A Floating Stone Staircase
For some time now, we have been working on the design and the technology to make floating staircases out of solid stone a reality. Inspired by staircases like the staircase of the Loretto Chapel we build models in different sizes and worked hand in hand with our engineers. Tested our models until they break and pushed for slimmer and more elegant solutions. One of the results is this floating limestone staircase we instaled in Surrey in 2014. Carvero designed every detail, along with the templates for the glass balustrade. As every piece of stone is hand carved in our workshop, we are able to react and adjust very quickly when changes are made in floor heights etc.
After now 3.5 years, I sometimes stop when I am around and have a look at it, just to make sure everything is still perfect. Off cause, nothing has changed. The staircase still looks as beautiful as we left it. The last time I stopped, the client told me, that every time they have a new visitors, they are just blown away. They actually can't stop touching the soffit and asking them how it works.
And this is why we love so much what we are doing. Been able to create stone staircases that surprise and wow people, staircases they ordinarily walk every day and also want to caress.
This project has been done in collaboration with Boss Stairs.
Cantilever Stone Staircase - from Carvero Stonemasonry
Making of a Very Special Stone Fireplace Surround
This is a very nice modern stone fireplace surround with a classical touch. We designed this fireplace especially to the client specifications. Our service for entirely bespoke fireplaces is always much appreciated by our clients. This fireplace has been made out off a Italian limestone. Our fireplaces are made here in Loughborough by talented stonemasons and entirely hand carved. We deliver and fit throughout the UK.
Gothic Tracery stone window 3D Animation in SketchUp
At Carvero we are making all kind of window surrounds, double or triple mullion stone windows or bay windows. But a tracery window is always something very special and our stonemasons are getting definitely very excited about this on. This is a 3D animation in SketchUp of a limestone tracery window which will soon be carved in our workshop.
Extraordinary Solid Stone Staircase Design That Really Shouldn't Work
A traditional cantilever stone staircase design that isn't fixed into a supporting wall? Free-floating? That was a design challenge we at Carvero happily accepted. Our client was very specific: The ideal staircase was to look both traditional in style yet modern in design, defy the odds of gravity and merely float in the room, despite being made of solid natural stone. Without any cladding, paint or cement pouring, this solid stone staircase design showing astragal mouldings and a very simple soffit, is statically viable and can be fixed by an expert in a short period of time.
The Secret
The secret is a solution of cleverly used post-tension cables within the steps which allow for shapes and designs of endless possibilities. Using post-tensioned cables is an innovative area in stone staircase design and one that we are extremely excited about.
Innovation
Making solid stone look effortless and as light as possible in appearance is the art we will continue to focus on. Innovation of new materials used in staircase design and pushing the existing technologies to create even more stunning results is what makes our hearts sing, just like with this new solid stone staircase solution that really shouldn't have worked at all.
Latest Product Addition: A Country Kitchen Stone Canopy - AGA Cooker Hood
We are very excited to give you a sneak peak of an installation of one of our latest product x: a Country Kitchen Stone Canopy or AGA Cooker Hood.
This fantastic opportunity posed two design and build challenges: First of all, we had to create a unique design that would fit into a traditional English country home together with a newly fitted kitchen. Secondly, natural stone structures are inherently very heavy, so we also came up with some innovative solutions to make it as light as possible whilst still maintaining all aspects of the solid stone appearance and functionality. Part of the solution was choosing a beautiful lighter French limestone which also gave it a hint of Provençalian air, whilst adhering to the classical lines of English kitchen canopies. Only some finishing touches to be done by the painters and it will be ready for the photo shoot for ELLE DECOR (US) in its full glory.
