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At an annual ceremony on Thursday, November 3, 2011, New England Home Magazine inducted a select number of architects, interior designers and landscape architects into The New England Design Hall of Fame. The 2011 gala event that took place in the State Room atop the Sixty State Street in Boston, Massachusetts was the magazine's fifth annual awards.

Hall of Fame nominations were made by community members of the design industry as well as the general public. The nominees were then evaluated based on professional work history and three to five representative projects. A final round included further thorough evaluation. The chosen inductees were announced at the special ceremony on November 3rd, where they were honored for their career, influence and community involvement.

The 2011 New England Design Hall of Fame Inductees:

Architecture
Bernard M. Wharton of Shope Reno Wharton Associates
Matthew and Elizabeth Elliott of Elliott + Elliott Architecture

Interior design
Nancy Serafini of Homeworks Interior Design

Landscape design
Kris Horiuchi and Daniel Solien of Horiuchi Solien, Inc.


Specialty award
North Bennet Street School

As a respected wholesaler of imported natural and engineered stone products, Marble and Granite, Inc. was honored to participate in The New England Design Hall of Fame as one of two Gold Sponsors for the second year in a row.



Event Details and Photo via New England Design Hall of Fame

Marble and Granite carries a wide variety of Soapstones to fit an array of styles and functions. To learn more about our selection of Soapstones call us at (877) 39-STONE or schedule an appointment at one of our showrooms online.

Vermont Soapstone: Originating in Brasil, Vermont is a dark grey/charcoal with minimal veining that becomes dark green when oiled.  Now available in 100"x55".

[caption id="attachment_624" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Soapstone"][/caption]

New Iceflower: Also originating in Brasil, Iceflower has minimal veining and appears grey with subtle white spotting almost like snow.  Sizes are 100x55, but availability is limited.

[caption id="attachment_625" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Floresta Soapstone which is similar in appearance to Iceflower Soapstone"][/caption]

Green Soapstone: Originating in Finland, Green Soapstone has minimal veining and appears almost like Serpentine. Green soapstone is very Dense in comparison to Soapstone in Brasil and also comes in the largest size of 120x60 making availability very limited.

[caption id="attachment_622" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Green Soapstone"][/caption]

Barocca Soapstone: Originating in Brasil, Barocca is light grey with minimal veining. Coming in a size of 100x56, availability of Barocca Soapstone is very good.

[caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Barroca Soapstone"][/caption]

Silver Soapstone: Originating in Brasil, Silver Soapstone is light grey in color with lots of white veining. Silver Soapstone comes in various options in a size of 100x55.

[caption id="attachment_620" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="Silver Soapstone"][/caption]

Emerald Soapstone: Originating in Brasil, Emerald Soapstone is grew with green hues and lots of movement and veins. When oiled, it appears like an emerald green marble. Emerald Soapstone is rare in availability and comes in a size of 100x55.

[caption id="attachment_619" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Emerald Soapstone"][/caption]

Grey Soapstone: Originating in Brasil, Grey Soapstone appears dark grey with a lot of movement and veins. Slightly bigger than other Brasil types, Grey Soapstone comes in a size of 110x60 and is regularly available now.

[caption id="attachment_621" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Grey Soapstone"][/caption]

With their versatility, drama and elegance, the exclusive stones from the Antolini 2011 Signature Collection can seamlessly transform a room to be uniquely beautiful. The small palette of stones chosen for the 2011 Signature Collection were hand-selected by Alberto Antolini himself. As an inspirational and innovative trendsetter from Luigi, Italy, Antolini has become well known for producing the finest and most exceptional natural stones in the industry, and his newest collection is no exception.

The exquisite palette of the 2011 Signature Collection embodies luxury in its most natural form with various colors and textures to fit any targeted style. Take a look part of the collection and see for yourself why Marble and Granite is thrilled to offer these magnificent natural stones. To learn more about the Antolini Collection and other lines from our selection contact Marble and Granite at 877-39-STONE or visit one of our showrooms.

