A GUIDE TO NATURAL STONES

Natural stones have been the cornerstone of architectural excellence for millennia, offering unparalleled durability, timeless beauty, and sustainable building solutions. Each stone type brings distinctive characteristics that make them suitable for specific applications in both residential and commercial projects. Let's explore the most sought-after natural stones in contemporary architecture and interior design.

Limestone: The Architect's Canvas

Limestone stands as one of the most versatile and workable natural stones in the construction industry. Its uniform composition and relatively soft structure make it an ideal choice for detailed architectural work.

Primary Qualities:

Limestone offers excellent workability; it is easy to cut, carve, and shape for intricate designs. It comes with a uniform color palette, ranging from warm creams to cool grays; this creates a silent vibe and balance for design and architectureprojects. The natural porosity of this stone provides good insulation properties. Limestone develops a protective patina over time but its good at weather resistance.

Where to use:

Limestone can be used at exterior facades and cladding systems as well as complementary Architectural details like cornices, columns, and window surrounds. It can be preferred for Interior flooring in high-traffic commercial spacesbut we reccomend it by sealing. Garden landscaping and outdoor living areas arealso a good spot to place this stone.

Design Tips:

• Seal limestone surfaces in wet areas to prevent staining

• Choose honed finishes for slip resistance in outdoor applications

• Pair with contemporary materials like steel and glass for modern aesthetics

Travertine: Timeless Elegance

Familiar athmospheres are the key to the timeless feeling. Travertine is theprotagonist of such a familiar vibe.Travertine brings natural warmth and sophisticated texture to any space. Its characteristic porous structure and earth-tone palette have made it a favorite among designers seeking to create inviting, luxurious environments.

Primary Qualities:

Travertine is unique with its natural texture; the distinctive pitted surface with unique patterns and layers are very suitable for silent luxury designs. Thermal properties are important as travertine stays cool underfoot and this makes it ideal for warm climates. Travertine offers color stability as it won't fade under UV exposure. This stone is mostly preferred in wet spaces due to its slip resistance; itsnatural texture provides good grip when the floor is wet.

Where to use:

The primary qualities of travertine makes it a perfect fit for pool decking andcopings as tumbled and outdoor areas as well as bathroom flooring and shower surrounds, kitchen backsplashes, accent walls and fireplace surrounds Brushedtravertine is what we recommend in such use. As Sezgin we provide travertine forwall coverings in contemporary architecture projects.Travertine is also a “favorite “stone in contemporary architecture when the desired look is natural than sleek; as itssurface texture gains the traces of time and upgrades itself in to a more earthlystatus. Unfilled and chiseled edged surface creates dramatic effects especially at vinyard projects.

Design Tips:

• Fill holes for indoor applications to ease maintenance

• Use unfilled travertine outdoors for better drainage

• Complement with warm lighting to enhance natural tones

Onyx: Lux and Luxury Redefined

Onyx represents the pinnacle of luxury in natural stone applications. Its translucent properties and dramatic veining patterns create stunning focal points that captivate and inspire. This stone redefines the athmospheres when it meets with light.

Primary Qualities:

The translucency of onyx allows light to pass through for backlighting effects. Thedramatic veining becomes more dominant, and these bold, flowing patterns in vibrant colors takes attention to its beauty. Onyx has a smooth finish and it takes high polish for mirror-like surfaces. Its exclusive appearance brings authenticity tothe space; each slab is completely unique as most of the natural stones; but this is more clear in onyx.

Where to Use:

Onyx is a perfect fit for feature walls with integrated LED backlighting so it is preferred mostly at reception desks and luxury retail displays, bar tops and statement countertops, decorative panels and room dividers, luxurious bathroomsand SPA’s.

Design Tips:

• Always backlight onyx to showcase its translucent beauty

• Use in low-traffic areas due to its softer nature

• Pair with neutral surroundings to let the stone be the star

Granite: The Strength Standard

Granite remains the gold standard for durability and performance in high-use applications. Its exceptional hardness and resistance to heat, scratches, and stains make it indispensable in modern design.

