Since its founding in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2002, Vicostone has grown into one of the world’s go-to suppliers for quartz. As an alternative to granite, Vicostone’s engineered stone surfacing offers impressive durability and low maintenance. Made from about 93 per cent natural quartz, it is resistant to scratches, heat and corrosion – and it is also beautiful. With more than 100 options that recreate the depth and complexity of natural stone, Vicostone surfaces have become increasingly popular for kitchen, bathroom and commercial applications.
Vicostone’s 2018 Collection is set to launch at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, January 18-21, 2018. It includes three new varieties, and at IDS, a number of leading designers will be on hand for free design consultations, including Peter Brooks of BedfordBrooks, Evelyn Eshun of E-Studio, Erica Gelman of House of Design, Paul Semkuley of Re:source Lifestyles, Samantha Sannella of Urban Retreat Homes and Yvonne Whelan of Yvonne Whelan Design.
Ahead of the event, we asked our experts for the inside track on Vicostone’s 2018 Collection – and about how they use quartz surfacing.
Nero Marquina, a rich black quartz with striking white veining, is statement material, evoking lightning bolts flashing through a night sky. Peter Brooks has already used it for a Toronto penthouse project, using the surfacing on a custom bar top and a full-height standing bar table in a games room. ”Nero Marquina was love at first sight,” Brooks says. “It’s truly a design that has something to say. The stone is such a statement that the games room doesn’t require any additional décor or artwork on the walls.”
Paul Semkuley, meanwhile, envisions the majestic surface as the centerpiece of a kitchen. “Pair it as the high-contrast kitchen island with the super white Quasar Light as the coordinating countertops,” he says. Either way, the verdict is in: use Nero Marquina in rooms that need a dash of drama.
There’s a restrained elegance to Cemento, a surface that resembles polished concrete with white veining, but it can still easily be the centerpiece of a room. Vicostone’s own inspiration images envision Cemento as a prime material for backsplashes and kitchen islands, but Paul Semkuley says he can envision featuring the surfacing as a key element of a private bathroom.
“Cemento would be my choice for a master ensuite vanity and threshold for the shower area,” he says. “It’s dreamy, yet it still makes a point of view with the subtle contrasting white veining.”
For spaces demanding sleek, neutral surfacing, Diamante is the gem of Vicostone’s 2018 Collection. Featuring pale quartz streaked with darker grey marbling, this variety is polished and smooth to the touch, making it a versatile fit for almost any application. It’s subtle, but that’s the point. “It would be amazing to use as the cladding of a fireplace, providing a dynamic modern focal point to the room,” says Semkuley.
Designer Yvonne Whelen, though, suggests that each of Vicostone’s 2018 offerings provide a wide range of applications. “I have seen them personally and could envision using them on a sleek fireplace, custom table, kitchen counters or even a moody bathroom,” she says. “The new quartz options are amazing. It’s totally on the pulse of where interiors are going.”
Vicostone’s 2018 Collection will be unveiled at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, at booth 1710. This content was published by Azure on behalf of Vicostone.