In the world of design there are
countless building materials that vary in origin and inspire designers to try
new materials and routes towards the end goal. In central and northern parts of
Florida it is very common to use red clay bricks as a décor material, however
it is typical to see wall veneers or driveways made of clay. Down in south
Florida, more specifically, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove both use Coral Stone
as a structural and décor material for buildings and private homes. Taking a
closer look at the type of coral stone used in the south Florida. One can tell
that it is Floridian Keystone that is used quite often in these areas.
What is keystone? Keystone is referring
to Coral Stone that was mined in the Florida Keys as there was once a mine in
the Florida keys. What are the differences between keystone and Dominican
Coral Stone? The keystone is much more porous compared to Dominican coral
stone and it is common to get some rugged and jagged pieces that can become
dangerous. Meanwhile, Dominican Coral Stone, has the ability to lay out
as the keystone it is a much higher quality of Stone and carefully cut to have
a smooth face on the Stone that has the texture and features that are eye
catching. If you are reading, you are probably looking for information
regarding installation and actual applications of the product. In my
experience, I have commonly seen keystone in the form of small boulders to
create a steppingstone walking way, or I have seen it used as a wall veneer as
it is very attractive. In terms of coral stone, I have witnessed some
incredible feats of architecture and design.
Dominican Coral Stone has
three unique features that separate it from other materials… 1) has the lowest
heat absorption rate compared to any other building material on the market. 2)
does not slip even when wet. 3) remains as a very traditional and rustic
material in the Dominican Republic. The higher quality of the Stone really
makes a difference as installing the material is a heavy load of work, but once
it is placed you want to worry about it the very least possible. Although our
Dominican Coral Stone remains a very porous material, the SELECT variant of our
Stone helps the installer and customer and once applied it is a noticeable
difference in the face of the Stone. Recently, I was able to view a project
that had incorporated the use of Dominican Coral Stone and our red chicago bricks,
North Town Bricks.
It was a great idea to design an
interior that combined the rustic, traditional features of the Coral Stone and the
classic red brick. If you take a look at the pictures attached you will notice
how the subtlety of the red bricks makes the rustic, jagged faces of the coral
stone bricks to come alive in the wall. Although this is my personal opinion
and may include some bias, I say this to show the client that it is possible to
recreate your dream project with some back-and-forth communication and
dedication getting things done right.
