12/06/2013

Holiday Soapstone Gifts

The Holidays are here ... and need some gift ideas?

Soapstone Whiskey Rocks, BBQ Griddles, Wine Holders or Cooking Pots make the perfect gift for coworkers, friends or family.


Organic All-Natural Soapstone Griddle

The Soapstone Griddle is a natural, non-stick, energy-saving way to a better tasting life. Unlike a gas or electric griddle, the stone griddle absorbs energy and distributes it evenly in the form heat for faster cooking food. It provides a flame barrier to that allows the flavors of whatever is cooking to bloom into a culinary masterpiece without being disturbed. The griddle comes with a smooth side that is best for cooking pizza or pancakes and a grooved side for grilling of steaks and chicken.


 

Whisky Rocks
Whiskey Rocks give a new meaning to “on the rocks.” Serve top-shelf liquor in way that gives guests a chill. Made from recycled soapstone, this modern-day version of the ice cube cools any small volume drink without the melted water. Simply freeze and pop them into whiskey, scotch, liquor and even wine. These sophisticated rocks chill the drink without diluting the taste.

Coffee or tea losing it's heat too quickly? Pop one or two rocks into the microwave, drop them in your mug, and enjoy your heated drink for longer.
Our rocks won't scratch your barware either - our cubes have no sharp edges.
The larger stones in this set chill your drink about 25 degrees (using 2 stones). Results vary depending on volume and starting room temperature.

Soapstone is the only non-porous, odorless, tasteless, and a natural food-safe stone used in the home. Due to the high density of the material, soapstone retains temperature better than stones like granite or marble, so you can expect a sustained chill or heat. Soapstone is non-reactive to most common household cleaners and is dishwasher safe.


  

Soapstone Wine Coasters - Scoop
This handmade soapstone coaster are made from 100% soapstone. It is stain proof, heat proof, and fade proof. It also protects against scratches and prevents water marks. The Scoop's sleek design will add a modern touch to any room decor. We also have custom graving available (please call for more details). 

Oven-to-Table Entertainment Platter
The Oven-to-Table Entertainment Platter is hand-crafted in USA and made from recycled soapstone. Its sophisticated design takes full advantage of the soapstone properties. The appetizer plate can be easily heated or chilled to maintain food at the perfect temperatures. Simply place the appetizer plate in the freezer to keep hors d'oeuvres chilled or stick it in the oven to keep food warm. Each plate is unique in itself with color and veining patterns. The Oven-to-Table Entertainment Platter is a beautiful addition to any party or family gathering.  
  


For more soapstone products, information and direct orders please visit www.laterasurfaces.com/shop/ 

or contact us at 512-444-8600

12/05/2013

Sardegna Marmi Design - GLAMOUR Collection

Sardegna Marmi Design is a new brand whose original ideas take the elegance and creativity of the made in Italy worldwide. The brand combines the extraordinary structural features of Sardinian marbles with refined aesthetics. Collaboration with masters of design leads to unusual solutions for flooring and facing. In its collections different styles, chromatic effects and unexpected finishes give life to a new stone age. There are 3 different Collections: Glamour, Woods & Shapes. 

This post will focus on the Sardegna Marmi Design - Glamour Collection
Jungle - Savana - Jungle 

The Glamour Colection features soft shapes and luxurious ambiences. Marble reveals a new soul in the markings perfectly etched on its surface: zebra, crocodile and serpent evoke exotic climes. Sardinian stone is reborn, rediscovers its history and sets a trend: design language recounting an unforeseen personality each time.

GLAMOUR Collection: Jungle

Shower wall: Jungle in Black Secrect marble. Wainscoting: Jungle in Orosei marble. 
Floor: Run in Orosei Marble, brushed.
Shower wall: Jungle in Black Secrect marble. Wainscoting: Jungle in Orosei marble. 
Floor: Run in Orosei Marble, brushed.

Wainscoting: Jungle in Orosei marble. Floor: Run in Orosei Marble, brushed.
Detail of Jungle wall paneling in Black Secret marble. Infinity Stripes flooring in brushed Orosei marble.
GLAMOUR Collection: Savana 
Detail of Savana wall paneling in Black Secret marble 
GLAMOUR Collection: Snake
Detail of Snake wall paneling in Orosei marble.

The birth of Sardegna Marmi, a group of companies specialized in the various stages of producing Sardinian marble: extraction, workmanship, surface treatments and marketing. The quality of the material and workmanship, plus efficient and flexible service, enables the company to gain renown and growth through time so that today Sardegna Marmi products give extra worth to public buildings and private homes worldwide, from Europe to the Americas to the Middle and Far East. 

For More Information Please Contact Us 

11/22/2013

East Fort Bliss, opened second Sam Adams Pub in the Army.


East Fort Bliss, in El Paso, TX opened the second Sam Adams Pub in the Army. The new pub, specializes in the Sam Adams line of craft beers, opened November 13, in a renovated part of the Centennial Club. 

