The competition between natural stone veneer and faux panels is evident but each style fulfills a specific role.

There’s been a longstanding feud between the natural stone veneer styles and the more contemporary faux panels. On the one hand you have the classic look of real stone. The natural stone veneer is specifically designed to emulate the texture of real quarry cut stones. The design of a specific stone veneer pattern reflects the colour and texture of that environment. For example, the river rock pattern is designed to emulate the look of various types of boulders found in rivers. Everything from the shape of the the eroded surface to the earthy colour has been replicated with great attention to detail.

The natural stone selection even draws inspiration from historical periods where a specific stone was used for construction. The Castle and Cathedral patterns exemplify this well. The inspiration for the overall design of these comes from the style of stone used in the construction of castles, churches and cathedrals. The stones are shaped into cubes and rectangles to replicate the geometric shapes that were cut in order to be utilized in the most efficient manner for stacking. Even the colours used reflect the tones of that time period. The results are magnified when these natural stone veneers are light with soft mood lighting or even candle lights.

Natural stone works well with other organic textures, while faux panels tend to compliment contemporary designs.

Now on the other hand you have the contemporary faux panels. These come in a variety of forms from the Quartzite Ledge styles to the Quick Fit patterns. All of them share one common element with regards to their shape and size. The faux panels are almost always geometrically cut and shaped to create a sleek and modern look. The straight edges and rectangular shapes are not made to imitate organic textures, much on the contrary they are designed to cut through the traditional styles with sharp, rigid contours. What works best with these styles is modern furniture that is made of stainless steel, polished angular wood furniture or even high grade plastic accessories. Essentially these faux panels are designed to compliment the contemporary design palette. Use them properly and you’ll be able to add a true dynamic twist to your modern home.

For more information on our line of contemporary and traditional stone veneer products visit the online catalogue on the www.stoneselex.com website. Or if you want a closer look stop by our showroom in Missisauga.