Stone and Trowel

Natural stone design inspiration and technical information for architectural and landscape professionals.

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

New Ways To Go Big with Large Pavers for Outdoor Spaces

Posted by Steven Schrenk

You know the saying, “Go big or go home.” Now you can go big AT home! With Polycor's new extra large, natural stone pavers, you can enhance entrances, walkways, and patios, boosting your home’s curb appeal and resale value.

​​Step Up Your Hardscape and Masonry Skills With Polycor U

Posted by Steven Schrenk

It comes as no surprise that homeowners and commercial companies are rethinking their yards and campuses. Homeowners are reevaluating outdoor areas as new entertaining spaces and warming up to making major upgrades in their properties.

Topics: Technical Advices, Professionals, Hardscape How To, Hardscape Tools of the Trade

Introducing Modern Rectangle and Square Granite DIY Firepits

Posted by Steven Schrenk

If you’re looking for a new focal point for your outdoor gatherings, Polycor Hardscapes & Masonry has the right angle for you. Beautiful, versatile and easy to install, Polycor’s rectangular and square granite fire pits are poised to be the hottest backyard improvement of the summer.

Topics: saint henry, Saint Henry Black, Outdoor living, fire pit, DIT Fire Pit

Concrete Front Steps Makeover Using Granite Entry Steps

Posted by Steven Schrenk

If you recently stepped up to your home and noticed cracked concrete, wobbly bricks, or sagging wood on your front door steps, it’s likely time for a much needed replacement. Outdoor steps ideas come in a variety of materials, shapes, sizes, colors and finishes - from natural to synthetic. But

Topics: granite steps, steps

What Are The Benefits of Thin Stone Veneer Siding?

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Naturally beautiful, natural stone is a timeless choice for many home building projects. It’s an authentic choice for everything from fireplaces to fences in beautiful kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and outdoor spaces. And granite, marble, and limestone from quarries in North America are

Watch Your Back: How to Prevent a Misstep During Veneer Installation

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Natural, environmentally sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing, there’s little wonder why thin stone veneers have become a popular choice of masonry material with homeowners. The benefits are widely recognized and contractors are finding there’s a huge payoff in customer satisfaction (and

Topics: Hardscape How To, Thin Veneer

No Barriers: Indoor-Outdoor Living Trends for 2021

Posted by Steven Schrenk

2020 became the year of upgrading your backyard: as many homeowners worked to create or customize their outdoor spaces, demand for everything from pools to space heaters skyrocketed. And that trend isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

Topics: Georgia marble, Outdoor spaces, Outdoor living, veneer, Indiana Limestone

An All Hands on Deck Approach to Designing an Outdoor Living Space with Natural Stone

Posted by Steven Schrenk

In 2014, TV celebrity, lifestyle influencer and culinary artist Evette Rios and her husband bought a stone house in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania that was built in the late 1700s. Since then, the couple had planned to expand it— not by building an addition to the house, but by making an

Topics: Pearl Grey Marble, Fireplaces, Outdoor spaces, Outdoor living, outdoor kitchens, Indiana Limestone

Long Live The Queen: A Queen Anne Victorian Is Restored

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Narragansett, Rhode Island was first surging in popularity as a summer resort town in 1887 when a Queen Anne Victorian home was built at the corner of Narragansett Avenue and Robinson Street. With stained-glass windows, ornate bargeboards, and a charming assortment of shingle styles, it was a

Topics: Outdoor spaces, Interior Design, Outdoor living, buy local

Rooms Without Roofs: 5 Outdoor Living Trends for 2021

Posted by Steven Schrenk

In 2020, backyards around the world suddenly became so much more: gyms, offices, bars and restaurants. As the new hot spots for social gatherings, outdoor living spaces took on new importance—and popularity. 

Topics: Granite, Outdoor spaces, Outdoor living, Indiana Limestone, DIY Fire Pit

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Foundational ideas for
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