In what seems to be a genuine concern of the effects of radon emissions in residential homes, a certain website from a non-profit organization out of Houston has made it a point to imply without scientific proof, that natural stone could be a major contributor of radon in a household.

From what may be perceived on the surface as perhaps another “going green” ad campaign, seems to be a different slant on the ongoing battle of the engineered stone manufacturers against natural stone.

You can rad more about that here.

The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. “Charcoal canisters,” “alpha track,” “electret ion chamber,” “continuous monitors,” and “charcoal liquid scintillation” detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to tell you your year-round average radon level. If you need results quickly, however, a short-term test followed by a second short-term test may be used to decide whether to fix your home.

How To Use a Test Kit:

Testing is easy and should only take a few minutes of your time.

Follow the instructions that come with your test kit. If you are doing a short-term test, close your windows and outside doors and keep them closed as much as possible during the test. Heating and air-conditioning system fans that re-circulate air may be operated. Do not operate fans or other machines which bring in air from outside. Fans that are part of a radon-reduction system or small exhaust fans operating only for short periods of time may run during the test. If you are doing a short-term test lasting just 2 or 3 days, be sure to close your windows and outside doors at least 12 hours before beginning the test, too. You should not conduct short-term tests lasting just 2 or 3 days during unusually severe storms or periods of unusually high winds. The test kit should be placed in the lowest lived-in level of the home (for example, the basement if it is frequently used, otherwise the first floor). It should be put in a room that is used regularly (like a living room, playroom, den or bedroom) [B]but not your kitchen or bathroom[/B]. Place the kit at least 20 inches above the floor in a location where it won’t be disturbed - away from drafts, high heat, high humidity, and exterior walls. Leave the kit in place for as long as the package says. Once you’ve finished the test, reseal the package and send it to the lab specified on the package right away for analysis. You should receive your test results within a few weeks.

 In the present day, there’s a very popular angle of “green.” This is prevalent everywhere in the media. So what happens when you mix a scare tactic under the guise of environmental concern?

Buildclean found the answer to that question. The premise seems of the nonprofit organization seems to be admirable but the fact that the “awareness campaign” that Buildclean is currently using seems to be curiously slanted. In fact, the target seems to be the natural stone industry.

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We can start with the simplest of questions asked every time we visit almost any store – paper or plastic? Of course, this is a huge debate and has been for quite some time. Lets look at them one at a time.

Plastic bags are made from petroleum. Yep, you guessed it – oil. Now to be fair it must be mentioned that plastic is made of a by-product of oil refining.

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We would like to introduce The Opps Factor Plan; finally a plan offered by stone restoration specialists that can accommodate a customers needs. No more struggling to find a stone restoration service in the area. The peace of mind knowing that if the client has an issue, accident or just a basic maintenance plan to protect their investment.  Our job is to restore natural stone. We are independent of the fabricators and installers. Our services specialize in post installation issues that might occur therefore representing a third party with the client.  This relieves the designer, contractor, installer, and fabricator of any post installation issues as well as offering a unique customization plan for the client’s stone surface. The designer is able to offer a fully comprehensive plan to the client in order to enhance the sale. no more dealing withe that customer that ordered a hone finish and now claiming they order a polish finish.

  Our members specialize in restoring, repairing, and refinishing a wide range of natural stone surfaces, including Granite, Natural Marble, Travertine and many other natural stone products from all over the world.  The natural stone restoration specialists of the NSRA are highly trained and experienced.  All work done by NSRA members is guaranteed.

 NSRA members are kept up to date on the latest restoration techniques, the use state-of-the-art tools and use the finest materials for repairs.

We will follow up on service requests within 24 hours, provide a realistic estimate and schedule and make every effort to work quickly and efficiently. We make the extra effort to be timely and customer-friendly.

 Our plan offers a percentage incentive to the designer for the presentation of the service. We provide all promotion materials as well as online or phone contact.       

