| There are two major types of natural stone | | | | they've been treated with a commercial sealing |
| decorating, architectural designs, and home | | | | agent. This is as true of installed pathway tiles as |
| décor accessories. The former involves actually | | | | it is of rustic drink coasters. |
| installing stone into the existing structure of the | | | | One of the great things about decorating with |
| home, whether in a floor, facade, or hardware | | | | natural stone is that every single piece is a little bit |
| installation procedure. The latter involves the | | | | different from any other. While you can get |
| purchase of smaller, decorative and functional | | | | materials that tend to be more consistent, even |
| items. | | | | these will all be somewhat unique in shade and |
| Once you get past this distinction, you find stone | | | | hue. Meanwhile many multi-colored stones have |
| broken down into many more specific categories | | | | such erratic differences that each one takes on |
| based on the type of material used. The polished | | | | its own unique personality. |
| smooth surface of marble looks completely | | | | In smaller home décor applications this can |
| different from the rustic natural exterior of slate. | | | | mean that your specific decorative piece is a one |
| In fact some people might not be able to tell that | | | | of a kind that is unlike anyone else's in the entire |
| they are both stone. They also have far different | | | | world. In larger installations, you often can use this |
| tolerances as far as resistance to water damage, | | | | fact to arrange stone pieces in such a way, that |
| and the elements. | | | | you are actually participating in the creation of a |
| It is important to always choose the right material | | | | living work of art. |
| for whatever application you are developing. If | | | | Natural stone is a beautiful way to connect your |
| you are setting up an outdoor environment, be | | | | home with the reality of the outside world. It is |
| certain to choose materials which can stand up to | | | | available for both installed applications, and in home |
| the elements. Marble will probably be a bad choice | | | | décor pieces, allowing you a variety of options |
| here, but materials such as granite or slate can | | | | for using it to enhance your spaces. |
| often deal with wind and rain just fine, especially if | | | | |