Coral Stone & Chicago Brick

 

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.