NSRA One Year Residential Natural Stone Protection Plan

 Level One

 A basic protection plan that covers the sealing of stone surface. This allows client unlimited service for sealing the stone along with one professional cleaning and evaluation of the stone.

 Level Two

 An enhanced plan that covers Level One as well as repairs of chips, scratches, etches and normal wear and tear. The plan also covers stain removal. The plan has certain restrictions relating to settling, intentional neglect or abuse or seam failure.

 Level Three

  Covers both Levels One and Two. This plan also includes customizing seams to make the seams less noticeable to match the surface as well as altering the surface ie: honed, polishing, satin, antiquing to the clients wishes. This plan covers all issues with the stone surface: settling, structural settling, seam failure, natural characteristics of the stone such as fissures water lines and color manipulations with the exception of intentional physical abuse or cracking the stone due to excessive weight. 

These plans cost as little as $250 a year. To learn more abut these plans, contact your nearest stone suppler or log on to www.nsraweb.com to find your nearest participating NSRA member.

Architects, specifiers, designers, clients; choosing and using stone is an experience and one for which we recommend you ask for professional advice. Stone is a naturally occurring material and as such, has to be chosen like no other building material. Stone Federation members are fully trained, experienced and competent professionals who should be consulted as soon as you decide to use natural stone on your project. They can advise you and prevent any costly mistakes being made before it is too late.

Domestic use of stone

Using stone in your home or property can enhance your living space but you must be aware of the questions to ask when making your choice of stone.

Stone, correctly selected, can enhance the value of your property and be durable, and virtually maintenance free. However, incorrectly selected it can cause you problems. By purchasing stone you are making an investment so protect your money and get the right advice. Stone Federation suggests you always consult the experts first.

General types of natural stone

Classification

There are many different classification schemes for stone, which have prompted the industry to simplify descriptions. This has led to many problems when, for instance, a stone laid as a granite is actually found to be a different stone type altogether and does not perform as expected. The British Standard BSEN12440 (Denomination of natural stone) addresses the classification problem and insists upon the correct identification of stone type and origin. For the purposes of this guidance however, the simplified descriptions remain and it must be stressed that all stones should be considered individually for their merits in whatever use they are being considered for.

GRANITE

The term granite has been applied to almost any igneous stone that can retain a polish. True granites provide many of these stones but other types of igneous stone that may fall into this classification include syenites, gabbros, dolerites, and diorites. The metamorphic stones gneiss, schist and granulite are frequently also included in this ‘granite’ classification.

The formation of these igneous rocks by the slow cooling of molten minerals such as quartz, feldspar and hornblende has resulted in a wide variety of colours and grain patterns.

In the United Kingdom the quarrying of granite is concentrated in a small number of locations. Those of particular importance may be found in Devon and Cornwall, Cumbria, at Peterhead and Aberdeen and on the east coast of Scotland.

The main sources for imported granite are Scandinavia, South Africa, Sardinia, Portugal, Spain, India, North America, China and Brazil.

Applications
The interlocking crystal structure imparts both the high strength and low porosity necessary for a wide range of applications other than just flooring; these characteristics are also important in allowing successful use of slabs that are thinner than other types of stone.

Appearance
The immense colour choice includes fine and medium grained silver grey from Devon and Cornwall and fine grained pink from Scotland, whilst other countries provide dense, very fine grained materials with reflective crystals such as larvikite (e.g. blue and emerald pearl) from Norway; reds from Scandinavia and India; large grained brown from Finland; yellows from Brazil; and the delicately mottled greys, fawns and pinks from Sardinia.

The surface finish affects the appearances of granite and those available include sawn, flame textured, dolly pointed, fine axed, rough punched, honed, bush hammered and water jet. It is in the gloss polished form, however, that these granites reveal fully their colours and grain patterns.

