MATERIALS AND EFFECTS: NATURAL STONE
FLYING THE FLAGSTONE
Clare Thomas, Marketing Manager of Indigenous, talks about the resurgence of flagstone floors in modern homes.
Nothing captures that wholesome, heritage look quite like a flagstone. It’s a material that’s seeped in history, creating a grand entrance in a stately home or majestic church. But you may be surprised to learn that it’s also much sought-after for modern spaces too, as consumers strive to achieve the authentic. And, that as well as fabulous reclaimed materials, there are some very affordable ones too.
Most reclaimed flagstone floors originate from houses in France and Italy. Typically, these floors were around 100mm thick and were laid without a damp proof membrane. Today, it’s impractical to lay such a thick stone (let alone successfully salvage it in one lump), so they are cut down into tiles with a thickness of around 20/30mm. The top layer is the original worn surface - the ‘true’ reclaimed flagstone. The remaining material underneath can also be worked to create further worn slabs. It’s an absolute labour of love, with a price tag to match.
New flagstone flooring is more feasible and affordable and, for the consumer, key considerations centre around size, colour and finish. Choice of size is down to personal taste, where the floor is being laid and what type of look a customer wants to achieve, be it a random pattern or differing lengths. Often, smaller formats work best in smaller spaces but it’s really down to individual preference. Some flagstones are now coming through in much bigger sizes, up to 1.2 m in length. This tends to push the price up, because they need to be expertly cut and the original piece of stone needs to be of significant size.
When it comes to colour, a contrast to the surrounding décor often works best. Very yellow
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tones tend to be less popular these days, even in the Cotswolds where most of the buildings are varying buttery shades. Creams and beiges are still very sought-after but pale grey flagstone flooring is very popular, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Dark black and blue tones work really well too.
Sourcing stones from different quarries allows you to offer an original flagstone look, in a mix of tones that complement and contrast each other. A careful eye is needed from the stone supplier though, to ensure the colour mix works well together.
With texture, the quality of the finishing needs to be carefully checked; this could be expert or mediocre. Our industry continues to explore new and different finishes, so there are many different options available. For example, our own ‘Shire Sandblasted’ is one of our best-selling limestones, which has been sandblasted to create a very different looking stone; essentially a new product. This type of finish is ideal for specification in bathrooms and outdoors, as the textured finish creates a good non- slip surface.
Just like other stone finishes, there are abundant flagstone options available. Our own range now includes 18 different flagstones – both new and reclaimed - in numerous different sizes; to suit the demand for variety from today’s customers, as they strive to create an individual look. Interior design has become far more eclectic, with natural materials, like flagstones, being chosen for their authenticity and longevity. It’s a consumer choice that runs far deeper than aesthetics alone, and one which we expect to see grow over the coming years.
www.indigenous.co.uk www.tomorrowstileandstone.co.uk
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