Amarestone Natural Stone Blog

The Marble of the Alhambra - Spanish Macael Marble

Posted by Steve Turner on Sat, Nov 26, 2016 @ 06:17 PM

Blanco Macael - the Spanish marble of the Alhambra Palace

Over the last few years, we have been researching some of the more unusual Spanish limestones and marbles. The Blanco Macael Spanish marble from the southern tip of Spain is well known to us but I hadn't realised that it had such a famous pedigree or that Macael can be yellow, grey or green as well as white.

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Topics: marble, marble flooring, spanish marble, facade, quarry, White marble

Portuguese Marble - Pretty in Pink - an update

Posted by Steve Turner on Tue, Oct 25, 2016 @ 09:45 AM

Portuguese marble is pretty in pink.

In previous blogs, we've talked about Portuguese limestone, and how these Portuguese stones are loved by designers for their uniformity and predictability of colour, veining and shelling. But the Portuguese also have a range of marbles which are really eye-catching.

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Topics: choosing marble, estremoz, vila vicosa marble, blue marble, blue stone, marble, marble flooring, marble tiles, prestige marble, portuguese marble, White marble, quality marble, rosa aurora

Myth-busters - using natural stone

Posted by Steve Turner on Mon, Apr 14, 2014 @ 07:35 AM

The 5 most common myths about Marble and Limestone:

Here's a quick summary of the 5 most common myths that we hear when we talk to people on our stand at the exhibitions. A lot of the comments relate to misunderstandings about sealing and maintenance. Some of them are discussed here:

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Topics: limestone flooring, maintenance, marble flooring, cleaning, sealing

Grey Venezia - the bronze grey limestone from Spain

Posted by Steve Turner on Thu, Jan 09, 2014 @ 04:42 PM

UPDATE: 25/09/2020

Very sad to hear that Luis Sanchez Diez are having financial difficulties at the moment but we're in contact with them and wishing them well for finding a way through the present trouble.

Watch this space.

Steve


During a visit to Marmomacc, the international natural stone show in Verona in October this year, I had another look at the fabulous range of limestone from Luis Sanchez Diez that I spoke about below. I'm pleased to say that a new batch of samples arrived in my warehouse recently. Please get in touch if you would like to see the new range. 

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Topics: limestone flooring, choosing marble, marble flooring, spanish marble, limestone tiles, buying limestone, spanish limestone, marble tiles, choosing natural stone, crema marfil, crema marfil tiles

Spanish Stone - Crema Marfil alternatives

Posted by Steve Turner on Sat, Jan 04, 2014 @ 10:49 AM

Alternative marbles from Spain:

In an earlier blog, I talked about Crema Marfil and how difficult it was becoming to find really top-quality material. 

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Topics: limestone, limestone flooring, choosing marble, marble, marble flooring, spanish marble, limestone tiles, buying limestone, spanish limestone, marble tiles, choosing natural stone, which stone, bespoke limestone, crema marfil, crema marfil tiles

French Limestone - the quarries bounce back

Posted by Steve Turner on Wed, Nov 13, 2013 @ 11:38 AM

Good News: French Limestone back on the agenda

We recently had some excellent news from our friends in France. They have now restructured and we can once again source the widest range of top quality French limestone and marble for tiles, slabs, six-sides-sawn blocks and bespoke pieces. Our extensive range and knowledge of French stone makes us the UK's leading supplier of French limestone.

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Topics: limestone, limestone flooring, marble, French limestone, marble flooring, limestone tiles, burgundy limestone, marble tiles, pierre de bourgogne

Protecting polished marble

Posted by Steve Turner on Sun, Oct 13, 2013 @ 09:02 AM

Surface sealing made easy with FILAMP90 ECO

Tile sealants play an essential role in protecting natural materials – and make surfaces easier to maintain.  But, contrary to belief, application needn’t be time consuming or unpleasant!

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Topics: stain, choosing marble, maintenance, clean, seal slate, marble, stone, marble flooring, Italian marble, spanish marble, calacatta, calacatta michelangelo, seal limestone, Fob, cleaning, wine stain, Fila, marble tiles, sealing, MP90, protection, seal marble

Creative Use of Marble Floor Tile Patterns

Posted by Steve Turner on Thu, Sep 19, 2013 @ 10:56 PM

Marble Floor Tiles: Using different tile sizes to add interest with patterns.

Once you have selected the color of marble tile that you want to adorn your floor, you may want to spend some time thinking about the patterns that you can make using the size and shape of the tiles.

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Topics: choosing marble, marble flooring, tile layout, tile setting out, bespoke, floor patterns, marble tiles, choosing natural stone

Portuguese Marble - pretty in pink

Posted by Steve Turner on Fri, Aug 23, 2013 @ 09:56 PM

Home of the Rosa – Portuguese marble is pretty in pink.

Our previous blog talked about Portuguese limestone, particularly Moleanos and Moca Creme, and about how these Portuguese stones can be a designer's delight for their uniformity and predictability of colour and veining/shelling.

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Topics: choosing marble, estremoz, vila vicosa marble, blue marble, blue stone, marble, marble flooring, marble tiles, prestige marble, portuguese marble, White marble, quality marble, rosa aurora

Italian White Marble - perfect for prestige projects

Posted by Steve Turner on Mon, Jul 29, 2013 @ 07:00 AM

White Italian marble for bespoke projects

When one of our clients asks us to create a bespoke piece for their project, the material of choice is very often Italian marble. This is perhaps because of its reputation as a luxury material, however, many people are not aware of the variety that the term ‘Italian marble’ encompasses. In fact, there is a myriad of different Italian marbles, each with its own distinct character and geological properties.

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Topics: calacatta borghini, marble flooring, Italian marble, calacatta, calacatta michelangelo, prestige marble, White marble, carrara, quality marble, carrera