Performance
Very hardwearing and physically strong, granite is largely unaffected by erosion, pollution or atmospheric attack. Facades are generally self cleaning, although eye level areas benefit from occasional cleaning as for glazing. A polished finish is almost indestructible.

SANDSTONEThe term sandstone is used to describe almost any stone of sedimentary origin with a granular texture. Some other types of stone that may fall under this classification include gritstones, siltstones, greywackes, conglomerates and marls. Aside from particle size variations, the dominant factor affecting sandstone performance is the grain cement that may be siliceous, calcareous, clay bearing or iron-rich.

Geologically it is a sedimentary type rock made up of various mineral particles mainly quartz, mica and felspar. All these minerals are bonded together with natural cements such as silicas, calcium carbonates, iron oxides and clays. The individual make up of each sandstone gives a wide range of colours. A pure silica sandstone is white with the colours arising from other minerals. Iron oxides can cause the stone to vary from buff or brown through to the deepest red. Grey colour stone is due to the presence of clay and green could indicate the presence of glauconite which contained potassium.

Sandstone is a natural material traditionally regarded as the building stone of the North. However, sandstone can be seen throughout the United Kingdom in many prestigious buildings from structures which form part of our heritage to modern office blocks.

Sandstone is traditionally used as a building material in many areas where it occurs locally particularly in Derbyshire, Yorkshire and the North East of England, Wales and Scotland. Many of the “stone cities” of the North derive their particular architectural character from the use of sandstone.

Most of the major sandstone quarries working today are located in the North of England, Derbyshire and Scotland. For flooring purposes, sandstones are also imported.

Appearance
Sandstone has many colours ranging from white, grey and buff to various shades of pink and red.

The colour and texture of stone is self evident, however the colour of dry stone can change quite dramatically on wetting. Natural weathering can play a major part in the change of colour. Such colour change can sometimes be viewed on abandoned faces of the quarry although it is much more important to view existing buildings constructed from the same stone.

Sandstones generally have an even texture, which may vary from course to fine, but the stone from some quarries also show attractive natural markings.

Applications
Many types of sandstone are suitable for paving or flooring. Some can be split (“riven”) otherwise the normal finish is sawn. Tooled, sandblasted and flame textured finishes are also available.

There is a vast variety of surface finishes available from the traditional rubble walling to wrought stonework with its finishes to different forms ie. boasting, pitched, broached, hammer dressed and rusticated, to the very intricate looking vermiculated. But most importantly, credit must go to the craftsmen who hue the sandstone to all the various forms from large stones with a high degree of moulding to the most intricate of carving work. Sandstones are suitable for blcok construction in most building and engineering work and can now be cut to relatively thin sections for cladding to steel framed or concrete structured buildings.

All in all sandstone is one of the few historic natural minerals still in use today. It provides excellent durability and is virtually maintenance free. It is aesthetically appealing to the eye whilst giving great value for money to the client.

Performance
Most sandstones have good load bearing and weathering properties. Correct detailling with regard to weathering is of prime importance, especially on buildings designed with sloping surfaces and without overhangs. Great care is required in the design of non-ferrous cramps and corbels for fixing to structures.

SLATESlate is found extensively, throughout the British Isles and has, for centuries, been a major source of building stone. Historically, and, in common with other stones, it was first used in and around the immediate areas of availability.

The term slate is often used to describe any rock that can be easily split into thin sheets, principally for roofing purposes. True slate is defined by the presence of a ‘slaty’ cleavage; this allows the slate to be split at almost any point through the stone parallel to the cleavage plane. Most true slates are metamorphosed sediments, often formerly mudstones; however, some British “slates” are derived from volcanic ash sequences and are not true slates in the strict geological sense.
Appearance
The major UK sources of slate, with their distinctive colours, are the Lake District blue/grey, light green, olive green and silver grey, North Wales blue, grey, blue-black and red, and Cornwall - grey.

Slate is easily split (“riven”) into thin sections, giving a natural finish. Other finishes include sawn, sanded, fine rubbed, flame textured, bush hammered and water jet.