Primary Qualities:

Granite has a superior hardness; it resists scratches and impact damage. Thisstrong stone has also a high level of heat resistance. Granite withstands hot cookware without damage. Its low porosity makes it naturally stain-resistant. Granite also comes with a wide color range. You can prefer any tone from subtle neutrals to bold exotics.

Where to use:

Granite is known as best fit for kitchen countertops and islands but as Sezgin weare very sensitive its releasing carcinogenic gas oer time so we never recommentgranites fort his reason. Its durability and resistance to abrasion makes a wide use in commercial buildings mostly for facades, and high-traffic flooring in lobbies and retail spaces. Granite is widely used for memorial and sculptural work due to is longevity. As Sezgin we provide granite mostly for outdoor projects in massive formsas slabs and cubes.

Design Tips:

• Choose leathered finishes to hide fingerprints and water spots

• Use granite's natural strength for thin countertop profiles

• Consider book-matching slabs for dramatic veining effects

Marble: Classic Sophistication

Marble embodies classical elegance and has been the material of choice for sculptors and architects throughout history. Its ability to take fine detail and high polish creates unmatched beauty in interior applications. Marble gains characteraccording to the qualities in its geography, which makes it a material rich in colors, textures and qualities. It is one of the most preferred construction materials in indoors and outdoors in design projects.

Primary Qualities:

Although each marble has various different qualities, marbles in general have fine grain structure which enables detailed carving and smooth finishes. Classic veining patterns create authentic and iconic flows in various colors. Marbles haveperfect light reflection when polished well and such surfaces brighten interior spaces. Marble is mostly considered as a prestige factor and is associated with luxury and quality.

Where to use:

Marbles are perfect for bookmatched looks; such  strong patterns are unique tomarble types and creates amazing visual quality. Marble is used mostly at bathroom vanities other than facades and wall coverings, and shower surrounds, forflooring in elegant residential and commercial spaces, kitchen and bar countertops. For more artistic purposes marbles are the best choice for sculptural elements and decorative features as well as interior columns and architectural details.

Design Tips:

• Seal marble surfaces to prevent etching from acidic substances

• Use in interior applications to preserve the polished finish

• Combine with contemporary fixtures for modern luxury aesthetics

• Use as bookmatched for strong visual context

Quartzite: Nature's Performance Stone

Quartzite combines the beauty of natural stone with exceptional durability, making it increasingly popular in high-performance applications where both aesthetics and functionality are critical.

Primary Qualities:

Quartzite has an extreme hardness. It is harder than granite, highly scratch-resistant. It is also well qualified in heat resistance which shows a superior thermal performance. UV stability is another quality; Quartzite won't fade in direct sunlight. Its natural beauty with stunning patterns and color variations makes this stone afunction / aesthetic win for most of the projects

Where to use:

Quartzite is easily preferred in outdoor kitchens and barbecue areas, high-end countertops in luxury homes.

Design Tips:

• Verify true quartzite versus softer alternatives through hardness testing

• Use book-matched slabs to create dramatic feature walls

• Ideal for seamless indoor-outdoor design transitions

Slate: Industrial Elegance

Slate offers a unique combination of natural texture and contemporary appeal. Its fine grain and ability to split into thin, flat sheets make it perfect for both traditional and modern applications.

Primary Qualities:

Slate is a silent key material which has a natural slip resistance; its textured surface provides excellent grip. This rock has perfect weather durability andwithstands freeze-thaw cycles. If you are looking for color consistency in yourprojects, slate’s uniform appearance across large areas makes a great choice. Low maintenance is a significant quality as slate requires minimal care once installed.

Where to use:

Slate is a minimal mterial that can be used as roofing materials in high-end residential projects, exterior walkways and patio surfaces, interior accent wallsand backsplashes as well as pool surrounds and spa areas. Its urban look makesthis material unique in modern design.

Design Tips:

• Choose thermal-finished slate for consistent texture

• Seal natural cleft surfaces in interior applications

• Pair with modern materials for industrial-chic aesthetics