Sponsored by Cav’Art Designer Stone
Quartzites, especially Taj Mahal, have been extremely popular and still are, but Nathan Karpenko, director of Cav’Art Designer Stone, says the appetite for Dolomite natural stones is really picking up and providing customers with something a little different.
And while they’re not quite as hard as a Quartzite or Granite, they’re known to be more durable than Marble or Limestone. “For those who like the marble look, this is a great option, with less worries about maintenance. It’s also available in much bigger slabs, and with today’s trend for huge, sometimes 3-metre island benches, that’s in demand too.”
The two beautiful projects we’re featuring here today, show just what a statement Dolomites (namely Celline and Adana White) can make. While Super White is the Dolomite that’s always been well known and sought after, there are many other variations and Cav’Art import a huge range, as well as some quarried in Australia itself.
“We’re not a big multi-national and we say no to more slabs than we say yes to,” Nathan says. “We know what our clients want and we spend a lot of time looking at the colour and movement. We’re looking for quality for our customers and designers that’s not out of reach, but also not cheap run of the mill stuff.”
We love how Kesha Bull, of Kesha Bull Design, used the stone outside the kitchen as well as in it, showing how well it can work cohesively throughout a home.
“The kitchen and the joinery was always intended to feel calm and inviting so selecting the stone was one of our first decisions,” Kesha explains. “We fell in love with it as soon as we saw it. The veining and movement in the stone set the tone for the rest of the home. We wanted something that stood out enough but not too much, so we could carry it onto the fireplace too.”
Dolomites offer the natural variation and softness people love in marble but with greater durability, which makes them suitable for family homes and hardworking spaces like kitchens. Kesha adds that Dolomites are great for clients who are comfortable with stone ageing gracefully over time.
“There are some beautiful colours available and like any natural stone, every piece is unique. When sealed correctly and cared for sensibly, dolomite performs beautifully. Like timber floors or leather furniture, it develops character over time. I think that lived-in quality is part of the appeal rather than something to fear.”
The Celline veining is gentle and organic rather than bold, which makes it incredibly versatile, according to Kesha, bringing warmth and depth to a space without overpowering it. “It has a very calming presence once installed. We’re definitely leaning towards more unique stone selections; pieces that tie in with the overall home but can also make a statement. There will always be a place for calmer, more understated stones, however in key areas such as kitchen islands, we’re seeing a move towards stones with a little more impact and presence.”
Vanessa Alphonse and Marianne Michael from AlphaMade Designs used an Adana White Dolomite from Cav’Art Designer Stone in their ParkView project (pictured in the following photographs). “This project really showcased our love for natural materials,” says Marianne. “It was important to us that the project felt organic, with a sense of sophistication and calmness. With this in mind, we decided to use Adana in the kitchen, butler’s kitchen and laundry.
“We knew our client wanted a natural stone that was not only aesthetically pleasing, but also extremely durable as she has a young family and is an avid cook. We chose Adana from the very beginning of the project because of its colour and the properties of a Dolomite stone. Adana is not like any other white natural stone; it exudes warmth with the colours of cream, beige, pinks and taupes nestled within a crisp white background.” The designers felt it really complimented the overall natural colour palette of the house.
Vanessa agreed Dolomites are excellent choices to specify in a home, especially in high traffic areas. “Compared to many marble-look stones, Dolomites are harder and slightly less reactive to acids. We believe it still reads as “marble” visually, however it is more user-friendly, which makes it easier to live with and easier to justify to clients.”
Although they recommend sealing the stone after installation, that doesn’t mean natural stone is high maintenance. “It’s simply honest about how it lives. We believe it’s time to rethink how natural stone is expected to look and to appreciate the way it naturally weathers over time. There is real beauty in materials that age gracefully.”
The ideal customers for Dolomite stone could be design-led but practical homeowners who love the look of marble but don’t want to live in fear of it. “The ideal home would be one that is probably high-end residential, with clean architectural interiors; basically in spaces where restraint and material quality take the lead.”
Marianne describes Adana White as a beautiful marriage of crispness and warmth in a hearty, durable stone. “If the palette is whites, soft greys, wood, bronze and plaster, Adana White fits effortlessly.”
The pair think 2026 will see the continuation of warm, earthy tones and natural materiality that compliments our surroundings. “We continue to move away from cold, polished surfaces to more tactile, grounding, natural products that connect us back to nature.”
To find out more about Cav’Art Designer Stone and book an appointment.
For more on Kesha Bull Design | For more on AlphaMade Design
…
