Dreaming of leaving a legacy that will keep your spirit alive for generations to come? Creating an estate home that captures the essence of your life does just that, and can be effectively achieved through the use of natural stone. Carved Stone Creations will help you on your journey, as the company specializes in carving personalized designs from natural stone. Selected for its commanding presence yet subtle elegance, natural stone is the ideal choice to interpret your individual project with style.   

Interior and Exterior architectural elements
Interior architectural elements that are carved of natural stone give you the best quality necessary to achieve the beauty and prestige deserving of your family estate.  A marble staircase can illustrate the historical events of your life through each hand-carved section. Memorable photography from your travels abroad may be transformed into an intricately carved relief that will last forever in time. Decorative stone colonnades and archways will also add a presence to hallways and grand foyers that cannot be matched by imitation.

Fireplaces that make your estate home warm and inviting can only create a more intimate atmosphere for gatherings with friends and family.  When considering a fireplace, know that different stone types will give a room a defining style. A travertine fireplace surround will create an old world or rustic look through its natural character. Its wide variety of earth tones can range from subtle creams to vibrant reds and browns. Marble fireplace surrounds (a true classic) give a more refined and elegant look, perfect for formal living and dining areas. Onyx fireplace surrounds can be either classic or modern and is perfect for a luxurious master spa or bath. Its variegated movement and translucent properties gives onyx a gemstone appearance.  

Using natural stone for exterior architectural elements on the structure of your estate should take precedence, allowing for intricate detail and an unsurpassed level of customization. Natural stone is the only building material that withstands the test of time.  Carved stone cladding can create a façade that appears to be made from solid blocks of stone- just like that of Windsor Castle erected nearly one thousand years ago. Cladding allows the look without the excessive weight of the solid castle walls. Carved detailing of stone corbels, balustrades, window surrounds and sills will also provide the estate with a sense of continuity.

Both interior and exterior stone columns can be used to support an enormous amount of weight. With specialized knowledge, Carved Stone Creations is involved in the early stages collaborating with architects, structural engineers, contractors and designers to ensure a structurally sound and visually pleasing estate. A specific instance where early involvement was vital was when solid granite columns were required to support the structural concrete floor and two stories of dimensional stone above.

Embellishing your landscape
The longevity of your landscape is another important aspect to pay attention to when considering your estate home. Belvederes are one way to add a focal point to your garden or landscape while providing both a functional and aesthetic purpose, and define a centralized location when hosting large outdoor cocktail parties, fundraisers, or other philanthropic events.  Also, natural stone bridges, fountains, and statuary ensure that generations to follow will be able to enjoy the same timeless pieces set in place.  Imagine, you and your family at peace in your own garden sanctuary with the gentle splashing of a hand-carved garden fountain, or returning home at night greeted by classical marble figures replicated from those of Michelangelo.

Whether it is a full-scale replication of the famous Trevi fountain in Rome or a completely unique design, there is no limitation to what can be created for your landscape. One example of a special commission reproduced by Carved Stone Creations began with the client’s photograph of a massive fountain at a prestigious resort. The scale was determined by placing the apparent location of the fountain’s finial at the apex of the arched entryway viewed from the lawn. A three-dimensional model was created to ensure every piece went together precisely as planned.  Granite was selected as the material of choice due to its unsurpassed durability in withstanding repetitive freeze-thaw cycles at this estate.

Outdoor living areas, verandas, loggias, terraces, and courtyards also make a statement when using natural stone, and only emphasize the permanence of your history-rich estate. Additionally, quartzite pavers for pool areas create a slip resistant, hard surface that remains cool to the touch even in the hot sun and is much more durable than concrete. Expressing beauty in an outdoor environment is easily achieved with natural stone.

Personalization
Monograms and family crests are also a way to keep the family name alive in perpetuity with your estate. Known as one of the oldest forms of identification in the world, monograms can be represented throughout the interior and exterior of the estate. Artists and designers can take creative liberty in incorporating symbolism and meaning into your crest, by taking your life story and heritage into account.

An additional way to provide your estate with elegant distinction that will outlive countless generations is to adorn the grounds with unique works of art.  Stone statuary, eclectic sculpture, and decorative urns and planters render that finishing touch while requiring little to no maintenance.

Defining your architectural style
Whether your style is French Chateau, Italian Renaissance, or Spanish Colonial, your estate can be infused with the definitive architectural flare of that region. Think of the limestone used as Vanderbilt’s legacy of the Biltmore estate, or the Saint Leu stone of the Château de Versailles.  Each has a unique distinction and a timeless presence due to the use of natural stone. Carved Stone Creations works with clients from design through completion to allow them to receive exactly what they want. Their guidance and expertise will allow the estate to become a work of art. One representation of this was a client looking to remodel their current home and replicate a gothic castle. The client brought in dozens of books, ideas, and photographs; they actually helped in the design process, as the client can be as involved as they wish.  From the family crest crowning the front entry to an ornately carved double curved staircase leading to the massive Gothic fireplace in the grand hall, the owner had a hand in every last detail making this estate uniquely theirs.

The way to capture the spirit of your life and create an estate that will last centuries is to make a structure that will withstand the elements, and is customized down to the finest detail, exuding the very essence of your personality.  

For more information, or to request a copy of their Stone Design Portfolio, please call (866) 759-1920 or visit www.CarvedStoneCreations.com.

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