Applications
From the very early, basic applications, British Slate is now used for very wide and diverse purposes. Modern quarrying and machine processes allow prime blocks to be sawn or split into large slabs and a variety of thicknesses. Current products include: roofing, cladding, cills, copings, flooring & paving, treads, plaques & memorials, worktops & fireplaces.

Slate is typically a very durable construction material and rarely exhibits visible degradation, even when placed under extreme atmospheric conditions for many years. For flooring purposes U.K. slate is unlikely to delaminate or exhibit efflorescence.

High flexural strength and typically very low porosity makes slate eminently suitable for flooring purposes and it requires little maintenance.

Caution should be exercised when choosing material marketed as slate as some may not be suitable for flooring. If any doubt exists about the material being considered, specialist advice should be sought.

Very thin, split, natural riven sections are used for roofing and the same methods produce thicker material for flooring and cladding. Slateis readily available in sawn, fine rubbed and other finishes wuch as sand-blasted and flame textured.

Performance
British Slate has a proven record of durability and being supplied fit for its intended purposes. This is readily seen on countless buildings in the UK and many areas of the world. Such examples of installation are witness to the ability of slate to withstand the rigours of extreme atmospheric conditions. Slate is extremely stable and will not degrade, warp or twist. Quality Assurance, management systems are widely used throughout the industry.

LIMESTONE

Stone is a material that man has used in building for several thousand years and it still lends itself to modern usage and design, and limestone in its various geological forms is probably the type of natural stone most widely used for this purpose. It occurs naturally in many parts of the UK with the limestones of the Jurassic period being those of most importance in this field. They run broadly in a belt from Dorset and Somerset in the south west, through the Cotswolds and Oxfordshire, on into Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire, to just north of the Humber.Limestone is a sedimentary rock. Many of the commonly used varieties were formed by the accretion of the hard remains of former organisms such as corals and shells. These materials principally comprise calcium carbonate (calcite), as does the cement. Calcite is a relatively soft mineral and careful selection will be needed when you choose this for use as flooring. Variations in the types and quantities of shell and other remains and the nature of the cement provide a huge range in the types of limestone available.

The limestones of these areas were used for building in Roman times and, in later centuries and to-date, have been the traditional building material of their localities, Many buildings throughout these counties bear witness to this. In addition, some limestones are extensively used outside their areas of origins as is evidenced by the many fine buildings to be seen throughout the British Isles, particularly in major cities and towns. Cathedrals, churches and numerous public and private buildings provide outstanding examples of the durability and beauty of these limestones and they show through the skill of the mason, how this stone is so eminently suitable for producing masonry of excellence in all aspects of plain and detailed work that may be required. Among the better known limestones of the Jurassic age are those of Purbeck, Clipsham, Ancaster, Ketton, Bath, Doulting and Weldon, whilst Portland stone is a characteristic feature of London architecture. From the earlier Carboniferous age come the limestones of Derbyshire and Cumbria such as Hopton Wood, Sheldon, Orton Scar and Salterwath.

Imported limestones, most notably French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Egyptian and Israeli are also available in the UK.

Appearance
The colours of limestones range from almost white to the warm honey tone of Bath stones with grey/blue and darker browns a feature in some limestones. Textures range from fine even grained stones to the smooth fossil bearing types and to the coarse open textured Portland roach. Certain limestones such as Purbeck and Hopton Wood take a polish and can be used as “marbles”.

Applications
Limestones are used extensively in both new building and restoration where their ease of working facilitates the production of cladding, ashlar and other forms of walling. They are also suitable for flooring.

Many limestones are particularly suited to carved and moulded work. Components such as cills and jambs, soffits and copings, heads and mullions are readily produced to add interest and enrichment to building facades.

Performance
Limestones generally have good load bearing properties and weathering characteristics although correct detailing is important as with all building materials. Limestones must not be used above sandstones on exterior elevations.