The renovation includes new furniture, equipment, bar ware and new Alehouse Amber with patina, Vetrazzo countertops. The countertops are made of recycled beer bottles and is the perfect choice for a Sam Adams Pub. 
Planned for three years, the pub is meant to provide some casual dining options and enhance the quality of life on East Fort Bliss, said Tianna Bowden, food and beverage program manager for Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, which will run the facility.
“Craft beers are extremely trendy right now, and people are getting away from the basic domestics,” Bowden said. The Army’s first Sam Adams Pub is located at Fort Irwin, Calif.
The new pub will serve a variety of imported and domestic beers in the bottle and different Sam Adams craft beers in the bottle and on tap. It will also serve wine and has a full liquor bar. It will be open to the public, but you need to be at least 21 to enter the premises.The pub will also feature a beer-inspired menu, Bowden said. ”A lot of the menu items are made with beer,” she said. “We have beer-battered fish, lager ketchup, beer chili, even our desserts. We have a beer and bacon pecan tart. ”The pub cost $275,000 to renovate and outfit with furniture, equipment, bar ware and other amenities. The money came from what are known as nonappropriated funds, meaning the money isn’t general tax dollars but was generated by Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities at Fort Bliss, said Heather Wilburn, marketing coordinator for the morale-boosting organization.”I think it’s exciting to have something like this on Fort Bliss,” Wilburn said. “East Fort Bliss has expanded so quickly a lot of quality-of-life projects are just now catching up. We have gyms, the Soldier Activity Center. This is the first step for a food-dining-entertainment aspect.”The pub will also have an outdoor patio area with a separate bar and fire pit.A certified Sam Adams cicerone, or beer guide, was scheduled to visit the pub before it opens and train the staff on how to serve beer and talk about it.The pub will be open 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, but may expand those hours in the future.
For Vetrazzo Samples Please Contact Us 
- For the full story please visit - El Paso Times

11/18/2013

Looking for a new kitchen, why not use PaperStone ... for the whole thing?


Looking for a new kitchen, why not use PaperStone for the whole thing? 


PaperStone® is ideal for countertops in any room, restaurant food prep surfaces, conference tabletops, signs and plaques, window sills, cutting boards, cutlery handles, furniture, restroom partitions, cabinets, indoor and outdoor (RainStone™) wall cladding, and many more creative uses.

  

PaperStone® is innovative and cost competitive. It’s a beautiful, heavy-duty composite known for its environmental sustainability, contemporary appearance and remarkable warmth to touch. PaperStone is used for counters, vanities, and furniture, that is FSC certified qualifying for LEEDs building credits. PaperStone® is durable and recommended for residential kitchens, baths and many commercial uses. PaperStone® is NSF certified and is excellent as a restaurant food preparation surface. It is manufactured in the USA and is made from 50 to 100% post-consumer recycled paper and is petroleum-free resin.


Extremely strong and durable
Long lasting lifetime product with superior scratch, dent and chip resistance.
Superior strength allows innovative cantilevered designs, up to 18” unsupported overhang with 3/4-inch material.

Easy to clean, safe, no radon emissions
• Washes clean with sponge and dishwashing liquid.
• With proper cleaning, does not promote growth of bacteria, mold or mildew.

Warm appearance, stain resistant, UV stable
Natural earth-tone colors oer a warm ambience to any room.
Non-porous surface provides a lifetime of stain resistance.
Excellent color stability, resists the eects of exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Heat resistant
Heat resistant up to 350° F (175° C); use of a trivet or hot pad is recommended.

Residential Lifetime Limited Warranty
When installed by a certied PaperStone® fabricator, PaperStone Residential Lifetime Limited Warranty means you can relax and enjoy PaperStone® for as long as you own your home.

Easy fabrication and installation
Installed with the same carbide-tipped tools and techniques used in working
with ne hardwoods.

For Samples Please Contact Us 

11/15/2013

Taking Soapstone to the NEXT LEVEL!

Escobedo Construction taking Soapstone to the NEXT level! These black 3d panels are made out of Noire soapstone. Escobedo Construction cut the custom pattern into the panels on their 5-axis CNC machine and it turned out stunning!



These black 3d panels are made out of Noire soapstone. Escobedo Construction cut the custom pattern into the panels on their 5-axis CNC machine and it turned out stunning!




For samples or more information please contact us! 