Traditional Kitchen AGA Stone Range Hood, Kitchen Stone Canopy
European Stone Festival - Lincoln 2013
During the weekend of the 22nd/23rd of June I was excited to attend the annual Stone Masons Festival which was held in Lincoln this Year. Over 140 stonemasons came together from all over Europe to showcase their skills, network and generally have a fantastic time! As well as catching up with some of my old friends, I had the privilege of meeting many of the young and very talented emerging masons. There was an opportunity to take part in the yearly carving competition, which gave visitors the chance to see the stonemasons at work and really see for themselves the high level of talent, passion and skill there is within the trade. The sound of over 140 stonemasons all tapping and working away is a fantastic sound, one that can not be described but which really adds to the atmosphere of the event turning it into something magical and unique. The finished pieces from the carving competition were auctioned off raising a staggering total of £50,000 for Charity. With new and innovative techniques being used alongside traditional craftsmanship, some stunning works of art were created,with the highest bidder paying over £2,600 for a piece. Everyone had a wonderful time, with a friendly, welcoming and fun atmosphere I am already looking forward to the next one!
deVOL's extraordinary spiral stone staircase
We were honoured and delighted that such a high end furniture maker as the deVOL kitchens company has chosen us to design and manufacture this extraordinary spiral solid limestone staircase for their new showroom at Cotes Mill in Loughborough. Being able to showcase our high end products and leaving a trace of our knowledge and skills at such a historic place as the Mill makes us very proud. The images show the making of a stone model we made to give all craftsmen involved an understanding of the complexity of this staircase. It become very clear to everyone the moment they assembled it in the traditional way where the Achille's heel is and what changes by applying our new innovative ways.
Traditionally, a spiral staircase like this would have a supporting wall or columns to carry the load but we wanted to push those boundaries and created an entirely free standing one instead. We wanted to create something dramatic and surprising, a Wow effect for all visitors that keeps them wondering how this staircase can "work". Naturally, these kinds of designs have been achieved in concrete, metal or wood for years but given the weight of natural stone and the restrictions you face by working with solid stone, this is quite an innovation in a smart design. The beauty clearly lies in the paradox of a this very heavy material and ultra light design on the other hand.
We are very proud to say that to our knowledge there is no other such spiral stone staircase to be found in Britain as yet. The team is already working on some new designs for these kind of stairs. Within the next few days we will start to work on the real one. Stay tuned for more pictures! Andre Schuberth Head Designer at Carvero Ltd
Limestone Egg Holder
This is a limestone egg holder I designed and made for my wife. The stone is a beautiful limestone from France wich we use mostly for our stone fireplaces or Kitchen Stone Extraction Hoods. I really didn't like the grey paper one.
Stone Mullion Window Surrounds
Natural stone mullion windows are still very popular architectural elements in the English architecture. The demand is high, not only for restoration purposes but we actually mostly manufacture them for newly built houses. A variety of stone materials can be used: from our most popular limestones such as Ancaster, Clipsham or Bath limestone, to Ironstone or different sandstones. Also the design can vary from a single to a double or triple mullion window. There are a multitude of surrounding mouldings available. The drawing below shows only one of many designs our clients can choose from:
Stone mullion windows out of limestone, ironstone or sandstone This is a beautiful local example of a mullion window in Bath limestone. For this private residence we made several single, double and triple mullion windows. Some clients choose to have their builders fit them, others have our fitting team install the window surrounds.
Beautiful Steps for a Spiral Stone Staircase
We are coming to the end of the making the last steps of an extraordinary spiral stone staircase for a local retail space. Everybody in the team is getting really excited now, wanting to see it fitted. This is why we just test fitted the first and second stone steps at the workshop today. I have to say that our stonemasons have done an amazing job over the last few weeks and everything works out as expected. Only a couple more stone steps to carve, as well as the landing to make and then we are ready to fit this unique spiral staircase.
Bespoke Stone Fireplace Surrounds from Carvero Stonemasonry
At Carvero Stonemasonry we frequently carve gorgeous natural stone fireplaces. Below is a bespoke stone fireplace surround we designed and made for a client recently. Very often clients approach us with their own ideas and photos of fireplaces they have found on the internet or somewhere else, asking us to make one similar to those for their own home. In this example, the client brought several drawings and photos to us, highlighting different elements on each fireplace that he liked and wanted to include. Our 3D designer then got creative and drew up a very special fireplace given these ideas and wishes, much to the delight of the client. One of our very skilled stonemasons then rolled up his sleeves in the workshop and hand carved this beautiful bespoke stone fireplace in a very nice French limestone. When our client received his fireplace he was over the moon. Here are some pictures of the bespoke stone fireplace surround still in the workshop:
Making of Steps for a Floating Stone Staircase
And here we are again with the next beautiful stone staircase project. We spoke about this one already a little while ago. The house of our client has been modified and is now ready for us to fix these nice stone steps which will magically float through the air and link the ground with the first floor. In today's video you will learn more about the production of the steps:
No Chimney? Have An Ethanol Fireplace Instead!
