Inspiration Archives - Page 4 of 4 - IRG - Integrated Resources Group

Aurora Borealis Quartzite – The Stone of Light!

by Jogreet Chadha | Oct 20, 2020 | Information, Inspiration

Legend has it that, in one of the greatest natural shows on earth, the magic lights of the northern hemisphere were trapped in stone awaiting discovery by the Inuit people. One warrior is said to have tried to free the light spectrum with his spear, but the strength of the rock retained its brilliance, and its incandescent colors were trapped inside forever.

Like Magic for Your Home

Luckily for us, we can access this magnificent natural surfacing material at IRG showrooms and bring home its transfixing calm. Held close by many people, Aurora Borealis Quartzite can deliver the inner peace and tranquility that many of us need to deal with the stresses of everyday life.

Hand Touching Slab of Aurora Borealis Quartzite

Awaken Your Senses

This heavenly surface can also rekindle your imagination with new ideas for its implementation. Use it for countertops, fireplace surrounds, a soothing bath or bedroom wall, floors (inside and out), and pool areas. No matter the placement at the finish, consider Aurora Borealis Quartzite your good omen for magical thinking!

Close up of Sitting Area Made of Aurora Borealis Quartzite

Aurora Borealis Quartzite Bathroom Vanity

Aurora Borealis Quartzite installed on fireplace

Rendering of Aurora Borealis Quartzite in Kitchen

Rendering of Aurora Borealis Installed on Residential Stairs and Floor

Aurora Borealis Quartzite Countertops and Backsplash Installed in Kitchen

Light Spectacular

Quarried in Brazil, IRG’s Aurora Borealis’ rainbow-like colorations can include white, lavender, gray, red or yellow. These jewel-toned striations add a depth and magnificence not often found. Add to that the practicality of quartzite – with its many benefits over marble in terms of durability, stain-resistance, and maintenance – and your most difficult decision will be selecting the slab.

Dawn of a New Era

This hard-metamorphic rock originated as sandstone until, over time, it recrystallized — giving it its beautiful and decorative sparkling pattern. Exquisite Aurora Borealis stone is for those looking for novel ideas, exclusivity, and enhanced home value. Add the blissful energy and soothing feeling of IRG’s Aurora Borealis Quartzite to your life today.

Awaiting discovery at IRG!

Make the conscious decision to bring out the best of your home. Contact us to schedule an appointment to see the beautiful and unique choices of Aurora Borealis at IRG!

Create An Indoor Oasis Like Designer Tiffany Waugh’s

by Jogreet Chadha | Aug 26, 2020 | Inspiration

These fine Italian Marbles make designing an escape to paradise easy!

White & yellow-tinged marbles like Breccia Capraia, Calacatta Monet, and Calacatta Antica can quickly transport you on soothing currents of sea-green veining. That’s why homeowners and designers are using these dreamy marbles more than ever to create private oases right at home. The warm-yet-cooling combination is reminiscent of serene beaches and mellow waters off the Amalfi Coast, but it offers more than a mere summer getaway!

Interior designer Tiffany Waugh demonstrates this with a recent kitchen renovation using IRG’s Breccia Capraia marble. By incorporating functional features to preserve the home’s Victorian characteristics and creating a space suitable for contemporary living with two young children, Tiffany transformed an 1899-built kitchen into a refreshed space that could act as the hub of the home for a modern family’s lifestyle. That’s no easy task!

She used Farrow and Ball’s Green Smoke paint on the cabinets – a nod to the popular color used in late 19^th century interiors – coupled with IRG’s Breccia Capraia Marble to fit a historical color palette that included the adjacent room’s moody-gray walls. (Note: As typically recommended for white marble installed on kitchen countertops, the material was honed to better hide potential etch or scratch marks through daily use.)

Tiffany also added a second top row of cabinets to increase storage space while adhering to HOA footprint restrictions. And since function and accessibility for all family members was important, a small utility cabinet with ladder was added for easy access to the higher areas. A custom bread bar (cleverly hidden behind an appliance garage near the oven) allows for an everyday one-stop breakfast area where the 5- and 7-year-olds can make their own toast in the morning.

kitchen with smoke green cabinets and breccia capraia marble countertops

The ceiling’s ball pendant with yoke hanger construction offers dramatic and decorative elements that play off luxurious Breccia Capraia marble that extends up the backsplash and around the window.

If you’re ready to create a functional oasis of your own and the thought of sea-green white marble takes you away, consider three of IRG’s current in-stock selections:

Breccia Capraia Polished

Breccia Capraia pulls you in with undulating patterns of green, grey, and light rose. With a wonderful white background, this premium Italian stone brings light and warmth to any room – residential or commercial – and adds a certain sophistication and luxury to any home.

Calacatta Monet Honed

bookmatched slabs of calacatta monet marble

Book-matching slabs of IRG’s Calacatta Monet creates a beautiful open-winged deep rose-colored butterfly effect that might be considered as beautiful as any Monet painting! The Italian slab shown above incorporates cool green veining, warm milky hues, and burgundy veins on a canvas of creamy color.

Calacatta Antica Polished

If you enjoy the classic milky look of Calacatta Gold but want the added interest of increased veining, IRG’s Calacatta Antica is uniquely yours. This Italian marble will “make your day.” A fresh, new and slightly more bold look, the timelessness of this unique marble choice works in almost any room and will give lasting pleasure for centuries.

