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Chiseled In Stone - The Newsletter - January 2008
January 24, 2008
Cocktail Chatter
So there you are sitting in the lodge in front of the fire after a hard day of falling down on the slopes and some guy starts talking about his granite skis. Too many hot toddies? Think again.
Skis made of granite may sound incredible but thanks to designer Simon Jacomet and his team at Zai there are skiers swooshing down the slopes on skis with a core made of natural granite. Only 500 pair of these very special limited edition skis called Spadas has been made.
The granite in the skis has been rendered bendable by Technocarbon® a product of the new carbon fiber technology developed in Munich, Germany. Stone has enormous strength and resilience retaining its shape and dampening vibrations. The result is a ski with incomparable agility, grip and smoothness.
By the way, Technocarbon® is believed to be the future replacement for steel and aluminum since its production emits much less Co2 and is much lighter. So you may very well be driving a car made of natural stone in the not too distant future.
The fine jewelry department of Harrods, Knightsbridge absolutely glows with back-lit onyx walls. The stone supplier: Grein Italia the same German company which designed the granite motor cycle helmet (featured in the December 2007 issue of Chiseled in Stone).
So what do you think? Are onyx clad walls too over the top or just the right setting when you’re ready to buy a piece of jewelry with a 6 digit price tag?
Harrods Fine Jewelry, from the architecture studio of Eva Jiricna, London.
Stone Sour: Cocktail Recipe of the Month
- 1 oz apricot brandy
- 1 oz orange juice
- Add sour mix and serve over ice.
- Fresh sour mix
1 cup sugar, 1 cup water 1 cup fresh lime juice 1 cup fresh lemon juice mix well.
Dissolve the sugar into the water then add the fruit juice.
(Refined Stone asks you to remember to drink responsibly and NEVER drive after consuming alcohol)
THE HOME BODY'S BUDDY
Useful Tips for Around the House
Will the color of my granite countertop mean more housework?
When it comes to choosing granite for your kitchen countertops how will the color you select impact your daily cleaning routine? Structurally, darker stones are denser than lighter colored stones which make them less susceptible to staining. And so the darker colors will require less sealing (1x per year vs. 2x+ per year) than lighter stone. BUT the darker stone is going to show finger prints and dust and after you wipe them down you will probably need to wipe them down a second time get rid of the streaks.
THE EXPERTS' OPINIONS
Inside Information from the professionals in the Trenches.
What color granite will work best in a small kitchen?
Dianna Robinson, interior designer and owner of American Home Interiors addressed this question and gave us a couple of useful tips for selecting color and grain for granite countertops in smaller kitchens. “The rule of thumb is that using a dark color in a small space will make the space seem even smaller. A lighter color blended with the cabinets and floor will make the room look larger. But, the use of a darker color can make a dramatic impact where the lighter color may just kind of sit there and look nice. It really comes down to future resale plans and what will ultimately make you happy.” (See the Realtor’s opinion about granite countertops and their impact on home sales in the Dec. 2007 issue.) You can email Dianna from her website www.americanhomeinteriors.us.
Top 10 ski resorts in the world according to Harry Marks travel specialist
10 Aspen, Colorado United States
9 Cortina, Italy
8 Mont-Tremblant Quebec, Canada
7 Stowe, Vermont United States
6 Chamonix, Mont-Blanc France
5 Banff/Lake Louise, Alberta Canada
4 Vail, Colorado United States
3 Zermatt, Switzerland
2 Kitzbuhel, Austria
1 Whistler/BlackComb British Columbia Canada
