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Case Studies: Transformative Lavastone Projects in Luxury Settings
Lava stone surfaces add unique and exciting textures to home decor. We at Ranieri work with a wide range of two-and three-dimensional lava stone, accentuating the most creative uses of this volcanic rock in adorning homes and offices.
Highlighting Elegance: Lava Stone in Commercial Spaces
A business or industrial office must be functional but -- if one function is the reception of visitors -- it should avoid a sterile appearance. Such spaces should be welcoming, imposing, interesting or comforting...or a combination of these. Yet this environment also affects its regular occupants, i.e. employees. In fact, lava stone is linked to emotional healing and stress reduction, a crucial plus in busy companies.
On a practical level, lava stone tabletops and other surfaces are durable, low-maintenance and sustainable. This works well for shared work areas, kitchens, break rooms and conference rooms, where usage and foot-traffic is heavy and constant.
Glazed lava stone adorns lobbies and atria to convey the excitement and seriousness of commerce. Edifices like Twenty Old Bailey in London present a striking appearance, benefitting from our supply and installation of honed lava stone flooring.
Residential Majesty: Lava Stone's Transformative Effect
As important as this material is to the aesthetics and activities of commercial buildings, it can likewise work wonders in many homes. Homeowners have a vested interest in the presentation of their abode to visitors without and families within. The sturdy toughness of lavastone countertops -- and floor tiles, sinks and tubs -- saves time and money regarding the maintenance of labor-intense kitchens. The variety of hues and finishes available for lava stone slabs means that such material can harmonize nicely with most home decor schemes. Since this rock is permeable, it requires finishing, from transparent to matte to glossy and crystalline.
Earth tones, whites, grays and blacks are the most common colorhues of lava stone that rarely clash with the shades surrounding them. Those homeowners most interested in creating a serene and welcoming environment acknowledge the tranquil and relaxing atmosphere that lava stone conveys.
Public Spaces Re-Imagined with Lava Stone
Cities, towns, villages and other localities each have identities that they want public spaces to reflect. Decision-makers seek to combine a respect for the ancient -- nature being a perfect example -- with a forward-looking and innovative spirit. Landscaping with lava stone blocks not only reaches back over the ages but also envisions the promise of years to come. In addition, the lastingness of this material is well-suited for timeless imagery.
Best of all, it enhances public spaces whether it sits in simple block form or it is subject to artistry. Carving lava rock and glazing it, for example, draws attention to columns, fountains, seating areas and pathways. Meterora in Milan, Italy envelops its visitors in the colors and textures of lava stone, combining raw stone with finished stone. This site offers a place of refuge for Milanese seeking respite from busy city life.
Hotels and Resorts
Places of longer-term escape -- getaways, resorts and hotels -- also incorporate lava stone to promote an atmosphere of luxury and style. A unique use of lava stone in such venues is its ability to stabilize water temperatures in swimming pools because it was forged in the high temperatures of volcanoes.
Its attractive appearance is also an asset, not to mention that foot traction is easier on its tiles. Luxury hotels recognize the strength and appeal of lava stone floors: they easily endure busy foot traffic while maintaining a radiantb presence. In the same way, bathrooms, hot tubs and guest rooms are all improved by lava stone materials.
Bagatelle restaurant in Monaco exemplifies the versatility of lava stone from its reception area to its expansive bar.
The Art of Blending Lava Stone with Modern Architecture
Incorporating lava stone into contemporary building designs is an art in and of itself. Walls, floors and other surfaces are all useful to call attention to the beauty of lava stone through artisan techniques like hand-chipping, flecking, dappling, grooving and color combinations. Intelligent application of finishes further augments the realm of possibilities for modern homes and buildings, as does the creative placement of geometric patterns.
Ranieri's Odessa collection gives new home builders and owners a plethora of options to help them marry lava stone to their unique designs.
Historical Renovations: Lava Stone's Timeless Appeal
As noted earlier, lava stone hearkens back and looks forward. Just as it complements modern architecture, it can likewise perfect the restoration of older structures. These houses and buildings are often sought due to their excellent foundations and locations. They are not, however, immune to the ravages of age, needing restorative intervention to preserve their value.
Lava stone can play a key role in this process. In fact, ancient building sites in Sicily and greater Italy give evidence of lava stone among their building components. Churches planed in Polynesia over a century ago are also made with lava rock. So, it i no surprise that this tough and attractive material serves to help restore aging homes and business offices.
Replacing dilapidated countertops, basins, fireplaces etc. with enamelled lava stone, for instance, not only refreshes the appearance of the edifice, it restores functionality and slows further structural decline. Again, since it is found in much older buildings, lava stone is not anachronistic in remodeled houses.