Whether you want to create your own old-world marvel, a rejuvenating indoor oasis, or project a grand and artsy appeal, one of IRG’s green Italian white marble slabs – and our knowledgeable sales associates can help you achieve the design of your dreams.

Make an appointment to come in and select your slabs today!

Calacatta Royale Offers Timeless Versatility

by Jogreet Chadha | Jun 23, 2020 | Ideas, Information, Inspiration

After months of cocooning at home, homeowners are restarting remodeling projects that were temporarily paused during the pandemic. Other homeowners who weren’t considering remodeling prior to the pandemic are now eager to renovate — feeling a need for a change of scene. Whichever the situation, when it comes to creating a timeless elegant look in kitchens, bathrooms and entertainment centers, today’s homeowners still favor a true classic: Calacatta marble. That’s just one of the reasons we’re highlighting one of our most popular Calacattas – Calacatta Royale – as the ‘Stone of the Moment.’

Homeowners and designers enamored by the look of traditional Calacatta will appreciate the bright background and distinct grey veining of Calacatta Royale. And no two are alike: some IRG shipments feature thick light veining while others showcase thin, bold lines that create intense drama – especially when book-matched. Either way, the material is an accepted symbol of sophistication, classic elegance, and perennial popularity.

calacatta royale honed marble slab — Calacatta Royale Honed 122×82

calacatta royale polished marble slab — Calacatta Royale Honed 122×82

SF Home Combines Warm Oak with Calacatta Royale

In her Vallejo Street project, designer Alison Pickart worked with Sutro Architects to pair IRG’s Calacatta Royale with light oak cabinets in a stunning modern kitchen that complements views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Oak cabinetry adds a soft layer of warmth to the book-matched slabs used on the waterfall island, perimeter countertops and full backsplash – all the while maintaining a crisp and clean palette.

calacatta royale marble kitchen backsplash — **Photography by Aaron Leitz**

calacatta royale marble kitchen — **Photography by Aaron Leitz**

Calacatta Royale slabs are innovatively used in the home’s main bathroom. Pickart wasted no inch of the high-end Calacatta Royale by working with Design Line Construction to showcase the material’s beautiful veining in three different manners: vanity countertop, custom tile backsplash and shower border. The result is a truly elegant space that does the name ‘Royale’ justice.

calacatta backsplash tile and vanity — **Photography by Aaron Leitz**

calacatta tile and vanity — **Photography by Aaron Leitz**

Designing with Calacatta

Part of Calacatta’s popularity can be attributed to the countless design opportunities the marble offers, since the neutrality of white and grey allows for easy coordination of décor and design elements. Calacatta Royale marble adds a complementary beauty to traditional kitchens while leaving plenty of options for unique and out-of-the-box designs.

Let IRG Sales Associates help you visualize this exquisite material in your space, taking into consideration variations in each slab and your space-specific needs. With our large selection of unique Calacatta Royale shipments, homeowners and designers will find ample slabs to choose from to create a stunning space for the ages.

As with any natural stone, shipments vary depending upon the area of the quarry from which the slabs were cut from. If you love the look of Calacatta Royale, you may also like our selection of high-end Calacattas that include Calacatta Majestic, Calacatta Nobilis and Calacatta Medici which can be viewed here. While these exclusive white marbles are not considered low-cost, the result is functional beauty and elegance that lasts a lifetime and adds value to your home.

Stone of the Moment: Blue Portifor

by Jogreet Chadha | Apr 13, 2020 | Ideas, Information, Inspiration

When Blue Portifor Quartzite first arrived in our showroom in Spring 2019, it was an instant hit with the IRG staff and a dazzling favorite with customers. The slab’s light coffee and taupe background features soft hues of purple and blue with sporadic streaks of aquamarine crystallization interspersed with cool, mint green veining – the perfect shades for Spring!

This Spring IRG has brought in three more shipments of Blue Portifor from Brazil, each precisely exemplifying the beauty of variation in natural stone based on and according to its quarry. Some slabs boast royal purple veining, electric blue streaks or splashes of aquamarine. Others merge warm with cool shades, welcome surprises that allow for a multitude of design opportunities.

Simply put: Blue Portifor Quartzite is highly unique and surprisingly versatile.

Let Blue Portifor countertops highlight a modern kitchen by contrasting it with dark or black cabinetry. Or flaunt the material’s gorgeous colors by creating a butterfly effect with bookmatched slabs on a kitchen backsplash or fireplace.

adjacent bookmatched slabs of blue portfior quartzite

Complement the rust colorations throughout the material with warm elements or woodwork of all types. Or pair it with grey cabinetry for a simple put-together bar area, as seen in IRG’s Sacramento showroom shown below:

“We don’t even know exactly what our next shipment will look like, but that’s part of the enjoyment. It’s not only a beautiful surprise to see it when it comes in, but it’s inspiring to see our clients’ creativity when developing ideas for its use,” says owner Ameeta Chadha.

Browse IRG’s inventory of quartzite slabs, including Blue Portifor, here. For more information on this exquisite material, call one of our showrooms or email us at: info@marblecompany.com.

IRG is currently taking appointments for necessary construction projects. For those who are just beginning their remodel, Blue Portifor slabs will be waiting for you when our showrooms are fully operational again.

Stay safe. Safe healthy. Stay strong.