularly warm climates, like much of Australia. Light coloured materials, such as bricks or natural stone, are strong choices for warmer climates that don’t experience anything beyond a mild winter.

Glass

Glass, of course, is a key component in all homes, but the clear float glass that is commonly used in windows does not offer much insulation for colder climates. While extensive glass panelling might look lovely, make sure to take into consideration how cold it can get in the winter. There are ways of improving the insulation of glass windows including thick curtains, replacing generic glass with higher insulating types, and double glazing. When renovating on a budget, you may want to make your glass-related decision based on the costs required in ensuring further insulation. 

Of course, on the flip side large windows can also heat up a house quickly in the summer by allowing the sunlight to filter in unobstructed. Again, if you’re dying to use large amounts of glass, glazing and blinds are always good starting points to mitigate excess heat from sunlight. 

Moisture and heat damage

Understandably, a lot of focus is given to how hot or cold you’ll be inside your home based on the materials used. There are some other climate-related factors to consider as well: how much damage will the heat and humidity (moisture) cause to your home? The best materials for building or renovating a home will protect against moisture damage and heat damage and mitigate the long term costs to you.

Some material-related ideas to help combat this include:

  • Stainless steel/aluminium fasteners to reduce rust
  • Permeable indoor wall coverings to let moisture escape
  • Vapor barriers under the house
  • Elevated foundations 

Insulation

Much of Australia is beset by rather hot summers which makes having the right insulation materials absolutely vital. Ideal insulation materials include:

  • Cellular glass
  • Plastic foam
  • Mineral wool
  • Fibreglass 

Using natural stone

Natural stone is a commonly used material in home design and construction throughout Australia. Of course, much of this has to do with its luxury aesthetic, long term durability and application versatility. Yet thanks to the high energy density of natural stones they also offer great thermal conductivity. Natural stone can come in a variety of colours so choosing the right shade for your specific climate is easy.

Limestone

Limestone remains nice and cool no matter how hot the temperature is and its light colour allows less heat absorption and more heat refraction. It’s a wonderful material for pool areas or outdoor renovations.

Travertine

Like limestone, travertine retains its coolness and while it does come in darker and more complex shadings/patterns than limestone it offers the same environmental benefits.

Granite

Granite, surprisingly, can be very cool and is used commonly throughout Australia. Of course, the darker the granite the more heat it will absorb.

Marble

Marble is a unique natural stone but its light shading and subtle veining allows it to both refract sunlight to keep your home bright without absorbing and retaining too much heat during the summer months.

Quartzite

Quartzite comes in a wide variety of colours so finding the perfect shade for your climate isn’t hard at all. If you’re in a particularly hot climate, it will definitely be worth investing in a lighter colour of quartzite than one of the darker shades. 

Talk to an expert

Australia is the lucky country for many reasons and our sunny, lovely climate is just one of them. Yet, it can still get rather hot, rainy, or cold, so making sure you know how to choose the right materials for the Australian climate before designing, building or renovating your home is very, very important.

Always talk to an architect, designer or construction expert so that you can find the best material for you without sacrificing your visual preferences or aesthetic style.

When it comes to marble, granite and any other natural stone, make sure to consult the Euro Marble team. We don’t just know which stones look prettiest, we’ll be able to advise on which will function best for you too. 

Expert design tips: How to pair marble with wood and metal

Granite Kitchen

Builders, interior designers, home owners and architects have loved using marble for generations.

This natural stone is famous for its luxurious aesthetic and its practical durability. From its cool, cold tone, to the rich cloudy veining that gives it its iconic and signature look, the versatility of marble use in a home is nearly endless. Kitchens, bathrooms, walls, flooring, staircases, fireplaces…

However, not everyone wants to deck out their home in top-to-toe marble. This is of course why lots of people choose to feature marble as a stone benchtop for their kitchen or as a vanity in their bathroom.

Most people don’t realise that a marble aesthetic doesn’t limit your ability to incorporate numerous other materials inside your home. Pairing wood and marble can provide a jaw-dropping look to your home, and using a variety of warmer metals to balance the coolness of marble can help bring a room to life in extraordinary ways.

