Stone of the Season
Azul Bahia Granite is one of the rarest stones because it is quarried from only one place: Bahia, Brazil. As a result, this luxury surface is not widely distributed, so you are considered lucky to get your hands on this remarkable material. Azul Bahia is made up of dark shades of blue, almost navy, which is regarded as elegant and refined. This stone is not only good for countertops, but for fantastic wall art, fireplace or shower and tub surrounds, flooring, and vanities. Azul Bahia is not only named the stone of the season because it is so unique and hard to find but because navy is making its way into more and more home interior aspects. Navy is a long-term, classic color that withstands the test of time and adds value to the investment, which is your countertops. It continues to be a coastal-inspired go-to color and pairs well with neutral color schemes
Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is a concept used to emphasize human adaptations to the natural environment, essentially connecting people with nature. This is being done in the home by maximizing natural light and using plants and natural-inspired colors and materials. Linking the indoor and outdoor spaces is a clever way to make the home feel bigger while also inviting the calming energy and natural outdoor materials inside. An easy way to introduce biophilic design into the home is with earth-toned, nature-inspired, natural stone choices such as Explosion Black granite, Marine Blue quartzite, Daino Reale marble, or an onyx whose veins mimic the organic patterns of the earth.
Elements Room featured in Pasadena Showcase House
This spring, we had the opportunity to participate in the Pasadena Showcase House thanks to Luxe Magazine and interior designer Christine Jahan. This house of design is the fundraiser produced by the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts to fund their music programs and is typically open for tours from mid-April through mid-May. When Christine approached the Luxe Magazine partners regarding who she should work with for this space, they recommended us for her stone needs. She knew she wanted to bring in natural elements such as plants and wood and then, of course, natural stone, so a boutique stone showroom was just what she needed! Christine’s task in this home was to remodel the young adult bathroom fit for a 20-30- year-old and provide a peaceful feeling. She aimed for an open feel, an area that would calm the senses as soon as one entered the room, and decided to line the walls of the entire space with chic marble. Upon visiting Elements Room in North Hollywood, Christine was drawn to Cloud White Marble, an exotic natural stone quarried from the Southeast region of Brazil. Christine said, “when I first saw the material in the showroom, it took me somewhere else… that is not often a reaction that I get when I look at a stone.” From Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Brazil’s equivalent to Carrara in the stone business, Cloud White is a hard marble with an extreme white tone in its light mass background. Featuring blues, greens, creamy whites, and grays, its granulation moves from the thin tight grain mass to waves of calcite crystals flowing in harmony, revealing a perfect light and smooth color combination. Cloud White Marble can be used indoors and outdoors and in translucent applications. The final touch in this bathroom is the LED cove lighting placed along the ceiling, which shines through and accentuates the crystalline properties of the stone.
OKC Color Collaboration
Our Oklahoma City location held a fantastic event in collaboration with Benjamin Moore and Cambria to kick off the summer in what became known as the 2022 Color Collaboration. This open house event featured the most beautiful natural stone, quartz, paint, cabinetry, and other design elements! Designers and other industry professionals toured our showroom to view a curated collection of natural stone and quartz surfaces paired with matching paint options, fabric swatches, cabinetry colors, fixtures, and finishes while grazing on a delicious slab-sized charcuterie board. The idea was to visualize all of the pieces of design fusing together, creating the perfect mix of colors, tones, and textures. Keep an eye out for this event in some of our other markets, such as Springdale, Arkansas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, coming this fall.
The Black Granite Comeback
Black granite was a staple in the 90s, but recently white marble has been all the rage. Before the Carrara craze, the coarse-grained black stone was the go-to design for any style and is now making a comeback. The black countertops of today are as timeless as white marble and lend themselves to any design style, from traditional to modern and even minimalist. If you’re still on the fence about bringing back black granite, you can start by mixing it up. Incorporating natural wood and creamy cabinets eliminates the fear of the black “wearing down” the space. You can also opt for a leather finish that leaves a slightly matte appearance as opposed to polished, or pick an option with veins to mimic marble. Black countertops can add contrast to an otherwise all-white space or a sense of drama and moodiness when paired with other dark tones.
Springdale IDS Event
Another key event to kick off summer was at our Springdale location in collaboration with the Interior Design Society of Northwest Arkansas. Together we threw an evening of natural stone education, live music, food, drinks, and prizes that over 50 of our dearest customers and partners enjoyed. To start the night, the attendees viewed a video about the stone process displayed on our white Fiji quartz while enjoying our Tempest Crystal quartzite-inspired cocktail. Bre, Springdale Manager, and Nancy, Regional Manager, then gave a presentation on the history of Pacific Shore Stones and how our operating partners travel around the world to hand select the most beautiful natural stones to bring our customers a carefully curated selection of surfaces. The evening concluded with a tour of the showroom accompanied by live music.
