The Hindu Business Line : Gemstone floor décor grips realty sector

Mumbai, March 10 It’s no more the exclusive domain of the Arab fiefdoms, which for ages used gemstone for home interiors. Indian realty appears to have caught on to ‘gemstone floor décor’ and the much-fancied Italian marble is just about passé.

Looked upon for beauty and ornamental grandeur, gemstones now appear to be flooring people who prioritise their lifestyle needs. Some architects have begun visualising living room floorings made of amethyst, the bedroom walled with rose quartz, office tabletops of gold-tigers eye and a bathtub made of the ‘mother of pearl’.

This is not to mention exotic seashells with a dazzling ray of iridescence from the South Pacific, which Mr Nikhil Tiwari of Gemstone Crafts, Mumbai, flaunts to his clients with pride.

Sourced across the globe, Gemstone Crafts collection include gigantic pieces made of Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, Malachite from Central Africa, Tigers Eye from South Africa and Jasper from Australia to name a few.

“These stones add to the positive energy of nature and earth to your home while providing a modern look that provides high-end sophistication to your interiors. They can be used to create floorings including checkerboard tiles with combinations of gemstones, bathroom sinks, bowls, mosaic tiles, shower-rooms, basins, vanity counters, office and home tabletops and medallions,” he says.

Accessories include vases, gemstone strips on boards and stone base to border walls and mirrors and fittings, besides fixtures such as knobs. And, the price range is between Rs 7,000 and Rs 15,500 a sq. ft.

Gemstone Crafts deliver ready-to-fit laminated part or entire flooring in about three weeks. A recent eight-slab shipment to Italy was worth close to Rs 1.25 crore.

Given the price tag, most prefer to have a section of their flooring or wall lined with gemstones.