As the focal point of the room, a beautifully designed fireplace will find use year-round whether it's for ambiance with a a candle arrangement in the warmer months or a warmth with a cozy fire in the colder months. Every piece of marble, granite and slate is different bringing exclusive elegance but they are all durable and heat-resistant making them even more ideal for a fireplace. With the freedom to the choose color, cut and shape, the versatility of stone offers endless possibilities for innovative and customized designs that reflect personal style.

Integrating stone into kitchen design is part of a well-established trend of using natural materials to elegantly bring the outdoors inside the home. Already an ideal material for countertops, backsplashes and floors, stone's durability and natural beauty make it perfect for kitchen sinks as well. A stone sink will add uniqueness that cannot be paralleled since every piece of stone is different. As the largest natural stone wholesaler in New England, Marble and Granite's selection of soapstone, granite and CaesarStone gives designers the freedom to use their creativity in designing a uniquely beautiful and functional sink.



A Soapstone farmhouse-style sink ties in beautifully to countertops while it provides functionality with resistance to heat, stains and etches (photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens).



This hand-carved granite apron-front sink adds a one-of-a-kind look to a kitchen design (photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens).



This Jerusalem Sand CaesarStone sink creates a  flawless modern look and as a non-porous surface makes for simple cleaning.



Combining two stones such as this solid CaesarStone sink that complements the Wild Rocks CaesarStone countertop makes a sleek yet still natural look.

Visit one of our showrooms in Westwood or Milford to see more of our natural stone selection or contact Marble and Granite at (877) 39-STONE.

Information courtesy of Jenny Nash of HGTV.
Photos courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens.

Marble and Granite, Inc. has the largest natural stone selection in New England, including CaesarStone. After coming to the United States from Israel in 1999 as the original quartz surface manufacturer, CaesarStone became renowned for its superior quartz surfaces. With their plant still located in Israel next to an ancient Roman city, CaesarStone products are inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean coast and the hard work and determination of the Ancient Roman tradition.

A loot at CaesarStone's elegant Motivo Embossed Collection demonstrates the state-of-the-art techniques and technologies used to produce premium quartz surfaces with exquisite style and exceptional durability. The Motivo Embossed quartz comes in Crocodile and Lace.



The Crocodile Embossed quartz presents a dark, sleek look with a touch of ruggedness. The Lace Embossed quartz, on the other hand, has a clean look with an intricate yet delicate pattern that adds elegance. For both, choose a polished, honed or textured finish, and a thickness of 1cm, 2cm or 3cm. The quality of the colors and textures of these two styles are backed by a residential lifetime warranty.



For additional information on the Motivo Embossed Collection, CaesarStone and other Marble and Granite, Inc. natural stones please call 877-39-STONE.

Photos courtesy of CaesarStone.

As a metamorphosed, easily worked igneous stone, soapstone has heat retention qualities that make it an ideal surface for sinks, kitchen countertops, laboratory tops, fireplace facings, inner hearths or cladding for freestanding coal or wood-fired room heaters.

[caption id="attachment_544" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Blue marble"][/caption]

Blue and purple are a colors of tranquility, awareness, and success. Their versatility offers homeowners an array of design options. The showrooms of Marble and Granite hold 29 varieties of blue and purple natural stones from which to choose.

For bold kitchens and baths, Azul Bahia's gray base with dramatic violet and black veining leaves a lasting impression. This Brazilian granite will not be overlooked. The depth of Blue Polare's color appears black, with iridescent clusters of royal blue. Its  consistent color is great for homeowners seeking a solid stone with a bit of visual interest. India's Paradisio features olive, rouge, and taupe accents throughout a base of scarlet and purple. It is a truly unique and stunning stone. Also from India, Bahamia Blue offers rich, consistent color with deposits of navy blue and black.  Naminian Sky marble has a gentle, pale blue base with extreme movement, reflected in waves of gray and slate blue.

[caption id="attachment_545" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Blue Polare"][/caption]

Visit our showrooms in Milford, CT or Westwood, MA to see these beautiful products in person. Call for 877-39-STONE for questions and details.

Image Source: Yacht Forums, Marble and Granite