Say hello to

The natural 

stone guide

A guide That covers Everything you need to know about understanding natural Stone

 aimed to ignite curiosity, encourage experimentation, and drive you to explore new Finishes within design. 

Let’s get real …

SOUND FAMILIAR?

Are you lacking self-belief and confidence when discussing natural stone with clients, joiners/cabinet markers or architects?

Do you feel confused by natural stone because, in the past, you have always specified engineered stone?

Do you constantly lust over joinery and stone details that leave you wondering how you would specify that finish and whether it would be within the project's budget?

WELL, YOU'RE NOT ALONE!

I wondered why there is no natural stone specific resource for interior designers like myself that can provide designers with a comprehensive resource covering all the essential details whilst balancing the information from suppliers without bias?

I started researching, talking (ok, harassing) suppliers, joiners, stonemasons, and artisans until I finally distilled this into a concise visual and written format. 

And now I'm sharing the fruits of my labour with you in 

"The natural stone guide",

 A beautiful 66 page guide outlining everything I know about natural stone in a easy to digest way!

Resources made just for you…

SIX CHAPTERS 

You can expect to find the following information:

01

Geology 101

Understanding how natural stone is formed and how this translates to each type stone.

  • Limestone
  • Dolomite
  • Travertine 
  • Quartzite
  • Marble (hard/soft)
  • Granite
02

Stone Fundamentals

This chapter explores the fundamentals in specifying natural stone. 

  • Stone slab procurement
  • Common stone finishes
  • Slab sizes
  • Edge profiles (pricing considerations)
  • Mohs hardness scale
  • Stone thickness (joint methods)
  • Bookmatching
  • Yields - designing with slab sizes
  • Yield nesting
03

Natural Stone Ethics

Exploring the Ethics of natural stone harvesting.

  • Extraction
  • Environmental
  • Carbon footprint/energy
  • Labour 
  • Ethical sourcing
  • As designers what can we do?
  • Stone exports
  • Crystalline Silica
04

Cheat Sheets 

  • Stone comparison sheet
  • Tendering checklist
  • Stone processing methods
  • Stone Costs - 10 tips to reduce stone quotes
  • Common terminology
  • Stone pricing
05

Maintenance Guide

  • Maintenance schedule, daily, weekly, annually
  • Repairing and refinishing
  • Staining
  • Etching
  • Maintenance products
06

Glossary + Thank You

A list of common words OR terms that are related to natural stone.

" As an experienced interior designer (12+ years), I enjoyed exploring The Natural Stone Guide. It's user-friendly and explores stone types and their applications in interior design, providing valuable insights into their unique characteristics and practical considerations. 

 

The guide caters to professionals like me who are well-versed in the intricate world of interior design, the design-curious, and home renovators/builders.

 

The guide is an essential reference tool for making informed design decisions and sparking new ideas. It is a must-have for interior designers seeking to stay ahead in the material specification world. The guide caters to the needs of all interior designers and will become an essential part of my studio's design toolkit!".

REBECCA JANSMA

INTERIOR DESIGNER

For joinery passion seekers who crave more. 

Our resources provide a streamlined approach to elevate your skills without being overwhelmed.

 

We break down information and sew the knowledge seeds in a fun, readable, and easy-to-digest way.

 

Have I piqued your interest yet?

What to expect

01

The different types of natural stone and their unique characteristics 

02

How to select the appropriate finish for your specific project needs

03

The pros and cons of the various finishes 

04

Learn how to understand and explain to clients the variations between stone types

05

Level up your natural stone specific vocabulary - to talk to trade professionals like a seasoned pro!

06

Save you time by feeling overwhelmed looking for answers from suppliers online

07

Visual aids to clearly illustrate rather than text format explanations 

08

Instantly feel excited to take on your next joinery project with all your new knowledge on stone!

09

Tip prompts for quick relevant facts

10

Explain to clients hot to look after and maintain their stone

$169.00

including Tax/GST

“This guide is incredibly helpful and comprehensive. As someone still relatively new to the world of natural stone, this guide is an incredible resource. From geology through specification and maintenance, Gemma has got you covered. It's incredibly detailed, and I can see myself revisiting this resource for years, especially as we are experiencing a massive shift away from engineered stone”.

JANA ISAZA-SMITH

DESIGNER

FAQ

WHO IS THIS DOCUMENT FOR?

This comprehensive resource is designed for anyone interested in learning about natural stone. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, the document offers valuable insights to enhance your understanding of the topic. I created the document from an interior designer's perspective to make this topic easier to understand. A resource that I always dreamed of but never existed - until now. 

WHAT FORMAT IS THE DOCUMENT PROVIDED IN?

After purchasing the guide, you will receive a link allowing instant access. The guide is provided in a PDF format. We recommend you download and save the PDF onto your device.

WILL I LOSE ACCESS AFTER I PURCHASE THE DOCUMENT?

No, your access does not expire. I will be updating the document a handful of times over the next 12 months to reflect any feedback or provide the most up-to-date information. I will send an email to everyone who has purchased advising them that new version is available for download (free of charge).

CAN I SHARE THE GUIDE WITH MY PEERS, OFFICE, FRIENDS?

No, the granted license is exclusively for personal use and prohibits commercial distribution or sale. If additional team members need to access the document, you must purchase additional copies at one per team member. You may not share, copy, or repurpose any of the content shared in the guide. This is deemed theft - refer to the terms and conditions. 

DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS?

This is a digital product and all sales are final.

HOW CAN I APPLY THE INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENT?

As with nearly everything in construction, this topic isn't linear, there are no clear-cut answers, and every project forms its own set of unique guidelines. However, some principles do apply across the board. The guide is educational and for informational purposes only.

You should always seek the advice of your local stone yard, stone mason and joiners.

I AM NOT BASED IN AUSTRALIA WILL THIS GUIDE STILL BE RELEVANT? 


Absolutely, while the guide may have been specifically designed to focus on Australia and New Zealand, the methodology and general principles discussed within it are applicable and relevant in other regions. The information provided in the guide can still offer valuable insights and tips that can be adapted to your specific location.

While some details, such as metric measurements and prices in AUD dollars, may not directly translate to your local context, the underlying concepts and techniques can be adjusted to fit your region's units and currency. The guide can serve as a foundation and inspire you to explore similar approaches within your country's systems and practices. 

I AM UNDERTAKING A RENOVATION WILL IT HELP ME?

Whilst the creation of this document is for design professionals, there is no reason why someone taking on a renovation wouldn't find the information helpful, especially if you wanted to learn the lingo and be able to interpret natural stone or enter into dialogue confidently with industry professionals.

 

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

It’s time to level up your knowledge.

THE 

JOINERY EDIT

01

WHAT IS THE JOINERY EDIT?

02

FOR JOINERY PASSION SEEKERS WHO CRAVE MORE

03

A PLATFORM FOR STIMULATING DESIGN - BY PLANTING THE KNOWLEDGE SEEDS

04

WE ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL