While Silestone surfaces can help rooms feel cooler during hot summer days, they also create a warm, organic atmosphere in modern interiors – especially when contrasted against glass surfaces and other natural materials, such as wood. Different types of stone surfaces add textural interest and bring a touch of the outdoors into the home.
Grange Residence, Australia, by Conrad Architects
Australian studio Conrad Architects described its design for Grange Residence as a “split form of minimalist stone blocks.” Inside the four-bedroom home, concrete and stone were used to create a minimalist interior.
The living room is a smorgasbord of stone detailing, with marble used for both shelves and furniture and a contrasting stone chosen for a built-in bench.
Greetings from Rome, Lithuania, by 2XJ
A structured stone wall with arched openings has become a decorative centrepiece in this apartment in Lithuania, designed by local studio 2XJ. The studio clad the wall in slabs of Italian travertine to turn it into an elegant feature.
“We decided to highlight this wall and create the home around it, to separate the house into active and restful spaces,” the studio explained.
Chalet, Switzerland, by Liaigre
Paris studio Liaigre refurbished this Swiss chalet in St Moritz, excavating a basement to add a sauna and a spa.
The granite leftover from the excavation was used to line the living room walls, creating an interior that nods to the snow-capped mountains outside.
Laurelhurst, US, by MW Works
US studio MW Works updated this 1960s home in Seattle to create a more open layout. A material palette of wood, concrete, stone and glass was used for the renovation.
The studio aimed to create a stronger connection between the interiors and the outdoors, as seen in the living room. Here, floor-to-ceiling windows open up to the outside, while the fireplace has been re-clad in dry-stack limestone to create a decorative textural contrast.
Raw House, Mexico, by Taller Estilo Arquitectura
Located in Yucatán, Mexico, Raw House opens up towards a leafy courtyard garden. Just inside the courtyard, the living room floor is covered in smooth grey marble, creating an elegant and cooling interior.
Dark-brown wooden and leather furniture, including a pair of classic Barcelona chairs by Mies van der Rohe, give the room an organic feel.
Stone House, UK, by Architecture for London
This extension to a family home in London was designed as a monolithic stone shape, with a playful interior that includes a small arched entrance for the family’s cat.
The tiered terrace that extends from the outside to form a plinth inside was built from an agglomerate stone made from recycled waste quarried in Lombardy, Italy.