With the hospitality design sector in a seemingly constant state of change, tile and other alternative material manufacturers need to stay up-to-date on current trends in colors, shapes, finishes and sizes to meet the demands of the architectural and design community.

Contemporary Stone & Tile Design magazine had the opportunity to talk with Mercury Mosaics owner Mercedes Austin about her 20 years of experience, how she got started and some of the experiences she has had working with customers.

Additional space and storage ranked as top priorities for Katie Katzman when renovating her dated kitchen, as well as to have views of the picturesque lake in the backyard of her Michigan residence.

Set in the Texas hillside on the outskirts of Austin, TX, a newly constructed residence reflects its surrounding habitat with regional limestone featured extensively on the exterior design. And while the native material is also the showcase of several interior applications, the retired homeowners opted to diversify the palette by incorporating additional materials into their living space – making it unique and colorful.

Natural stone was an essential component of a residential design in Bernardsville, NJ, to capture the organic feel of the home’s woodsy surroundings. The design team from Wayne, NJ-based JR Frank Design LLC strongly desired to connect the expansive residence with nature.

Natural stone is one of the oldest, and certainly the most time-tested, of building materials known to man. Its beauty, durability, long life cycle and low-maintenance qualities make it the choice of many architects for commercial and institutional applications.

Boston-based architectural firm, Finegold Alexander Architects, recently transformed Boston University’s (BU) historic Tudor Revival-style castle into the new Dahod Family Alumni Center. The 15,371-square-foot gathering place, which serves BU’s 300,000-plus graduates, features original sandstone masonry on the exterior that was carefully cleaned, repointed and patched to restore the building back to its original grandeur.

Located in Marsala in the Province of Trapani, Italy, architects Piero Laudicina and Maurizio Giammarino selected Margraf marble for the interior and exterior design throughout the private villa. The material was employed in a way that brings a unique aesthetic to the palatial residence.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross on the campus of Jesuit High School in Tampa, FL, is now housed in a beautiful new building that is adorned with a host of natural stone varieties, including Indiana limestone, Pennsylvania Bluestone and Italian marble.

In recent years, Continental Cut Stone has expanded its capacity while working to address environmental challenges. The company, located in Florence, TX, has added several fabrication machines to its production area, including a CNC, to increase efficiencies.