Renovating? Let StoneCraft Rock You

When I was searching for kitchen cabinets for the Penthouse Plunge, I was referred to Jennifer Voss, owner of StoneCraft of Dallas — not for cabinets, but stonework. This was all back in January 2020, and it seemed like days later I’d learned about IMC closing their Zodiac Lane warehouse/showroom with a huge sale.

I ran up to Royal and Zodiac for a look — there are still stone warehouses on Zodiac to shop at.  The bargains were huge but it was first-come.  I called Voss and we met for the first time later in the day at the IMC sale. I bought a dozen slabs that she graciously stored for months before I needed them — that’s extra-mile service.

As a woman, Voss is something of a rarity in the stone fabrication business (the cutting, polishing, and installing). She’s also been running StoneCraft for over seven years, so she knows what she’s doing. While CandysDirt.com readers mostly fall into the residential world, StoneCraft works on commercial projects too.

Light My Fire

The fireplace in the picture above is what’s known as book-matched — two slabs set side-by-side to create a Rorschach-type pattern. There is also quad-matched when four slabs meet in a corner to create an often diamond pattern. But anyone who’s been to a stone showroom knows that sometimes book- and quad-matching can also produce cringe-worthy, almost gynecological patterns

If you have the space, creating large, connected patterns is definitely a luxurious feel. Covering a fireplace and chimney breast as StoneCraft has done above creates built-in art that extends the fireplace focal point to the ceiling.

A more traditional way to highlight a fireplace gets a modern feel with a waterfall edge mantle. Typically seen in kitchens, a waterfall fireplace surround frames and sets-back the fireplace. Pizzazz is added by the raised hearth that doesn’t quite touch the waterfall edge creating a bench look reminiscent of Inglenook hearths.

With any project involving multiple pieces, aligning and matching grain lines is the mark of professionals.

Waterfalls and Edge Matching

Seen in the fireplaces, vein-matching and alignment is most obvious in this kitchen’s waterfall edge. Manufactured quartz slabs are extremely popular in kitchens because of their durability and resistance to staining and etching. But the more stone-like they have become, the more important vein-matching has become.  Imagine if a waterfall edge wasn’t in near-perfect alignment.  It would cheapen the look.

StoneCraft is very good at keeping veins aligned and keeping the gap between cuts to a minimum (basically the width of the saw blade). You may wonder what the square cutouts are — electrical boxes for outlets at the end of the peninsula.

Like book-matching, waterfall edges are always a luxurious look if for no other reason than they require more stone.

Through Thick And Thin, Thick is Better

If you want to create an expensive-looking island, do a waterfall edge. If you want to create a wow-looking island, do a thick-edge. No, the stone/quartz isn’t that thick – slabs typically come either in two or three centimeter thicknesses. Any additional thickness requires gluing additional stone to the edge. In the case above, all of the edges are mitered (cut as a reverse 45-degree angle) to the seam is at the edge – and almost invisible.  This takes some skill. 

Having been to the StoneCraft factory and watching Voss’ staff precision cut and fit stone before delivery, I can say they’ve got skill.

For the eagle-eyed, yes, that’s a book-matched full backsplash with a waterfall “mantle” that integrates with the range hood while providing an art shelf.

On the thin-side, there are some European kitchen makers who like the new-ish one centimeter porcelain counters. Voss and her team work with that too. Personally, I think it has a sleek modern look but I worry about the durability of something so thin – imagine whacking a chicken breast with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin for a wafer-thin scaloppine.

Use Stone to Unify a Room

When Voss sent me this photo, I admit thinking the back wall looked pretty cool with the wine fridges lined up below the marble – then I noticed the table is made from the same stone – talk about the shoes matching the purse. 

That’s a dead-custom look – and the table likely goes with the house whenever it’s sold. Before you think a stone table is cold, they make heating pads that go under the stone. Who needs a warming drawer when the table is warm?

Build a Sink for a Unique Look

While this is a commercial bathroom, the sink is worth calling out – it’s cut and assembled from quartz. Since I like a little verve in my stone, I imagine this using some wild stone. Maybe a translucent onyx or maybe alabaster where it could also be lit from below for a rock star bathroom.

For a super luxe look, have book-matched slabs on the wall in back of a master vanity.  In a sort-of reverse-waterfall, have the book-match turn the corner and become the vanity countertop and integrated sink – all in the same stone. That would be killer.

Every renovation or construction project has problems – be they bad contractors, plumbers who flood your house or subs who can’t answer a phone. During the too-long Penthouse Plunge project, I can say that StoneCraft and Jennifer Voss didn’t add to my worries.