The properties of individual types of stone can vary considerably and advice should always be sought on the selection of suitable stones, both for general and particular applications.

MARBLETrue marbles in the geological sense are metamorphosed limestone and are principally composed of recrystallised calcite formed into an interlocking granular structure. Some hard or partially metamorphosed limestones are incorrectly referred to as marble, even though they exhibit many of the characteristics of marble.

In its ‘purest’ state marble is typically white, however the presence of other minerals can often provide colour(s). In some cases the colour appears as irregular shaped patches (brecciation) or as substantial veining. Specialist advice should be obtained as to the suitability of such marbles in particular locations.

Greater care must also be taken during installation as other construction defects easily taint the pureness of marble, particularly from underlying materials, and may result in staining at a later date.

It is common to use marble with a highly polished surface finish and, as a consequence, slip resistance should be carefully considered. Marble is imported.

QUARTZITES

Quartzites are typically the metamorphosed product of an original sedimentary rock e.g. sandstone, composed almost entirely of quartz.

In general quartzites are hard wearing, have low porosity, a high compressive strength and good durability making them suitable for use as flooring. The metamorphic varieties in particular may be brittle and so some care is required in assessing a material prior to use. While composed largely of quartz, the presence of some impurities can lead to the development of different colours and the typical range is from white to yellowish brown, through to green, brown, gold, grey and blue. In Eire, the metamorphic quartzites have a complex geological history which has tended to result in them having a relatively small natural block size. All operating quartzite quarries in the British Isles occur in Eire. Elsewhere quartzites are commercially available from Norway, Sweden, Italy, South Africa, USA and Brazil.

TRAVERTINE

Travertine is the name normally given to a type of precipitated calcite associated with the cooling of waters around hot springs or in caves. Being formed very slowly it often incorporates dead matter such as tree debris that later rots away to leave a voided structure.

The performance of travertine greatly depends on the size and density of the voids, which, in most instances, are routinely resin surface filled before the finished stone is supplied. The nature of the fill material must be compatible with the travertine and not subject to discoloration or decay.

Traditionally travertine was naturally bedded and generally referred to as vein cut. Recently travertine cut face bedded and referred to as classico has appeared on the market. Whilst the vein cut material has a long and proven history of use, the cross cut or classico travertine has not yet proved to be as suitable because of surface collapse and filler failure. Before this material is considered, its limitations in performance must be taken into account.

Generally travertine is suitable only for internal flooring purposes, and then only after the most careful consideration. Strength may be lower than most other stones and the presence of hidden voids below the surface may lead to ongoing repair when the filling material collapses.

Unfilled travertine has been used for flooring purposes but only after strict quality control of the size and distribution of the voids. All travertine is imported.

GREEN MARBLE OR VERDE

Green or verde marble is considered separately to true marble because its origin is often the result of the metamorphism of rocks other than limestones. The green colour is typically derived from the presence of serpentine minerals. These minerals are relatively soft and the structure often weak, the stone commonly requiring reinforcement from matting glued to the underside.

Verdes are rarely used for whole floors and are preferred for providing coloured inserts to other flooring materials. Care must always be taken to ensure their compatibility with other stones.

A special consideration for any verde is the presence or otherwise of asbestiform minerals that may be naturally present e.g. chrysotile (white asbestos) and the amphiboles tremolite and actinolite. It may be prudent to establish that, where present, fibres of these minerals in the respirable range are not generated during any cutting, grinding and polishing operations, particularly if carried out dry.

The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations have banned the import, supply and use of blue, brown and white asbestos (crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile respectively) essentially when part of an asbestos admixture product. Natural stone that contains chrysotile for example, and is used for flooring, would not be classed as an asbestos admixture product.

