Beyond Polished: How Stone Finishes Change a Room
Selecting a natural stone is not only about color and veining. The finish changes how the material looks, feels, reflects light, and performs in daily use. A single stone can feel elegant and formal when polished, relaxed and tactile when honed, or richly dimensional when leathered or brushed. Understanding finish is one of the most useful ways to make a stone installation feel appropriate to both the architecture and the…
The Entertainer’s Kitchen: Stone Beyond the Island
Today’s kitchen is no longer designed around one central work surface. It is becoming a flexible, social hub with dedicated areas for coffee, cocktails, baking, serving, storage, and everyday preparation. As the kitchen expands into adjoining spaces, natural stone offers a way to make those zones feel connected. The result is not simply a larger kitchen. It is a more useful and more personal one. Beyond the Main Island The…
The Stone Spa at Home: Wet Rooms and Wellness Baths
The modern bathroom is becoming more than a place to get ready. It is increasingly designed as a private wellness space: a room for slowing down, restoring, and creating a daily ritual around water, warmth, and natural materials. Natural stone is uniquely suited to this atmosphere. It can bring visual calm, tactile richness, and a lasting architectural quality to steam showers, wet rooms, tub surrounds, vanities, and quiet retreat spaces….
Travertine and Limestone: The New Warm Neutral
For years, neutral interiors were often built around bright whites, cool grays, and smooth, uniform finishes. Today, designers are moving toward a warmer kind of restraint. The most compelling neutral spaces feel layered rather than blank, using materials with softness, texture, and a visible connection to the natural world. Travertine and limestone are central to that shift. Their warm undertones, gentle variation, and quiet surface character allow them to feel…
Designing a Kitchen Around One Continuous Stone Surface
A kitchen backsplash is often treated as a finishing detail. Today, it is becoming one of the most architectural surfaces in the room. Carrying a natural stone slab from the countertop to the upper cabinetry, open shelving, or ceiling creates a continuous field of color and movement that feels intentional, tailored, and enduring. Whether the stone is quiet and tonal or marked by dramatic veining, a full-height backsplash allows the…
Safety First: How GEM International Protects Our People and Partners
At GEM International, our passion for natural stone goes hand in hand with our commitment to safety. From the moment a slab leaves the quarry to the final installation in a client’s home, we ensure that every person involved—our employees, vendors, transport teams, and construction partners—works in the safest possible conditions. Natural stone, while beautiful and enduring, can release respirable crystalline silica dust when cut, polished, or removed. Without the…
Art Deco Elegance: The Renovation of the Eastern Columbia Loft
The Eastern Columbia Building, an iconic Art Deco structure renowned for its turquoise facade and intricate details, has undergone a remarkable transformation. Sheft Farrace, tasked with revitalizing one of its loft apartments, seamlessly integrated the building’s historic charm with modern, minimalist interiors. The use of materials such as white oak, Verde Aver marble, and Florida Brush quartzite—sourced and produced by GEM International—played a crucial role in echoing the building’s vibrant…
Luxurious Marble Bathrooms: A Gem from GEM International
In a stunning Beverly Hills renovation, Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn of House of Rolison transformed a 1950s home into a lavish marble home spa. This luxurious bathroom, featuring Calacatta Viola marble, exudes Old Hollywood glamour and modern elegance. Discover how traditional materials and contemporary design elements create a serene sanctuary. Read the full article Source: House of RolisonAuthor: Amanda Leigh and Taylor HahnPhotographer: Gavin Cater, Nils Timm
Discover the Beauty of GEM International’s Stones in the House of Honey, Los Angeles
At GEM International, we take immense pride in the craftsmanship and quality of our stones. Recently, our exquisite stones were featured in the stunning House of Honey project in Los Angeles. This elegant home, known for its blend of modern and vintage aesthetics, beautifully showcases our stones in various design elements, enhancing the overall ambiance and style. Click here to read the full article and take a virtual tour of…
Discover the Dazzling Gems Behind Tiffany & Co.’s New Concept Shops
Explore the stunning gemstones that adorn Tiffany & Co.’s latest concept shops in New York City, courtesy of GEM International. Our exclusive stones, meticulously crafted to perfection, add an unparalleled sparkle to these iconic spaces. Click the link to delve deeper into the intricate process of bringing these gems to life and see how they transform the ambiance of Tiffany & Co.’s new shopping experience. Read the full article here….