An evergreen building material, stone is widely popular in
homes because of its rugged and ageless appeal. Of course, its innate strength
also works to be a major advantage. In fact, we all know that large stone
blocks are vital for the strong foundation of a building.
We can find many buildings whose exterior facade is covered
with stone slabs or blocks or tiles. In Bengaluru itself, we can find many such
examples. One of the major landmarks of the city, Bangalore Palace which is built
on the architectural style of London’s Buckingham palace, is one such building.
Another age-old beauty is the General Post Office building, whose exterior is
built completely with stones. Even VidhanaSoudha, the heart of the State’s
governance, was built using specially selected stones from Chikkaballapur.
Residential spaces are also utilising stones these days. Jal Vayu Vihar located
at Kammanahalli is a beautiful structure made of stones.
Stone, as a building material, is highly durable and can be
chiselled into any form or design to suit one’s style of decor. Its rustic
appearance and natural texture lend a sense of beauty and lavishness to the
buildings. Since stones are rugged, you can expect them to last a lifetime. No
amount of rain and shine will do any damage to them. Slates, limestone or the
commonly used Cuddapah and Shahabad stones are much preferred.
Stones can work beautifully in your home’s interiors too.
They can be used for the interior walls or certain sections of a room. Cladding
all the four walls may not lend a good ambience to the place. If one wall is
decorated with stone slabs, the other walls can be in wood or matching colours
so as to complement the stone. A living area where there is a provision for a
bar section gets an aesthetic look if that part is clad with stones. Stones can
also be used on an arch separating two sections of a room or even in a space
connecting two rooms. Why, even your dining table can have a stone-clad top for
that rustic look.
One of the best features of stone is that it can be blended
with wood. So, you can include it on the ceiling on a stone-clad wall or on
either sides of the wall. The shape and size of the stone used for cladding
should be in proportion to the space , only then will it enhance the ambience.
If you are unsure about what to use, it’s best to go in for slim
rectangular-shaped stones.
Want your home decor to be the perfect mix of contemporary
and traditional? Go in for stone tiles, decorative stone walls, arches and
columns. Slabs are widely used for flooring, thereby giving the place a rustic
look when compared to other polished surfaces. For flooring, naturally polished
stones are your best bet. They require very less maintenance. Stones also come
in handy as display stands, shelves and decorative ledges.
For those who don’t fancy a rustic theme at home, stone
pebbles can work wonders. Available in varied forms, pebbles can be used both
in the interiors and the exteriors. Use these pebbles in cobbled pathways,
pergolas and water fountains. Why, pebbles can also be made into wall murals.
Using decorative materials made out of pebbles can give an antique look to the
entire building.
Install simple blocks of stone in the verandah or your garden
for seating and watch the space transform into a charming zone instantly. For
the porticos, the flooring and walls can be clad with stone slabs with hanging
baskets fixed to the walls at appropriate places. Since it is the rainy season,
put a tray filled with pebbles right next to the main door for your wet shoes.
This way, when you come back home from a downpour, you don’t have to worry
about dirtying the entire house.
Now is the time to indulge in some beautiful stone decor for
the stunning new look of your abode.
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