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The Luxury of Limestone
Transform Your Kitchen Into an English Manor By Shel Franco
Picture yourself wading through fading hues of gray. The feel of cool earth and stone under your feet. The smells of fresh bread wafting down the hall.
You're not standing inside an old English manor, having been transported back through time. Even better, you're standing in your own kitchen.
The beauty of nature and the charm of limestone flooring can be all yours – if your expectations are in line and you're willing to provide the care.
According to the natural stone professionals at Daltile, limestone is a sedimentary rock formed by the accumulation of organic remains such as shells and coral. The stone consists mainly of calcium carbonate.
Limestone varies in durability. True limestone is porous and absorbent. Acids and high alkaline substances can cause dulling or etching that cannot be prevented by sealing. Fruit juices, soft drinks, wine and other acidic substances – abundant in most kitchens – should be kept from direct contact with limestone surfaces. Spills should be attended to immediately with clean water. Stone with a totally flat finish will minimize the appearance of etching. Sealing will help to prevent incidental stains.
Dust and dirt, especially underfoot, are abrasive. Limestone floors should be dust-mopped daily and wet-mopped with a natural soap or neutral pH detergent as needed.
A quick inventory of your lifestyle is the perfect indicator of whether or not limestone is the right luxury for your home. If creating the old world charm of weather-worn pathways is your goal in choosing limestone flooring for your kitchen, you should be thrilled with the results.
