A new tool for those who can't visualise stone in their head

Sponsored by Stone Ambassador

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard: “I just can’t visualise how it could look after a reno,” I’d be one rich lady. And it’s true. Most people don’t have that gift. It comes easily to some, and many of them become interior designers and stylists. I feel lucky it’s something I’ve always been able to to do myself and it certainly helped when we bought our home in its original sixties (and not in a good way) state! These days, it’s hard to imagine what it once was, we have changed it that much!

Stone Ambassador know how much people struggle with this, making renovating or seeing past a bad kitchen in a fixer-upper so much harder. Their new Surface Studio online tool hopes to solve all this and make it easy, and you can even start the process from the comfort of your own sofa when you’re in the planning stages.

Once again, they’re making things as easy for their customers as possible, replacing indecision and uncertainty with confidence and clarity. Whether you want to upload a photo of your own home (or proposed home you’re hoping to buy!) and see different benchtops and splashbacks in context, or play around with one of their demo rooms, Surface Studio will really help you bring their decorative surface choices (Zenith Surfaces and Vasari Porcelain) to life.

The online tool is super easy to use by uploading your own photo or using one of their demo rooms

“At Stone Ambassador, we’re constantly listening to the challenges our customers face when selecting a surface for their home. One of the biggest is visualising how a material will actually look once it’s installed,” says senior marketing coordinator Annalyse Vamvalis.

“Surface Studio was introduced to bridge that gap, giving homeowners, designers and builders the ability to upload an image of their own space and explore our surfaces in context. It’s about making the selection process clearer and more confident, ultimately helping customers move forward with the right material for their project.”

Get an idea of how things will look before you even step inside the showroom

Imagine those clients who love everything and have absolutely no idea of their personal style or where to start? What a great place to begin the process and narrow things down.

As an interior designer running a small bespoke studio in Brisbane, Marilena Baynes is always looking for tools that help her work smarter, communicate more clearly, and guide clients through decisions with confidence. Stone Ambassador’s Surface Studio has quickly become one of those tools.

“For my clients, this is a game changer. Before they step into Stone Ambassador’s beautiful showrooms to view physical slabs, we can narrow down their preferences together. They get a clearer sense of what resonates with them
Interior designer Marilena Baynes

“What I love most is its speed. With just a few clicks, I can upload one of my own images or use one of the demo scenes and instantly explore different combinations. It’s fast, intuitive, and refreshingly user‑friendly, which means I can focus on design thinking rather than wrestling with software.

Surface Studio makes it easy for designers and builders to run through possible material combinations with clients

“For my clients, this is a game changer. Before they step into Stone Ambassador’s beautiful showrooms to view physical slabs, we can narrow down their preferences together. They get a clearer sense of what resonates with them. It makes the selection process calmer, more collaborative, and far more efficient.”

She adds: “From a studio perspective, tools like this genuinely make my workflow smoother. They help me communicate design intent visually, reduce back‑and‑forth, and give clients the reassurance of seeing possibilities before committing. It’s a neat little feature, but one that has a big impact on the way I guide clients through material selections. Surface Studio is a welcome addition to my design toolkit, and I can already see it becoming a regular part of my early‑stage concept development.”

Stone Ambassador believe in sticking to what they’re experts at and calling in trusted partners, such as al.ive body and Taubmans, to help them in other areas.

Check out Stone Ambassador’s Surface Studio today and start seeing their decorative surfaces in the context of your very own space

Jen tries Surface Studio using images of her own kitchen

I couldn’t resist having a play myself. It’s addictive! This kitchen is almost nine years old, would you believe it? We must look after it. Time for a refresh?!