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The latest trends in stone production and tile manufacturing can bring the most original statement to any design. Below is just a sampling of some of the recent collections available on today’s market:

Even during the recent economic downturn, stone and tile continue to remain popular material choices when designing various spaces, especially in the residential sector. While these materials create an aesthetically pleasing setting, they also have the ability to increase value to one’s home, which is important for long-term investment.

Mosaics have been adorning classic building interiors for centuries, and when surveying many of today’s applications, it is evident that they still hold their aesthetic value in contemporary design. And with the broad range of materials, colors, sizes and finishes found in the marketplace today, these tiny pieces are highly visible in a range of residential and commercial applications.

Considered to be a pioneer of the post-modernism architectural movement, Michael Graves, FAIA, has been creating signature buildings around the world for decades. His meticulous attention to detail and appreciation for natural building materials are evident in all of his designs.

At Villa della Torre di Fumane, a 16th-century structure outside of Verona, Italy, the tranquil settings of the courtyard and garden spaces lie in stark contrast to the “story” being told by the architecture. The space, which uses local stone in a range of different applications, represents a tale of Biblical proportions - at least according to some historians.

The concept for this article began with a sales call to a well-qualified client. We had done the granite in his neighbor’s house and came highly recommended. I had made two trips to the client’s house and had everything ironed out. He also wanted to replace his cabinets, and I recommended several of the cabinet shops that we work closely with. He assured me that after he had nailed down his cabinet situation the next week, he would go forward with the granite order. I considered it a done deal.

The Finland-based Ylamaa Group dates back to the late 1950s, when Jaakko Tielinen began his career as a stone contractor. It was not until 1974 that the company purchased its first quarry in Ylämaa Hirvihauta, Finland. Further expansion came in 1980, when Ylämaan Graniitti Oy, which is now part of the Ylamaa Group, was established with the sole purpose of processing stone from the company’s own quarries into floor tiles and three-dimensional pieces for building projects.

Since it first opened its doors for business in 1980, Dimpomar-Rochas Portuguesas Lda. of Vila Vicosa, Portugal, has continually expanded its brand. Initially starting out with only eight workers, the company now employs a staff of 77 - with six people recently hired to accommodate the demands of a second fabrication plant and a new warehouse.

Quarried and fabricated by Granitos Gomez Caceres, S.L. of Quintana De La Serena, Badajoz, Spain, a major architectural project - originally planned to be part of a park in Madrid, Spain - is being offered for sale to anyone looking to purchase 50 intricately carved solid granite columns.