So many of us love the feeling of having a crackling fire in the room. It's cosy in the winter and any fireplace is an elegant feature in the home, even when there is no fire burning. Unfortunately, not every house and building structure lends itself to a fireplace with chimney, yet an Ethanol fireplace can still create the same effect without all the bother. The fact that these types of fireplaces don't need to have the air exhaust means that there are endless possibilities as to where to install them and which design and natural stone materials to choose from. You could even just liven up an old classical fireplace and convert it in to an Ethanol fuelled one. Some decide to design their own and use stone or other fireproof materials. The pictures below show one of our most modern designs we recently created for a client. Made out of a solid French limestone in a very warm colour and texture, it easily enhances every room without the need for a chimney. The installation is simple and we can make it to any size you want. So you can enjoy your new "almost real" fireplace straight away, we give you a FREE first bottle of Bio-Ethanol fuel with any ordered Ethanol fireplace.
A very delicate stone tracery window carved in our Leicestershire stonemason workshop
We have done the drawing of this beautiful gothic tracery quite some time ago, and with that a 3D animation. I always wanted to do one of those but the occasion never arose.
So I decided we are going to make one for ourself. Tracery windows are of the most extensive variety, both in design and form. Often they are bigger than our chosen design and made of several pieces. We started making it some weeks ago and every time we had a bit of time we worked on it. Gregory a French stonemasons from Strasbourg working here in our workshop near Loughborough in Leicestershire, had the honour of carving this delicate piece of Gothic architecture and I have to say I am a bit jealous.
We chose an Italian limestone which we normally use for our stone fireplaces, door surrounds or stone mullion windows. It is a limestone very fine in grain and allows for very sharp edges. Also over time, it creates its own patina and turns into a beautiful light blue grey colour. As you can see in the pictures, it is truly hand carved and by doing so Gregory learnt some useful new techniques. He has definitely done a great job. Thanks Gregory!!!
Some bespoke stone fireplaces...
The last 12 month have been a very successful year for Carvero. In which our team had the privilege to be of service to many new clients. Over this time we made a lot of projects happening and today I like to show some of the bespoke stone fireplaces we created. Most of those fireplaces are very simple in design and perfect for a country house. The used stone is a cream, slightly rustic looking french limestone. We love this limestone for its humble, but noble appearance. The styles and sizes of the fireplaces vary depending of the taste and environment. Some images are showing the fireplaces right at the end of the fitting process and therefore are still wet or the plastering of the walls hasn't been finished yet.
Traditional Kitchen Stone Hood - Kitchen Stone Canopy
This week we fitted another of our beautiful stone kitchen canopies in Henley on Thames. We can't wait to see the whole kitchen ensemble being finished in the next couple of weeks. Our traditional kitchen stone hood is becoming more and more a must for people who are looking for a kitchen with a traditional and authentic feel. The honest material choice of a beautiful limestone and the simple design makes this hood fit into most kitchens with a english country style.
New Cantilever Stone Staircase at Lincoln Castle
Today we have been back with Peter at Lincoln Castle to finish some miner things on the new cantilever stone staircase, we had the honour to fit at the Old Prison. The museum will open to the public in April and should be on your list to visit this year.
We made this staircase out of Tadcaster limestone from north Yorkshire and it is a replicate of the original staircase. Below are some more pictures of this simple in design, but nice cantilever stone staircase, with the balustrade and handrail just fitted.
What's currently happening in our Leicestershire workshop
Here is stonemason Will carving a beautiful neo-gothic capital at our workshop in the heart of the Midlands, today. This beautiful piece of architecture is made for the Randolf Hotel in Oxford.
