Blog: From the Bedrock

Steven Schrenk

Coming to the stone industry via studies in art and design at SCAD where I first fell in love with this material, I approach stone design with an artistic eye developed from years working in museums and galleries curating and installing exhibitions. I carve sculptures in marble and granite which continues to deepen my connection with natural stone. Cutting and fabricating slabs and blocks, working with architects and designers and managing complex installations are an extension of my hands-on skills in the industry and the studio. I enjoy expressing the beauty, and telling the story, of natural stone to convey its timeless message, ranging from the quarry to your finished design and everywhere in between.

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Recent Posts

Striking A Balance Between Old And New With American Black Granite

Posted by Steven Schrenk

AMERICAN BLACK® granite is tied to the culture of Pennsylvania, as well as its history, in fact, it’s tied to the history of the United States itself. From Valley Forge, to the nations’ first capital, Philadelphia, and historic Gettysburg, you’ll find American Black® granite. Monuments, mosaics,

Topics: American natural stone, American black granite, Sustainable Design, buy local

Building Strong Communities, One Stone at a Time

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Natural stone is more than just the culmination of its physical characteristics. Each piece has a life and an energy and soul of its own. A gorgeous slab can spark conversations, memories, and emotions. Natural stone has been used to build some of the most historic buildings across North America

Topics: American natural stone, Made in America, Sustainable Design, Locally Quarried, buy local

Not Quite By The Book: HASTINGS Architecture Revives Abandoned Library for New HQ

Posted by Steven Schrenk

For several years, Nashville’s thriving economy has led to an endless reshaping of the city’s skyline. High-rise residential towers and 25-story office buildings dot the sky—alongside omnipresent construction cranes. While many of these new builds went up in parking lots, that was not always the

Topics: Architecture & Design Trends, Historic restoration, Renovation, Georgia marble, White Cherokee Marble, White Georgia Marble, Sustainable Design, adaptive reuse

The Stone on This Building Was Not Quarried by Children or Slave Labor

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Beckford House, 301 E. 81st Street, NYC nearing completion featuring Indiana Limestone - Full Color Blend

With its history as a family company, Polycor is taking a leading role in fair labor practice in stone quarrying. 

Importing stone can paint a troubling picture, beyond the obvious carbon

Topics: Safety, Made in America, Sustainable Design, Locally Quarried, fair labor practices

Keeping It Local: Georgia Marble Takes Centerstage in Atlanta Designer’s Home Renovation

Posted by Steven Schrenk

We are always honored when design professionals choose our stone for their own personal projects. We stumbled upon Atlanta interior designer Elisa Gangone’s home kitchen on Instagram and were immediately drawn in by the gorgeous combination of deep aqua cabinetry, brass accents and locally

Topics: American marble, Georgia marble, Pearl Grey Marble, American natural stone, Made in America, Interior Design, Kitchen Design, Locally Quarried

Once Abandoned, Grand Old Buildings Are Now At the Forefront of Modern Architecture

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Photo by Gensler

Turn-of-the-century post offices in major urban centres are among America’s most architecturally significant buildings. But, as the postal industry waned with the advent of electronic communication, the remarkable buildings these institutions often inhabited were often vacated and

Topics: Architecture & Design Trends, Historic restoration, Natural Materials, Exterior applications, Sustainable Design, Indiana Limestone

Celebrate Indiana Limestone Month With A Walking Tour of Chicago

Posted by Steven Schrenk

We’re celebrating Indiana Limestone Month with a look at how this fine natural stone helped build much of Chicago’s storied skyline, and its role in turning the city into a top architectural destination.

Indiana Limestone’s place in Chicago’s history is a deep and durable one. Though it’s

Topics: History and Heritage, Architecture & Design Trends, Historic restoration, Limestone, American natural stone, Exterior applications, Indiana Limestone, Natural stone cladding

An Inspired Reverence For Stones Old And New: Renovating Place d’Armes

Posted by Steven Schrenk

While cities begin considering lifting the stay-at-home orders, we’re all left wondering when we can get back to enjoying outdoor gatherings again. The possibility of taking short car trips to reconnect with local sights and historic architectural gems that may have been overlooked take on a new

Topics: Architecture & Design Trends, Cambrian Black, Sustainable Design, Indiana Limestone

French Limestone & Sustainability Set the Stage for Louis Vuitton Foundation

Posted by Steven Schrenk

The Louis Vuitton Foundation has been a center of art and culture in Paris since it opened in 2014. Funded by the luxury goods powerhouse LVMH Moët Hennessy–Louis Vuitton, the building, a museum and cultural center, was designed by noted architect and king of amorphous design Frank Gehry and

Topics: History and Heritage, Notable Installations, Environment, Corporate Responsabilities & Ethic, Architecture & Design Trends, stone sourcing, Museum, Limestone, Commercial flooring, Landscape Design, French limestone, Stone Facades, Natural stone cladding

Finding the Balance Between Historic and Modern at Bistro L’Orygine

Posted by Steven Schrenk

It’s more important than ever to help support your local businesses and restaurants. We're all looking forward to when we can dine out again but until then, choosing to support a local restaurant when possible will help them operate during hard times like these. In addition to new take out

Topics: Thin Stone, Historic restoration, Pearl Grey Marble, Thin countertops, Bethel white, Saint Henry Black, restaurant design, 1cm ultra thin stone

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