Venezian® article for StoneWorld’s Free Showcase
By Rebecca Bertok, Marketing Manager at Stone Interiors, Gaston, SC
7 June 2005
499 words
Imagine yourself sitting in the middle of Piazza San Marco in Venice. You’re sitting at a small café table, sipping an espresso; surrounded by locals and tourists alike who are enjoying their surroundings and feeding the pigeons. But as you sit there, it dawns on you that the square itself seems to be alive, constantly changing with the ages. From the pavers at your feet to the roofline of the Doge’s Palace and the domes of the Basilica, the piazza is encased in stone. It is a warm stone that shows its age and reminds you of times gone by and of history and good times, yet to be written. Its strength and beauty is a testament to the piazza’s timeless craftsmanship. Now, imagine this same scene, this same feeling, in your home (without the hundreds of tourists and pigeons).
In 2002, G.K. Naquin of Stone Interiors in Loxley, AL, and Gianni Simonelli’s company, Building Materials Supplies (B.M.S.) in Carrara, Italy, joined together to create Venezian®, the first granite finish to emulate the natural aging of the stone.
“About four years ago, I developed the concept, and BMS produced it,” said Naquin. “I went to five companies, and BMS did the best. We modified it to stay with flat surfaces—you can slide a wine glass across it. There’s not too much texture.”
Venezian® is the perfect choice for period, country casual, Old World, or Provencal styles, and unlike honed material, the revolutionary finishing process of Venezian® holds its color in a satin finish, making it an excellent compliment to rich woods and wall colors. Venezian® is available in nine beautiful colors, all named for areas or icons of Venice: Burano, Lido, Murano, Polo, Rialto, San Marco, and the three newest colors, Canale, Gondola, and Laguna. Colors range from light to dark and blue to tan to fit the most discriminating tastes.
To continue the aged granite look, on the darker Venezian® colors, it is even possible to get the edge darker than the face, and all types of edges are available to complete the look you want. “The most popular are the quarry edge, which has the effect of a chiseled edge, and the radius edge,” said Naquin.
The demand for Venezian® continues to grow among decorators and homeowners who want something just a little different that’s not any more difficult to care for than a polished granite countertop. In fact, with Venezian® “you don’t have to use as much enhancers as with other finishes,” said Naquin.
In 2004, Venezian® passed the ASTM test for Slippery and Water Absorption, and is suitable for all those projects where strict requirements are mandatory. Stone Interiors serves as the national agent at their facility in Loxley, AL with wholesale distribution at their other facility in Gaston, SC and from fine wholesale and retail distributors across the country.
For more information, contact Larry Sandstrom or GK Naquin today at Stone Interiors in Loxley, AL at 251-964-5070 or log onto: or
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