What’s New for 2015

A new year means new trends, styles and designs in flooring. Opustone is already ahead of the game with three New and Now marble products and one granite design that will help kick your year off right.

Just because the beauty and elegance of marble has been cherished for over five centuries, it does not mean its style has to get old and dull. Opustone is proud to showcase three new marble slabs that are sure to floor anybody who walks in your house in 2015.

Creola Antique

Our Creola Antique design combines the traditional themes that the Greek and Romans adored over 500 years ago with a modern twist of a wood like appearance at first glance. It is an exquisite combination of the classic marble style with a hint of gray hues that is seldom seen in stone tiles. It creates a tone of edginess in the timeless look marble provides that only few designs master.

Calacatta Gold

The Calacatta Gold marble slab carries a more traditional look to it than the Creola Antique. Don’t let the elegance fool you though. It is built from a rock that is also refereed as a “crystalline rock” or “shinning stone,” meaning that it hoists durability and artistry all at once. The gorgeous gold trimmings that are found inside this exquisite stone inspired its name, Calacatta Gold. You will find gold glitters all over your floor as the light changes throughout the day, unwittingly changing the scenery in your room.

Panda

Our third “New and Now” marble is one of our most unique stones yet. Just as the panda animal symbolizes peacefulness, strength and compassion, our Panda marble floor will draw the same esteem into your room. The “Panda” marble hosts a rare union of black and white that is only seen in the most exotic home designs. This stone is sure to catch the attention of anybody who walks into the room, creating the same sense of peace and allure the Chinese dynasties worshiped pandas for.

Sky Gold

Our fourth new stone is introduced into our exquisite granite collection. Sky Gold, receiving its name from the touches of yellow inside the stone that give it an incessant movement, is an eye-catcher. With the durability that granite provides, the sun kissed look that Sky Gold provides will never be compromised.

Opustone is dedicated in providing the most alluring stones from the around the world to fit your home design desires. With our exceptional customer service and striking stones, we guarantee your vision is in our showroom.

The Best Stone for Your Kitchen Floor

The kitchen is the heart of any home. Whether family or guests, your kitchen is bound to be used and seen in different events and gatherings.  In consequence, it can also turn into the messiest room in a matter of hours. There are different types of stones you can choose from to keep your kitchen floor gorgeous and convenient at the same time. Opustone provides a variety of products that will help your kitchen remain flawless when it’s not used and an easy area to clean when it’s in the caught in the storm. To help you chose your perfect kitchen flooring look in your design, here are some suggestions to consider.

Travertine

Travertine is a gorgeous option to have in your kitchen.  Many put it as a counter-top, but many now include the timeless stone as a kitchen floor. The stone is greatfor kitchen use because of its warming look, durability and charm. The natural design in travertine adds a boost of modernity to your kitchen with its colors, patterns and gradations. The floor is perfect for anybody who is looking for a Tuscan inspired design. The only disadvantage about travertine is that it is sensitive to acidic foods and drinks. However, it is easy to clean so no damage will be permanently caused if something does fall on it. Travertine also ages beautiful, so you will have a timeless look that will only improve as the years pass by.

Limestone

Not only is limestone a great option if you are looking for an earthy, neutral look, but it is one of the most low-maintenance stones you can have include in your designs. Limestone was a popular stone during the medieval periods for its rugged, tough stature so it can, most likely, withstand any form of cooking project you go on. It is one of the most durable stones you can place as a floor and will not disappoint in its look. The stone is ideal for homes that are in hot areas like South Florida, for the stone is naturally cool, a great attribute to have in your floor while you are using the stone during the warm, summer months.

Granite

Like limestone, granite is also one of the most durable stones you can have in your kitchen. It has a classy, modern touch and comes in more designs than limestone. Its surface is very hard to scratch and with basic cleaning, will maintain a pristine look that is sometimes hard to keep with other stones. You do not have to worry about acidic foods, juice, grease, oil or heavy objects like pots and pants, because the surface was created to withstand it. Don’t let the toughness fool you though, granite always has a polished, high-gloss look that catches the lights around your house that adds a sparkle in the design.

For any more of your kitchen flooring needs, do not hesitate to call Opustone at one of our three locations for the best suggestions and designs.

Noriata-limestone flooring with a Roma Imperiale- granite back wall.

