Part of the mission in updating this 1930s cottage was to preser…
Part of the mission in updating this 1930s cottage was to preserve its original charm, even while making a significant addition. The stone exterior preserves the cottage flavor and lends a sense of permanence without appearing dated. Project: Bowman Residence, Austin, Texas; Builder: Texas Construction Co., Austin; Architect: Cuppett Architects, Austin; Designer: Sharon Wilkes, Austin
Antonio Paz Morales
Ceramic tile disguised to look like stone gives the feel of a na…
Ceramic tile disguised to look like stone gives the feel of a natural waterfall cascading down through the master bath. Project: Frank Bath; Architect/Designer/Contractor: Mabel Tweddle, Alexandria, Va.
James Salomon
Stone walls add the perfect amount of grandeur to this seaside h…
Stone walls add the perfect amount of grandeur to this seaside home, while keeping in step with its pristine landscape. Project: Maine Seaside House, Bar Harbor, Maine; Architect: Barnes Vanze Architects, Washington, D.C.; Builder: Classical Endeavors, Ellsworth, Maine
James Salomon
A stone fireplace with clean lines and a quadrilateral cut-out f…
A stone fireplace with clean lines and a quadrilateral cut-out for logs offers a stylish, modern update to a beloved classic. Project: Maine Seaside House, Bar Harbor, Maine; Architect: Barnes Vanze Architects, Washington, D.C.; Builder: Classical Endeavors, Ellsworth, Maine
Greg Hursley
Stone cladding on this 1938 home offers a stately but visually i…
Stone cladding on this 1938 home offers a stately but visually interesting base to provide context for the front elevation’s whimsical elements. Project: Lyon Cottage; Builder/Architect: CG&S Design-Build, Austin
Elliott Munoz
A master bath’s shower clad in large river rocks offers a natu…
A master bath’s shower clad in large river rocks offers a nature-inspired refuge. Project: Heyne Residence, Dallas; Architect/Builder: RPGA Design Group, Fort Worth, Texas
Courtesy Doug McDowell
In New Mexico’s arid climate, a stream of rough-hewn stones ad…
In New Mexico’s arid climate, a stream of rough-hewn stones adds visual interest to this Pueblo-style home’s landscaping. Project: Las Placitas Residence; Architect/Builder: McDowell + Satzinger Fine Homes, Santa Fe, N.M.
Carson Looney
For a comfortable yet modest guest house nestled in a glen, a st…
For a comfortable yet modest guest house nestled in a glen, a stone façade adds the perfect combination of dignity and charm. Project: Guest Cottage, Eads, Tenn.; Architect: Looney Ricks Kiss, Memphis, Tenn.; Builder: Hank Hill Co., Memphis; Landscape architect: Page Duke, Nashville, Tenn.
Courtesy Tate Studio Architects
A modern stone entryway puts the emphasis on natural elements, a…
A modern stone entryway puts the emphasis on natural elements, a perfect beginning for the Arizona home which inside focuses on panoramic views of the surrounding desert. Project: Sefcovic Residence, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Architect: Tate Studio Architects, Scottsdale; Builder: Platinum Homes, Scottsdale
Tyler Stephens
Stone gives a rugged contrast to the stained cedar soffits incor…
Stone gives a rugged contrast to the stained cedar soffits incorporated into this home’s geometric design. The stone chimney also offers an earthbound dimension to a house that, thanks to its floating roof, almost seems as if about to take flight. Project: AB Highway Residence, West Plains, Mo.; Architect: Core 10 Architecture, St. Louis; Builder: Feller Construction, West Plains
Strong, beautiful, adaptable, and often in ready supply on your site, stone is a building material for the ages. The features into which it can be built—from fences to flooring—are as unlimited as the architectural styles to which it can adapt. And its unbeatable blend of neutral coloring and earthy texture makes it the perfect addition to any area of a home.
To provide a little inspiration, we tracked down a plethora of projects, ranging from charming cottages to cutting-edge designs, all of which lean on the strength of stone.
Senior editors Amy Albert and Claire Easley contributed reporting to this article.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Anderson, SC.
Amy Albert is editor of Custom Home and a senior editor at Builder. She covers all aspects of design. Previously, she
was kitchen design editor at Bon Appetit;
before that, she was senior editor at Fine
Cooking, where she shot, edited, and wrote stories on kitchen design. Amy
studied art history with an emphasis on architecture and urban design at the
University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Los Angeles. Write her at [email protected], follow her on Twitter @CustomHomeMag and @amyatbuilder, or join her on Custom Home's Facebook page.
