Natural stone flooring can lend a beauty and interest to any space. Random patterned river rocks, with their flat surface and worn, smooth finish are the perfect finishing touch to any mudroom, entry way or bathroom design.
What is Random Natural Stone Flooring?
Random patterned stone flooring is a mosaic pattern created out of river rocks that have been sliced to thin, flat pieces. The result is a smoother, more even floor with the rustic appeal of a river stone floor.
These flat pieces of stone will have natural outlines and contours and are typically made up of pieces of river rock which are too irregular to be used in an interlocking netting of rounded stones. These irregular stones are sawed into multiple pieces which are then mounted on to flat sheets of interlocking nets.
Occasionally, additional stones such as quartzite, slate or onyx will be used in the same way. These stones have a tendency to split themselves along layers, which allows them to be mounted in the same way. The result is similar in appearance to river stones, but with additional colors and textures and an ease of cleaning not found in traditional river rocks.
Characteristics of random natural stone flooring include:
- Honed or cleft surfaces to the stones
- Occasional saw marks and surface marks on the stones
- Wide grout joints between the stones to make up for their irregular shapes
- Occasional spalling, or breaking off of small pieces or flakes of stone
- A smooth, even installation without the rounded appearance or feel of river rocks
- Stones of multiple colors including, Blue Celeste Quartzite, Alba Chiaro Onyx, Black Slate, red and forest green marbles
Where Can Random Natural Stone Flooring Be Used?
Random patterned mosaic stones can be installed anywhere in the home. With their flat surface, and spa like appeal, they are ideally suited to applications where river rocks would be used. If river rocks have been considered for a bathroom floor, or a mudroom, but have been discarded due to problems with their feel under foot, or with their difficulty in cleaning, random flooring stones can be used.
The stones can also be used in vertical, wall applications. This makes them ideal for kitchen backsplashes, tub aprons and surrounds, and as borders in showers and bathroom walls.
Some applications where their beauty will enhance the home design include:
- Pairing Alba Chiaro random stones with Costa Smerelda on a kitchen backsplash in a modern kitchen design
- Using Black Slate random stones on a spa bathroom floor, paired with white fixtures
- Using forest green marble random stones in a mudroom which has dark woodwork on the walls
- Using onyx or multi-colored random stones on a large bathroom floor with cream colored fixtures and warm colored walls
Random natural stone floors can be used to create a texture that can enhance any home design from modern to rustic, while remaining smooth, easy to walk on and easy to care for. Consider the use of random natural stone materials in place of river rocks, for a smooth, beautiful floor.
Sarabeth Asaff - Sarabeth Asaff is a freelance writer and artist with a passion for cooking and good food. Growing up in the kitchen of her Lebanese ...