We’ve curated a number of expert design tips for pairing marble with wood and metal to help inspire you on your marble journey.

How to pair marble with wood

  1. Slatted Wooden Walls

Slatted wooden walls have become very popular in recent years. This unique style of wall adds a glorious dimension to your home by offering a practical partition without preventing or interrupting air flow, obscuring natural light from windows or enclosing the space too much.

Pairing a slatted wooden wall against or by marble wall cladding, flooring or panels not only looks elegant but offers a number of benefits. It won’t block the view of your gorgeous marble stone. It doesn’t block the light bouncing off your light marble tones and it allows the light to filter through in a very interesting way. 

  1. Marble kitchens with wooden cabinets

How and where you decide to use marble in your kitchen is up to you. This stunning natural stone perfectly suits kitchen benchtops, flooring, tabletops or splashbacks. So, how do you match marble kitchens with wood?

A marble counter or splashback is a wonderful complementary design choice with wooden cabinets. If you’re a fan of minimalist or Scandinavian design we recommend light wood against a light marble. If you’re happy to go darker, then this design idea works well too. Pairing elevated wooden cabinetry with low-key marble applications will add texture and depth to your kitchen in an elegant manner.

  1. Wooden paneling

An excellent opportunity to add a combination of elegant marble and rich wood aesthetics without overdoing either is by combining wall panelling with your flooring. Wooden flooring with marble wall panels, especially if it includes ridges to increase depth, can look absolutely stunning. Alternatively, you can switch this around and use marble flooring with wooden panels on the wall.

A variation of this design includes alternating wall panels with both marble and wood. Done elegantly, this design can be absolutely jaw dropping. Bathroom walls offer a great opportunity for this design idea as well.

  1. Flooring

If you want to incorporate both wooden flooring and marble flooring in your home we highly recommend opting for a herringbone style floor for your wooden flooring. You can use this in hallways, lounges, dining rooms or even a bedroom. Opting for a running transition to a marble floor in your kitchen, laundry or bathroom will provide a smooth change in material without either looking jarring or out of place.

  1. Accent furniture or features

Marble can make for an absolutely stunning flooring or wall material. For some people, however, they want to infuse a bit of wooden warmth which is why adding a piece of accent wooden furniture to sit on top or beside your marble can work wonders. Alternatively, opt for a single wooden countertop in your kitchen against a marble splashback or a wooden counter in your bathroom to add a striking feature and break up the marble. 

How to pair marble with metal

  1. Metal backsplash

Metal backsplashes can add a striking visual element to a home and kitchen. In addition to being endlessly practical in a space highly exposed to liquid and water, metal can make a perfectly complementary aesthetic to marble countertops by balancing the natural stone vibes with a semi-industrious but elegant look.

  1. Brass and marble

Warm metals, like brass, work best with marble as they offer a contrast to the largely light coloured stones. (Though darker marbles are available as well.) 

It’s a common design choice to match brass with white or grey marbles to help balance the brightness and darkness of each. Brass faucets or cabinet handles offer a royal sophistication against the marble around it.

  1. Brass tile trims

An understated but truly eye-catching design idea for brass and metal is to incorporate thin brass tims around marble tiling. Whether you’re using black or white marble, brass metal trimmings will add an inviting sense of warmth and depth to the sleek marble visuals. 

  1. Marble topping

Another Scandinavian-inspired idea that retains a minimalist visual preference while incorporating both metal and marble is to use marble table- or countertops over shiny gold, brass or other warm metals.

This design choice allows you to balance the aesthetics of metal, which can be overwhelming if used too much, with the coolness of a marble benchtop, countertop or table top. A slight variation of this idea is the incorporation of a metal counter in the bathroom above brass or gold cabinetry. 

Conclusion

We’ve only just broken the surface on the different and unique options available when incorporating marble stone in your home. Whether you’re looking to combine luxury marble with rich wood or sleek metal, the various options available will help you achieve the ultimate material balance and textual contrast.

If you’d like to find out more about how you can use marble in your home or how to pair it with wood, metal or any other material, get in touch with the Euro Marble team today. We’re always bursting at the seams with marble-related ideas!