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Collection by Andrea Smith

Ways to Use Slate in the Home

Whether tiles or shingles, indoor or outdoor, the use of slate in each of these homes provides its spaces with a textural and chromatic contrast.

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The main living space after a healthy amount of restorative work, both structural and in the furnishings. "There wasn’t enough room to put blue stone flagging down," says Miller. "As an interim solution, we put down slate. We’re not sure how we’re going to resolve that—or if we’re ever going to be able to—but at least the floor slate matches the slate on the patio outside.” Photo courtesy of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
The main living space after a healthy amount of restorative work, both structural and in the furnishings. "There wasn’t enough room to put blue stone flagging down," says Miller. "As an interim solution, we put down slate. We’re not sure how we’re going to resolve that—or if we’re ever going to be able to—but at least the floor slate matches the slate on the patio outside.” Photo courtesy of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
The flooring in the house alternates between seven-inch-wide oak planks and slate tile, the latter extending to the first-floor terrace.
The flooring in the house alternates between seven-inch-wide oak planks and slate tile, the latter extending to the first-floor terrace.
Locally sourced Italian slate covers the ground floor rooms; the coat rack near the entrance is from Zanotta.
Locally sourced Italian slate covers the ground floor rooms; the coat rack near the entrance is from Zanotta.
The west side is clad with six shutters made of horizontal, western red cedar slats that can be opened or closed with a single movement. "We wanted it to be able to feel cozy when needed," Oostenbruggen says.
The west side is clad with six shutters made of horizontal, western red cedar slats that can be opened or closed with a single movement. "We wanted it to be able to feel cozy when needed," Oostenbruggen says.
To integrate the former postman’s cottage with the new design, architect David Sheppard added a concrete column adjacent to an existing stone chimney and a new slate chimney “at the heart of the composition.” From this, the roof structure fans out; the small structure now serves as an anteroom.
To integrate the former postman’s cottage with the new design, architect David Sheppard added a concrete column adjacent to an existing stone chimney and a new slate chimney “at the heart of the composition.” From this, the roof structure fans out; the small structure now serves as an anteroom.
Roberts found the Montauk black slate, which he continued in a second bath.
Roberts found the Montauk black slate, which he continued in a second bath.
The kitchen is IKEA; the floors, like those in the bathroom, are Brazilian slate.
The kitchen is IKEA; the floors, like those in the bathroom, are Brazilian slate.
Writing on the walls is encouraged by the magnetic slate chalkboard from Claridge Products. The Phoenix table by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso does double duty as a play table or a coffee table, depending upon who’s in residence. The Tulips felt rug is from Peace Industry, and was made in a fair-trade workshop in Iran. The casework is constructed of anigre wood.
Writing on the walls is encouraged by the magnetic slate chalkboard from Claridge Products. The Phoenix table by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso does double duty as a play table or a coffee table, depending upon who’s in residence. The Tulips felt rug is from Peace Industry, and was made in a fair-trade workshop in Iran. The casework is constructed of anigre wood.
A couple in Evanston, Illinois, asked John Issa of Perimeter Architects to add on a two-story, 650-square-foot addition to their traditional farmhouse. The new volume is clad in composite slate siding by Inspire Roofing Products; the windows are Pella.
A couple in Evanston, Illinois, asked John Issa of Perimeter Architects to add on a two-story, 650-square-foot addition to their traditional farmhouse. The new volume is clad in composite slate siding by Inspire Roofing Products; the windows are Pella.
Humble materials are used to good effect throughout the apartment. The bathroom contains ordinary rope lights concealed above the sinks. The tumbled slate mosaic tiles are by Artistic tile. All the wooden bathroom accessories were purchased from Ikea.
Humble materials are used to good effect throughout the apartment. The bathroom contains ordinary rope lights concealed above the sinks. The tumbled slate mosaic tiles are by Artistic tile. All the wooden bathroom accessories were purchased from Ikea.
Avid cooks, Jinhee and John spend part of every day around their custom-built kitchen island, surrounded by Compasso d’Oro barstools. The island is on castors, so it easily moves around the kitchen as needed. An edamame plant on their patio occasionally provides leaves for Korean dishes.
Avid cooks, Jinhee and John spend part of every day around their custom-built kitchen island, surrounded by Compasso d’Oro barstools. The island is on castors, so it easily moves around the kitchen as needed. An edamame plant on their patio occasionally provides leaves for Korean dishes.
The architects stuck to a gray-scale color palette, installing slate tile floors that softly contrast with the white walls and Eames dining chairs. “It lets the views out the windows become the focus,” Dworkind explains. Doses of pure black accent important features, like the central wall that divides the kitchen and master bedroom behind it from the main living space.
The architects stuck to a gray-scale color palette, installing slate tile floors that softly contrast with the white walls and Eames dining chairs. “It lets the views out the windows become the focus,” Dworkind explains. Doses of pure black accent important features, like the central wall that divides the kitchen and master bedroom behind it from the main living space.