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

Why Luxury Brands Choose American Marble

Posted by Steven Schrenk

In the last several years there has been an explosive growth of engineered materials that mimic the look of marble. Porcelain and quartz slabs are marketed to a high-end clientele as luxury surfaces in the classic Italian tradition, but with a predictable, repeatable form. So then why are the

Topics: Marble, American marble, Pearl Grey Marble, Outdoor spaces, Luxury brands

The Benefits of 1cm Ultra-Thin Slabs and How They're Fabricated and Installed

Posted by Steven Schrenk

The trend is clear, designers are moving to larger format surface installations. And as a result the custom building products market is following suit. We've been seeing this trend clearly as designers break out of the 24" X 36" box and into the world of full slab installations like full wall

Topics: Thin Stone, Granite, Marble and granite, Thin countertops, Backsplashes

Why Thin Stone Countertops Are More Than A Look

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Materials have been evolving to meet the growing demands of a savvy modern market, inspired by European aesthetics, and thin countertops have been making their mark. With changing demographics and some US homes downsizing, a ½” thick natural stone countertop can make a smaller kitchen appear larger.

Topics: Home Design, Technical Advices, Thin Stone, Cambrian Black, Black, Marble and granite, American marble, Georgia marble, Waterfall islands, Thin countertops

Our Top 2016 Kitchen Designs in Soapstone, Marble and Granite

Posted by Steven Schrenk

2016 was a beautiful year for natural stone.

Soapstone had a breakout performance in modern interiors. Marble pushed past a high brow rep to casual, accessible elegance. And the ever chic CAMBRIAN BLACK® Granite made it clear that black is back in the kitchen.

Topics: Soapstone, Cambrian Black, St. Henry, Waxed soapstone, American marble, Pearl Grey Marble, Rustic modern, Marble vs Quartz

10 Ways 1 cm Thin Stone Makes A Fabricator’s Job Easier

Posted by Steven Schrenk

You had your shop tuned for granite and marble. Then came quartz. Then came porcelain and glass. New options for designers, but for you, new materials usually mean new tools, and new problems.

If you’ve heard about Polycor’s new ultra-thin 1 cm slabs you’re thinking, “Here we go again. Thanks,

Topics: Thin Stone, Fabrication

The Skinny on Thin Surfaces of Stone, Quartz, Porcelain [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Designers are taking fireplace surrounds to cathedral heights. Clients are asking for seamless shower walls with natural stone veining. And architects want flooring that is thin, durable and rich looking. All that requires fabricators and installers to make tricky (sometimes vertical) installations

Topics: Thin Stone, Marble and granite, American marble, Pearl Grey Marble, Fireplaces, Marble vs Quartz, Tile, Stone vs Porcelain

1 cm Thin Stone: A Fabricator’s Top FAQs Answered

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Has this scenario ever happened to you? A designer or homeowner walks into your shop with a cocktail napkin drawing for a kitchen design, with bookmatched slabs. Never mind the narrow hallways and small openings in the apartment or the fact that it calls for a material you’ve never worked with.

Topics: Thin Stone, Fabrication

Kirsten Grove Unveils Her Waxed Soapstone Kitchen Reno (and it is dreamy)

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Interior stylist and blogger Kirsten Grove, recently set out on a total renovation of a mid-century Idaho home that was stuck in the 90s. (Think crystal chandeliers and brown countertops.) She and her husband do most of the work themselves adding character, ingenuity and style to every room with

Topics: Soapstone, Waxed soapstone, Kitchen, Black

The Fashion Kitchen: Scavolini and Diesel Meld Rustic and Luxury

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Because you can never go wrong with a great pair of jeans, two Italian creative companies have joined forces to create a luxury kitchen collection that's sleek and modern with a distinctive vintage vibe.

Topics: Granite, Cambrian Black, Kitchen, Black, Islands, Rustic modern, Scavolini

Inside Look: Winning Designers Visit Georgia Marble Quarry

Posted by Steven Schrenk

Each year Polycor invites a group of design professionals to journey with us into the woodlands outside Atlanta to visit our historic Tate, Georgia marble quarry. 

This year our designers came from Chicago, Ill. Salt Lake City, Utah, Columbus, Ohio, and just down the road in Atlanta. Designers were

Topics: History and Heritage, Marble, Georgia marble, Pearl Grey Marble, Origin, White Cherokee Marble

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