Sponsored by Stone Ambassador
Gone are the days when stone was limited to just benchtops or, for the adventurous, a splashback—today, its applications span far beyond, transforming entire interiors and exteriors alike.
Our partners at Stone Ambassador, the Australian brand with one of the first zero crystalline silica options to market, talked us through what works best where, and why.
Stone Ambassador have two core ranges: Zenith and Vasari. Zenith is a cutting-edge vitrified compact surface designed for both performance and aesthetics. Senior marketing coordinator Annalyse Vamvalis explains it’s an ideal choice for high-traffic interior spaces like kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, as well as commercial environments. “It’s also one of the first products in the market to offer a zero crystalline silica option, making it a safer and more forward-thinking choice to work with.”
Zenith comes in a carefully selected colour palette of over 40 colours, tailored to modern Australian interiors, with finishes that complement a wide range of applications from sleek, contemporary looks to more classic designs.
Vasari, on the other hand, is a premium large-format porcelain surface that replicates the elegance of natural stone with all the benefits of modern design. What’s more it comes in three different textures; Matte, Natural and Soft, and over 30 refined and versatile colour options.
Choosing between Zenith and Vasari depends on the application and the design goals of the project. “Zenith is a go-to for high-use surfaces such as kitchen benchtops, splashbacks, bathrooms, and laundries. It’s also perfect for statement areas like TV displays and wine bars,” says Annalyse.
“Vasari excels in both interior and exterior applications. Thanks to its exceptional resistance to UV, heat, scratches, and stains, it’s well-suited for fireplaces, bathrooms, wall cladding, outdoor kitchens, and flooring.”
Zenith and Vasari offer the look and feel of natural stone, but with benefits that natural materials can’t always provide.
These include:
It’s not uncommon to see both products used within the same project — for example, Zenith for the kitchen surfaces and Vasari for bathroom walls or fireplace surrounds. “They complement each other beautifully while offering different performance advantages. A popular combination is using Zenith for benchtops and Vasari for splashbacks or wall cladding. For pairing inspiration, we recommend downloading our curated Pairings Guide on our website.”
- Greater durability and consistency
- High resistance to stains, heat, and scratches
- No maintenance — no sealing required
- Non-porous surfaces for hygiene and cleanliness
- Safety innovations like zero crystalline silica in Zenith Surfaces.
That said, the brand appreciates that natural stone still has a place too, especially for clients seeking organic variation and unique character. “Many designers and homeowners will incorporate both, using alternative surfaces in functional spaces and natural stone where individuality is key.”
Beyond the classic uses like benchtops and splashbacks, Stone Ambassador are seeing some really creative applications outside of the kitchen. Vasari is being used in fireplace cladding, shower walls, external façades, internal wall panels, and flooring, even in wet zones and outdoor settings.
Zenith is gaining popularity for TV feature units, bar areas, and other focal points around the home where a refined, low-maintenance surface is needed. This level of flexibility has made both products popular across residential and commercial design.
Stone Ambassador have a diverse customer base, working closely with some of Australia’s largest and most prestigious builders, fabricators and interior designers. They’re also serving a growing number of homeowners and renovators who visit their showrooms directly, often looking for expert advice and to experience full slabs firsthand. “This balance means we understand the needs of professionals delivering large-scale projects as well as those of individuals creating their dream kitchens or bathrooms,” Annalyse explains.
So, with so many brands to choose from in this category, why should people choose Stone Ambassador? “People choose us because we deliver more than just a decorative surface — we provide trust, innovation, quality, and surfaces that inspire.” Annalyse adds: “From our origins to now, we’ve built our reputation on quality materials and genuine partnerships with architects, builders, and homeowners alike.
“Our clients know they can count on us for industry-leading safety, premium finishes and textures across all products, a collaborative approach to bringing design visions to life, unmatched consistency, certification, and performance, and surfaces for all budgets.”
Clients can visit their dedicated Gallery areas for selections throughout Australia, including the new NSW showroom which just opened in Sydney’s Prestons. “We’ve created a space where clients can take their time to select the right product — supported every step of the way by our experienced team,” says Annalyse. “We pride ourselves on our customer service — this is reflected in our amazing Google reviews, which pay tribute to our fantastic national customer service team.”
The Sydney showroom is designed to be more than just a display space, and more of an inspirational environment. Visitors can view full-sized slabs, explore texture and colour combinations, and get expert guidance on how to select the right surface for their space. Annalyse says seeing the full scale of the material helps clients better visualise the end result and make more confident design decisions.
“Samples are helpful for initial selection, but they only show a small portion of the overall pattern, texture, and colour variation. Full slabs reveal the full movement, veining, and depth of the material, giving a much more accurate representation of how it will look once installed. Especially for feature areas like benchtops, splashbacks, or large wall panels, viewing the slab in its entirety ensures the design intent is achieved.”
“We’re not just supplying material — we’re helping shape the spaces people love to live and work in.”