You can find the very best stone cleaners and polish at www.nsraweb.com/store

“Expect the unexpected” could be the theme of this contemporary house. The property’s unique details begin with the hot-dipped galvanized picket gate that opens onto the driveway leading to the house. A two-color brick exterior with limestone accents and horizontal banding is enhanced by green and red shingles. Architect and builder Jim Peterson’s use of Indian slate-filled steel channels and dormers with copper siding hints at the design surprises just inside the front door where the structural steel channels are repeated in the entry.

“I kept the house narrow and incorporated as many windows as possible to maximize the light coming into the house. And I planned the windows on the rear wall to overlook the lake. To add an element of surprise, I designed the house so that the rear walls are not parallel with the front wall,” says Peterson. He set the white maple floors with Brazilian cherry inlays on an angle to accentuate the angle of the house.

WARMING IT UP

Interior designer Gail Ciliberti says the challenge of a contemporary house is to create an environment that’s warm and welcoming. She and Peterson used combinations of natural materials to achieve that warmth and included various features, such as the fireplace, that are independent components to enhance one another.

The hearth and curved face of the great-room fireplace are sandstone, which complements the maple floors, with Red Dragon granite inserts. The hearth transitions into a platform that anchors a flat-screen television.

In front of the fireplace, a sunrise yellow leather sectional and cherry-base glass-top table sit on a geometric rug of muted gold, green, gray, brown and red. The rug is from Frances Lee Jasper.

A rift-sawn vertical-grain maple bookcase built by carpenter Ned Fitzgerald is the focal point of a reading nook off the great room. The bookcase holds a portion of an extensive book collection, a daughter’s paintings and an assortment of decorative accessories. An ecru leather loveseat and ottoman provide comfortable seating.

The dining area, overlooking the lake, features a square table with a black terrazzo base, cherry cabinet and Rosewood granite countertop. The chairs are an unexpected combination of bamboo, leather and stainless steel. A sculptural paper lamp hangs above the table.

DESIGN SURPRISES

The kitchen opens onto the great room and dining area. Ciliberti designed the kitchen to include a circular-form island. The contour and shape of the island are reflected in the details of the soffit. The cherry cabinets, designed by Ciliberti and fabricated by Tom Burkhart of The Burkhart Co., are accented by Blue Eyes granite and Flamed Black Absolute granite countertops. The backsplash is Ganges Kund slate. Appliances include a GE Profile oven, refrigerator and dishwasher; a GE Monogram cooktop, European hood and wine cooler; and an Advantium oven.

Peterson continued his design surprises by bringing down the scale of the opening to the master suite to be mysterious. An alcove off the living room leads to the master suite, which has a small vaulted ceiling and a 7-foot bed wall. Ciliberti created the bed wall with maple flat-panel cabinetry on the opposite side.

Ciliberti designed the master bath with attention to luxurious details. Wood and an Indian slate floor introduce a natural element. Backlit mirrors are positioned over his-and-her horizontal-grain maple vanities with Marone Cohiba granite countertops and stainless-steel hardware. Ganges Kund slate is used on the floor and in the shower, which has an unusual tiled faucet tower. Iridescent black glass mosaic and a sandblasted glass door provide striking individuality to the space.

STEP DOWN

Open-riser stairs and a single piece of undulated rail lead downstairs to the walkout recreation room, bar, office and exercise room. A 16-foot tower of windows at the corner of the stairs extends from the basement to the second floor.

The carpet downstairs is placed on a diagonal that replicates the diagonal placement of the wood floors upstairs. A bar is highlighted by a manufactured stainless-steel panel base, Uba Tuba granite countertops and stainless-steel rod bar stools with suede seats. The fireplace has a long hearth with Green Ice slate and incorporates a flat-screen television and audio-visual components. A billiards table and piano offer additional entertainment.

Chris Madden, author, TV host, columnist, recently shared some brief insights with KBP.com for creating an inviting, warm environment for the kitchen and bath.

