Quartzite is the new 'it' stone but it's more than just Taj Mahal

Sponsored by Cav’Art Designer Stone

When you see as many design projects as we do, you start to notice new trends, and when it comes to the natural stone that people are currently picking for their homes, Quartzite, with an impressive durability to match its beautiful look, has never been more popular. And while Taj Mahal is definitely having a moment, you’d be crazy not to investigate the plethora of other colours available.

We spoke to a number of interior designers who love this material and have been specifying it in their projects, finding truly unique options through Cav’Art Designer Stone, whose owner Nathan Karpenko, is passionate about bringing in show-stopping slabs.

Jenny Matek, of Studio Jenka, used Verde Tempest Quartzite in her Rozelle project (above and below). “My aim is to design spaces that bring my clients joy in their homes every day. One of the first steps is taking my clients stone shopping at Cav’art at the beginning of the design process to get a feel of what they are drawn to. This Quartzite drew our client in for its beautiful calming soft palette—it brings a unique character to the space without overwhelming it. In this space, the Quartzite flows across the kitchen, dining and living areas, creating cohesion and a calm, refined luxury that elevates the overall aesthetic while still feeling timeless.”

She said Quartzite is a fantastic choice because it offers the beauty of natural stone with superior durability. “It’s harder than marble and more resistant to scratching, which makes it practical as well as beautiful. I have found and love that there’s a clear trend toward clients becoming braver with their stone choices. When they see such beauty stone shopping, they’re increasingly drawn to colour, movement, and individuality in their finishes.”

Georgia Boyd of The Classic Outfitter, also chose Verde Tempest for her recent Southern Highlands project (above and below). “It was selected for the stone’s beautiful tone and its perfect harmony of colour with the intended space — a large country kitchen painted in a complementary shade. It was my first encounter with Verde Tempest visiting Cav’Art, and it was a definitive wow! As a natural stone, it is a great alternative to marble, with the added benefit and interest of colours, particularly greens.”

She said one of the most significant advantages of Quartzite is that, while being a natural stone available in large format slabs, it also offers exceptional durability. “Unlike marble, Quartzite is scratch, heat, etch, and acid resistant, making it incredibly low maintenance and far more practical for everyday living. In our experience, clients are often drawn to the beauty of natural stone but hesitate when faced with the upkeep and particularly etching. This is where quartzite has become a game changer — offering both aesthetics and performance.”

While Taj Mahal has been the most popular Quartzite colour in her projects, she’s excited to see Calacatta Da Vinci and Esmeralda Quartzites installed in homes soon. “Quartzite is definitely becoming a material of choice for us and the colours are currently very popular in the industry,” Georgia adds.

Anita Nader, of Anita Nader Interior Design, who used Negresco Quartzite in her Five Dock project (above and below), says it’s the go-to choice for having natural stone that you don’t have to constantly worry about looking after. “People are seeing Quartzite more often and loving how incredibly durable it is. Many have had bad experiences with more porous natural stones so using it feels like a no brainer,” she adds. “For this project it was all about the colour and performance. We didn’t want to worry about any maintenance for the bar and alfresco.”

Gavin Hepper, Of Concepts by Gavin Hepper, used Ijen Blue Brazilian Quartzite in his award-winning Scarborough project (below) and said it really was the hero of the kitchen. “Running across both the island and the cooking wall, it is quite a bold and dramatic drawcard in colour and texture. The client saw it in person at Cav’Art and fell in love with it. That’s the wonderful thing about natural stone; it’s like artwork and the right piece will really speak to you. The Florentine Walnut and brass highlights pull the beautiful russet colours in the veining out.”

Gavin thinks the rise of Taj Mahal’s popularity has increased people’s awareness and interest in Quartzites, which opens the conversation to other colours available.

“We embrace colour and love when clients want to explore the opportunity to use stone is a vast range of areas, from kitchens and bathrooms to fabulous dressing rooms, bars and statement powder rooms. Your natural stone is like a living piece of artwork in your home. Each piece tells a different story, and including it as a part of your interiors speaks to this.”

All the Quartzite in these projects was sourced from Sydney’s Cav’Art Designer Stone. Owner Nathan says: “While Taj Mahal is definitely having a moment, there are many other beautiful and colourful Quartzites and we’re regularly sourcing them.”