#EscobedoConstruction #NoireSoapstone

11/08/2013

Whole Foods - Coffee & Tea Bar - Austin, Tx

Whole Foods - Coffee & Tea Bar - Austin, Tx

Who does't LOVE Whole Foods Market & Coffee? That's why we were more than thrilled when Vetrazzo was specified for the Coffee & Tea Bar in Whole Foods Market World Headquarters in Austin, Tx. Vetrazzo a 100% post consumer recycled glass counter top material was the perfect material for the project; not only because of the ascetics of the material but Whole Food's Green Mission of the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is parallel to Vetrazzo's. "Everyone around here strives to honor this (3 R's) golden rule of environmental stewardship". So it was only a natural choice to use Vetrazzo. 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle .... WELL .... Vetrazzo begins with you! When youRECYCLE dispose of your glass bottles into your curbside recycling bin, it ends up at a facility where it is processed by color and glass type. Once sorted, it's crushed and packaged for companies like Vetrazzo to purchase for REUSE. We source all our glass from post-industrial glass sources and demolition sites to get an array of options for making slabs but ultimately REDUCING all that glass into landfills. Vetrazzo is also made in Tate, Ga reducing any carbon foot print the product may have.  

A beautiful dark Charisma Blue with Patina was chosen for the entire Whole Foods Market Coffee & Tea Bar area. As you can see (in the photo to the right), the slab is mostly made of brown beer bottles, a few green wine bottles and there is a hint of a rich blue color which is from Sky Vodka Bottles. To give the counter top a rich dark background a was a patina stain applied to the entire slab at the factory. 

Vetarzzo counter tops are made up of over 85 percent glass, mixed with cement, water, and other proprietary ingredients which makes it a very durable work surface especially in high traffic areas.
The next time you are in the Austin, Tx Whole Foods 
make sure to grab a cup of Coffee and take a look! 

For samples or more information please contact us! 

10/31/2013

What Is Vetrazzo Made Up Of?

Vetrazzo. Recycled Glass... Brilliantly Transformed. 

Vetrazzo is one of the most eco-friendly surfacing option on the market today. Vetrazzo slabs are made of 100% post consumer recycled glass and is set in a cement binder, not a petroleum resin binder. As you can see below Vetrazzo is made from Skyy Vodka bottles, art glass production overruns, red gobbles, wine & beer bottles and clear bottle glass. Other unusual sources include window shields, shower doors and salvages windows.  

 

For samples or more information please contact us! 

10/30/2013

Dorado Still Bringing You The Best & Most Unique Products!


The company that you all have come to know and love, Dorado Stone Distributors has recently changed it's name to Latera Architectural Surfaces.   

Latera Architectural Surfaces will still provide all of your favorite products, including Dorado Soapstone & Vetrazzo Recycled Glass as well as carry several new additions; KarmaStone, JadeStone, PaperStone, Elements by Durcon and Tough Tops.  We are truly happy to better serve you with a wider and more complete range of products that will not only fill the niche of unique products but will also be your resource for Ecologically and Environmentally friendly products as well.

For Samples Please Contact Us 

10/28/2013

Dorado Soapstone

Soapstone is a non-porous stone that has been used for counter tops for over 100 years. Its durability and sophisticated look make Soapstone a premier counter top option. Soapstone is the only non-porous natural stone that can be found on the market.  That means, no more chemical sealers, no more ongoing maintenance and no more worrying about those dishes and wine glasses you left on your counter tops the night before.


The benefits of Soapstone are numerous and by understanding them, you will understand why so many people continually turn to Soapstone as their preferred counter top option.   Soapstone is a very dense Stone.  In fact, Soapstone is about 20% – 30% more dense then Granite or Marble.   This is very important when it comes to how your Soapstone Counters will react in your kitchen. Because of its density,it is completely non-porous, making it an impenetrable stone that won’t stain or etch.  Additionally, Soapstone is completely impervious to heat.  In fact, Soapstone has been widely used in chemistry labs and in masonry heaters because it can withstand temperature up to 1900 degrees.  Hot pots and pans directly off the stove won’t hurt your Soapstone countertops in the slightest.

People always have a lot of questions about Soapstone colors and how many Soapstone colors there are to choose from.  Soapstone counter tops offer a deep and rich color palette.  Soapstone colors range between light grey, dark grey, black and green.   Although Soapstone colors are somewhat limited in comparison to Marble or Granite, Soapstone is offered in the essential colors for sophisticated and timeless styles.  Black soapstone, or Minas Soapstone, is an essential counter top color.  With a deep rich black background and vibrant white quartz veins coursing throughout the face of the stone, one will immediately understand why this is such a popular stone.
The use of mineral oil or dry wax has traditionally been used to darken and enhance the color of the Soapstone.  Mineral Oil or Dorado Dry wax are not recommended to protect the Soapstone Counters, it doesn’t need to be protected since its non-porous and naturally protects itself.  It is merely a tool to help enrich the color of your Soapstone counter and help expedite the patina process.
How much does Soapstone Cost? The price of Soapstone is comparable to other natural stones on the market.  The cost of your Soapstone counter tops may vary depending on Soapstone color, project location and other particularities of your kitchen. For pricing, please contact Latera to be directed to one of our many qualified Soapstone Fabricators.  Latera Architectural Surfaces has an exclusive network of certified Soapstone fabricators to choose from, and will help put you in contact with the right soapstone fabricator for your project.


For more information please contact us