About Chris Madden:

With her best-selling design books, her weekly prime-time show on HGTV and her extraordinarily successful furniture line, Chris Madden is a trusted and accessible design authority for millions of Americans. Introduced by Oprah Winfrey as “my favorite designer” and by Katie Couric as “designer extraordinaire,” Madden’s mission is to make decoration and design fulfilling, unintimidating, and fun for her many fans.

Interiors by Design with Chris Casson Madden, her weekly HGTV show, is now in its 8th season and is a favorite of more than 80 million households here and abroad that subscribe to Home and Garden Television. Her weekly newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service reaches more than 380 newspapers and is syndicated through United Features. She frequently lectures throughout the country on the subject of design, has been profiled in the New York Times, Fortune magazine, the Daily News, Time magazine, the Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Self, Design Times, House & Garden magazine, and has been featured in dozens of newspapers across the country.

1. Your book, “Kitchens”, is nearly 10 years old. To what do you attribute its enduring presence in the bookstores?

I still adore each one of the kitchens in my book to this day. I shot a variety of great looking kitchens in a wide range of styles - country, modern, high tech and low tech. Large page format, great color photography. And not just inspirational, but at the same time, informational.

2. What are some of the specific attributes of the kitchens in your book which are still relevant years later?

A good layout is as important in 2002 as it was in 1993. Great fixtures and appliances that work for you are as important now as they were in 93. Storage is equally important.

3. You have written other books on finding one’s personal style, notably “A Room of Her Own” and “Chris Madden’s Guide to Personalizing Your Home.” How would you translate these concepts to kitchen and bath design?

Giving a room a sense of your own personal loves - whether it be collections or great black and white photographs, is one of my mantras. It works well not just in the kitchen and bath, but in all rooms in the home.

4. In your book, “Getaways” you feature hideaways, whether they be a weekend retreat, a bedroom, a secret garden, or other place to have a feeling of escape. What elements can be brought into the kitchen or bath to achieve this feeling in our everyday lives?

An antique mirror in the bathroom, a cozy slipper chair in the kitchen, there are lots of ways to inject a feeling of “getaway” into those rooms.

For Kitchens: Copper pots hung instead of a curtain, herbs or bulb jars on a window, a collection of vintage cookbooks, an old school blackboard for shopping lists.

For Baths: Vintage but clean baskets filled with terry towels, brushes, etc.

5. What affect has 9/11 had on the way we choose to live in our homes?

I think that sad day has only increased the need to make our homes a place of sanctuary, of retreat, of haven, and a place for celebrating the “everyday occurences” with family and friends.

6. Many of our clients do not understand the important role that kitchens and baths play in nourishing one’s body and soul. How can we get this message across to our clients in an effort to further enrich their lives?

The kitchen to me is the nerve center of the home where the entire family gathers. Therefore, add cozy chairs, banquettes, soft mood lighting on dimmers along with task lighting and fresh herbs and flowers. The bathroom - just as important, is a place for personal respite. So make it work for all its occupants with spa accoutrements such as candles, sea salts, portable jacuzzis and hotel-style robes.

7. As designers, should we be concerned with keeping true to theme design, e.g. period, contemporary, etc.? Or, to create a mix?

It’s ok to mix it up, but keep it well edited. Some like a totally modern, or rustic, or serene look. Really listen to your clients’ wants.

8. Can personalizing go too far?

I think it has to have a sense of proportion to the rest of the rooms. You don’t want to overwhelm the space with your collections. Change it with the seasons and always look at each room with a “fresh eye”, especially after having been away from those rooms.

9. Please tell our audience what is coming up for Chris Madden.

A new book “The Great American Living Room” - in spring 2003. New additions to my furniture collection for Basset and to my collections of pillows, throws, and rugs for Mohawk. Five to six new licensing partnerships to be introduced in the next four to six weeks. And, you can always catch me on HGTV - Monday nights on “Interiors by Design.”

