Sustainable Practices: Natural Stone Accents for the Home
Stacy B. Williams
Special Correspondent
Many folks who work with stone tend to be creative and conscientious. From monuments to ball point pens, natural stone can become many things under the hand of an experienced craftsman who is willing to push the envelope.
Two companies, in particular, have been successful in developing custom-made items, connecting with a niche market and producing high-end stone accents for the home or office. Columbia Gorge Stoneworks in the northeast and Turned in Stone / World Stone Products in the midwest both share the aforementioned attributes, as well as an interest in sustainable production initiatives in their business.
For over seven years, David and Jamie Scott of Columbia Gorge Stoneworks have been producing beautiful high-quality stone switch plates out of their home in southern Washington. Stone switch plates are truly a specialty item, and the Scotts have worked resolutely to build a customer base and perfect their product.
Back in 2000, David took some time off of his job as a tool-maker to remodel the bathroom in his home. He spent a few days helping the stone-setter with the tiling. When he asked about getting a switch plate installed to match the tiles, he was told “someone who knew someone who knew someone” could do it.
“To make a long story short, I called all those people and found out that no one was doing it,” he said.
Using his background in tools and machinery, David set out to build a machine to cut the switch plates. He also designed the tools and made the blanks because there weren’t any on the market for this use. Throughout the life of the company, David and Jamie have devoted their time and effort to this singular product. However, with David’s imagination and inventive spirit, they continue to improve their production process and enhance their switch plates.
One of David’s ideas, which Columbia Gorge Stoneworks has successfully brought to fruition, are the magnetic switch plates, which fit securely to the wall without screws.
“I used to polish all the switch plates by hand,” said David, so he had a lot of time for brainstorming. “That’s when I came up with the magnetics idea. We had problems with people; customers, electricians, or designers who were over-tightening the screws and breaking them.”
Today, most of their switch plates sold are magnetic and their website features some pretty rave reviews. The magnets have undergone a full testing procedure and are extremely strong.
Almost all of the switch plates made are from customer-supplied stone, which ensures a perfect match of switch plate and backsplash or counter space. Many customers even send their scraps marked on the exact places of movement in the stone so that the switch plate will blend precisely with the backsplash.
“We really want to talk to our customers, because each switch plate is custom-made to match their space and needs exactly,” says David.
The entire switch plate-making process uses very little electricity, recycled stone slabs, refiltered water and produces little waste.
“If you recycle it, then you don’t have to pay to haul it off to the dump,” says David.
Although, he modestly jests about recycling being cheaper, it should be noted that he designed and built the coolant system for their machines. It is a closed loop with filtered water and he continues to make changes as he imagines improvements. All of their packing materials are also recycled for shipping items back and forth.
Columbia Gorge Stoneworks provides a wealth of information on their website. This couple is dedicated to producing the highest quality stone switch plates and they want their customers to understand everything about their company.
Their openness to share installation tips, the production process and packing information exhibits transparency to their client base, while also serving to facilitate communication about their product and customer service.
Customer relations are also a large priority for Jeff Pinkett, owner of Turned in Stone (TiS) and World Stone Products (WSP). His company has been serving a niche market with high-end natural stone accessories for over ten years. After merging in 2008 and setting up shop in the US, TiS / WSP can rightfully lay claim to providing the largest selection of granite-accented products in the world today.
“The [original] plan was to diversify our product line, but we still fill a niche in the granite market because no one is making products like these,” says Jeff.
Located in Middleton, Ohio, TiS / WSP serve the US and deal in wholesale only. Like David, Jeff also likes to be in touch with customers about their products. The most popular items are granite knobs and drawer pulls, so communication is important for the pieces to match.
The company stocks a multitude of beautiful granite, which can be found in their catalog. However, Jeff encourages customers to send in their granite and marble scraps to better produce identical hardware. The majority of customers send in their sink cutouts to have drawer knobs and handles made to match countertops and backsplashes.
While cabinet knobs and drawer pulls are some of the company’s best sellers, the plethora of high-end functional products is remarkable. For example, the smooth granite wall-mounted shower shelf is a luxurious and convenient complement to a granite washroom, as are their designer vases and spoon rests for the kitchen.
“We offer [customers] a high-quality and relatively inexpensive way to enhance their rooms,” says Jeff.
One of the unique things about all the Turned in Stone products is the 100 percent natural stone polish on every product is environmentally friendly. Another aspect of the company’s “green initiative” is that the materials used in their products are biodegradable. This is often something that impresses designers and customers. Turned in Stone also uses large scraps from local and region fabricators whenever possible, which is efficient and aids in the matching process for customers.
Jeff believes that fabricators should be interested in expanding their business, and that granite is a forgiving stone to work with creatively. In the specialization of natural stone home accessories, the company provides itself purpose to contact customers about upgrading or adding granite to their home decor.
Both companies have been able to maintain their business and customer base throughout the economic downturn. Both Scott and Pinkett also indicate that they are constantly working to improve and revise their products.
In a way, their commitment to energy and environmental sustainability allows them some flexibility to be more creative with their stone accessories. Money is saved with recycling practices and customers are appreciative of the companies’ “green” efforts.
In each case, the end result of these innovative and eco-conscious companies is a high-quality natural stone accessory that aims to complement any home.
For more information about Turned in Stone, contact Jeff Pinkett at worldstoneproducts@att.net. For more information about Columbia Gorge Stoneworks, contact David Scott at scott@stonewallplates.com.