The Beauty of Natural stone, wood…and other incredible materials
Natural materials have always been considered luxurious and can create a wonderful atmosphere in home décor whether it is contemporary, traditional, country or any style you desire depending on what you select.
Natural stone has been valued
throughout the millennia for its sculptural and architectural qualities.
There is a unique new surface
innovation for architects, designers, kitchen cabinet and furniture manufacturers
and more! Real slate, sandstone, granite
and marble are now available in lightweight, and in some cases flexible, veneer
sheets, their use limited only by the imagination. Put natural slate, sandstone and granite
where it was never before possible with SlateFlex, SandFlex
and GraniteLite!
These revolutionary veneer sheets are a thin slice of real stone, not man made
composite imitations.
While attending IDS 2010,
I visited the booth of SurfaceInnovation Inc., a company located in Parry Sound, ON
and for the first time viewed their “Flexible Slate Veneer” available for the
Canadian market. This product is real
slate available in lightweight, flexible veneer sheets. Since that time they
have evolved into many more product lines.
Slate is an exotic and unique natural
stone that is stately, sturdy, and durable; this earthy stone just exudes
warmth. Who doesn’t love slate? The
character of slate allows it to fit into a traditional design with an informal
time worn, classic, old world feel; as well as an upscale rich, sophisticated,
sleek look of the refined, modern design of a high-rise. This stone is
versatile almost everywhere.
Slate is commonly used in its rigid
form regardless of its application. How
many more creative applications could be utilized if it were flexible?? This
product comes in many distinctive slate colours and sandstone and is suitable
for vertical interior and wet applications. Slate can be applied to surfaces
where it was never before possible.
Think about the possibilities in kitchen and bath design, even furniture
and curved walls. It can be used on a
backsplash, cabinetry, and columns (curved), curved walls, furniture, lighting,
signage and feature walls. Certainly we
have seen it on some of these applications in its rigid form, however, with the
lightweight and flexible nature of the veneer the possibilities are limited
only by the imagination.
How is this possible?? This slate veneer is made from adding a
fiberglass layer to the slate slabs and then peeling it off when it adheres to
the stone. The rough split texture is a
raw stone surface covering a wide range of the colour pallet. Both natural and quartzite slabs are
available.
The Slate Flex veneer product is not
only very flexible (approximately 2mm thick) it is also lightweight (approximately
½ lb per sq. Ft) which allows for many creative applications. A standard sheet
size is 2’ x 4’ and can be processed with standard tools and readily available
adhesives. Slate Flex can be cut with
heavy snips, table saw with masonry disc, metal shear or wet saw.
The rough stone surface should be
treated against contamination with standard stone sealers. With the properties
of natural slate being anti-bacterial, stain-resistant, non-absorbent (even
with no sealant) and fireproof, this is definitely a low-maintenance and
durable product now available at great cost savings.
When looking at the transportation cost, fuel and space required in shipping and handling standard stone products, the extreme lightweight property of Slate Flex adds to its desirability of being eco conscious in reducing the carbon footprint.
When looking at the transportation cost, fuel and space required in shipping and handling standard stone products, the extreme lightweight property of Slate Flex adds to its desirability of being eco conscious in reducing the carbon footprint.
IIDEX
2011 saw Surface Innovation roll out it’s new booth design and a
number of new products. Numerous
architects and designers were introduced to two exciting new products, Marblelite
and NatureFlex. They were pleased to receive a bronze award
for booth design.
Many projects are
currently underway as a result of the show. Surface Innovation, based in Parry
Sound, Ontario, specializes in products that can clad almost any vertical surface
in your home with thin, decorative, natural materials. Options include: several
types of stone,
shells and even water hyacinth. The veneers are thin enough to wrap concave
and convex surfaces in natural stone.
The Flex series of products are far
lighter than traditional stone products with a far smaller carbon footprint of
transportation. Also, they are a much more efficient use of natural resources
as only a thin layer of surface material is used.
The Barnwood
product line features reclaimed barn-wood mounted on fabric, which allows for
application to a multitude of different surfaces. The use of low VOC finishes
is a safe and eco-friendly option for those who want to avoid harsh
emissions.
Surface Innovations has a
representative in Southern Ontario or can be purchased through The DecoratingCentre in Burlington, ON.
Below are a few photos of the possibilities!! Check out their website for the many other great ways to use this fantastic product.