Chris Madden has authored the following books:
Best-seller: “A Room of Her Own: Women’s Personal Spaces” (Clarkson Potter, 1997)
“Getaways” (Clarkson Potter, 2000)
“Chris Madden’s Guide to Personalizing Your Home” (Clarkson Potter, 1997)
“Kitchens” (Clarkson Potter, 1993)
“Bathrooms” (Clarkson Potter, 1996)
“Bedrooms” (Clarkson Potter, 2001)

Chris and Kevin Madden live in Westchester County, New York with their two sons, Patrick and Nick, and their two West Highland Terriers, Winnie and Lola.

The students will learn how to make repairs and seams look and feel like a natural product, remove scratches, factory blending, chip repairs, color blending and matching, seam repairs, honing, and the widely coveted knowledge of top-polishing.

Successful participants receive not only the knowledge, complete set of tools necessary to perform typical surface repairs, but they are also eligible to join the NSRA.

The NSRA is a nationwide group of independent, natural stone restoration professionals dedicated to quality and the education of the consumer and our members.

Time: July 21 - 22 2007, from 9 am - 5ish
Place: 30 Hilliard Street, Manchester CT, 06040
Cost: $1,800.00 us dollars
Public registration Ended: July 13, 2007

Airport:
Bradley International Airport
www.bradleyairport.com

Hotel:
121 Pavilions Dr
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 648-9796

Take a look at what a few of the guys have to say about the class

Q: Why is this a big deal?
A: One of the reasons the NSRA was created, was to promote natural stone as a serviceable material. With areas of the forum been syndicated and open to the public, any and all material posted, will also be index by popular search engines like Google.

Q: How does this help promote stone?
A: I know it is not a prime time ad like the one that the man-made material place during the supper blow, but it is a start. Most people that saw that ad will not run to the tape to look for that ad, but they will come online and look-up as much information that they can find. To put very simple, the more positive information that is online about natural stone, the better it will be for us all.

Q: What type of literature can we place in the syndicated areas?
A: Any and all information that places a positive light on natural stone. We have areas for News in the stone industry, Press release, Directories of the trade ranging from stone restoration to quarries, and if you have equipment or service you can place it in the review area of the forum. The only information that would be moved out of the syndicated areas is information that contains trade secrets’.

Q: Why removed the so call trade secrets’ from the syndicated area?
A: A lot of our trade secrets’ are debatable. The last thing we want is for the consumer to read a post about resolving a situation one way, just to have a stone technician arrive and do something completely opposite. This could result in non-payment for that technician. Plus we do not want the consumer thinking that they know as much as the technician and adjusting the fee of the technician. We have all come across situations like this, and that is also the reason we have the trade area of the forum private. We may lose a lot of traffic and revenue but we feel it is well worth it in the long run.

Q: Do I need to send you the information so it can get posted?
A: If you need help posted pictures or videos I would be more than happy to help, but you can post all the information that you wish. Please be advice that you have a limited time to edit your post. To make your post the most effective, chose your tile carefully. Your title is going to be the key words that the search engines use. I have found it best to use the words “how to”.

Q: Is there a fee for this service?
A: No fee

Q: How does the NSRA pay for this service?
A: The NSRA is funded by private donations from the core members of the NSRA.

Anguilla is a self-governing territory under the United Kingdom. A former British colony since 1650, Anguilla became a separate British dependency in 1980. It has a democratically elected government headed by a Chief Minister.

Located east of Puerto Rico, it is a coral and limestone island with sparse vegetation. The coral reefs here are spectacular and attract both tourists and scientists / ecologists. Through most of the year, it has a sunny tropical climate, though it can get extremely wet between June and November, the hurricane season.

You fly into Puerto Rico or Antigua, then by ferry or boat across to Anguilla. Within the island, there are cars and taxis available, but given the small size, you could even just walk whererever you choose. Or you could hire a bike or moped if you’re in a hurry.

But do you really want to hurry, when on vacation? Just relax and chill out instead.