Different Applications for Natural Stone

Whether in a residential or commercial setting, natural stone products—from Travertine to special gem lines like Antolini Precioustones—add a touch of uniqueness and distinction to any space. But you may not know that when making the choice to install natural stone, the purpose that the stone will be put to can actually play a major role in what you should select. Not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to make maintenance and care easier, certain types of natural stone simply perform better than others in certain settings. While this guide is far from exhaustive, it can give you an idea of what to pick—or what to suggest to someone who is making the decision to incorporate natural stone into their home or business.

Best Stones for Floors and Walls

There are many excellent choices for incorporating natural stone into floors and walls. For example, Travertine, with its (usually) warm color and almost hypnotic veining, is wonderful for floor and all applications. It is actually popular not only indoors, but as an outdoor material as well, since Travertine is naturally water “resistant,” due to the way that the stone is formed. Onyx is an excellent type of natural stone for accents and walls, though it can be somewhat delicate due to the way in which it is formed, so incorporating this material into building or renovation plans requires some thought. Quartzite and slate can also work well as flooring and wall materials, usually in tile form, but shaling can be an issue with slate; shaling is a condition where flakes or pieces of the material fall or break off of the tile or slab. There are a lot of great natural stone products that are perfectly suited to flooring and walls—but some do require more maintenance, which can drive up the cost for businesses.

Best Stones for Other Applications

In addition to floors and walls, many people use natural stone for purposes like countertops—in kitchens as well as bathrooms. Some natural stone types to a better job than others at these applications. Granite, for example, is marvelous for counter tops, and has long been considered the best possible choice for the kitchen in particular, where it’s cool temperature and hardness make it a favored choice for baking enthusiasts. While some like it for floors as well, it shines in decorative functions because the stone tends to have a complex and eye-catching pattern. While marble is sometimes favored for bathroom countertops, it is not always the best choice for the kitchen. Onyx is also a popular choice for specialty surfaces like vanity countertops. Like marble, limestone can work very well as a bathroom countertop material, though its porousness does not lend well to being used in the kitchen, where it can be easily stained.

Overall, the type of natural stone that works best for a particular space and project depends on a number of factors including individual taste and the way in which a room will be used. But there are some forms of natural stone that simply shine the most in particular applications—and that’s one factor to consider when making a selection for home or business.

Going Green Has Never Looked So Good

Opustone, known for Florida’s best selection of natural stones, is now the exclusive Florida distributor of SantaMargherita® marble and quartz engineered surfaces - the perfect blend of beauty, ecology and economy.

The stunning surfaces are available in more than 90 colors and a wide variety of finishes and sizes to fit your project. While durable enough for flooring and stairs, these unique surfaces are also perfect for use as windowsills, counter tops, wall cladding and more. Best of all, these surfaces have low environmental impact, an ideal choice for those seeking to create a more ecologically conscious home or commercial project.

SantaMargherita® surfaces, available at Opustone’s Miami and Jacksonville locations, are part of Opustone’s continued commitment to offering a variety of quality stone choices that suit your project and lifestyle. Whether you are looking for environmentally conscious choices, natural stone slabs and tiles or small lots available as cash and carry, Opustone has an impressive selection of materials to choose from.

To learn more about SantaMargherita® or other Opustone products click here or call 888-900-6787 to speak to a knowledgeable representative.

More Than 100,000 Square Feet of Inspiration

Where do you find your inspiration to create a masterpiece? Nature… the shower… a warehouse?

Opustone’s slab warehouse, at more than 100,000 square feet, features a nearly endless selection of the best slabs and tiles available in travertine, marble, granite, limestone, quartzite and onyx. The selection is large enough to spend several hours looking over the different options for your perfect stone match. Luckily, the knowledgeable and experienced Opustone staff will guide through the entire process with ease and assurance.

Once you find a possible match, you’ll experience one of the most impressive facets of the facility: Opustone’s crane system. It is specially designed to seek out your exact slab, carefully lift it and escort it to a designated viewing area so you can get up close and personal when making your selection.

The entire experience is designed to bring Opustone’s vast selection right to your fingertips making it very easy to find your inspiration.

Stop into our showroom and a friendly sales representative will help get you started in finding the perfect stone for your masterpiece.