by Wendi Williams | photos by 360 Tour Designs
MARBLE UNIQUES® TAKES A HARD PASS ON COOKIE-CUTTER DESIGN
Just like snowflakes, you won’t find two natural stone countertops alike. That’s what drew Heather Keck, interior designer and co-owner of Marble Uniques, into the business in the first place. Her passion for natural stone didn’t end with marble, however. For the past 15 years, Heather has worked on diversifying Marble Unique’s product offerings to include a variety of natural stones such as marble, granite, quartzite, and soapstone. In addition to the variety of natural stones offered, Marble Uniques also has an extensive line of engineered quartz and porcelain products.
The draw, Heather says, is that every piece of stone is completely distinct, so homeowners and builders can achieve a unique, custom look no matter their style. Many factors influence how a natural surface will look in a space, from different characteristics in the stone and its place of origin, to the lighting and paint colors surrounding it.
While plenty of big box stores cater to conventional, cardboard cutout homes, Heather says the team at Marble Uniques takes pride in standing out from the crowd. That’s why this past September, they once again participated in Centier Home-A-Rama (HAR), partnering with Old Town Design Group for the 15th year.
“These are high-end builders for Home-A-Rama,” Heather says. “They give us a color palette and a design idea, and we help them choose the best materials to bring it to life.” The home built by Old Town Design Group, for example, required materials that would be located in the pool area, and would need to be resistant to chemical heavy pool water and outdoor conditions. These concerns are all taken into account throughout the collaboration.
But while visitors to the HAR show homes might think they’re looking at a level of design that’s out of reach, Heather says this isn’t so. In fact, she invites anyone in the process of building or remodeling their home to make an appointment to visit their showroom in Tipton and see what types of natural stone can fit their style and their budget.
“We have magic workers in our shop,” she says of their team of designers, fabricators, and installers. Heather says Marble Uniques provides each customer a project coordinator who will be with them from start to finish, no matter the size of the job. This individual attention is as unique as the product, and ensures by Wendi Williams / photos by 360 Tour Designs customers get the look they want—without surprises.
Heather says watching interior design shows and browsing photos on social media is a great start to figuring out your style and your desired look, but nothing beats seeing the product in person. That’s why she encourages anyone considering a remodel to visit the HAR homes during the annual show, as well as the Marble Uniques showroom.
“Come in,” she says. “Touch the stone. Feel it, and understand how it might look in your home.” She says customers can also see different options for edging and seaming, and learn about everything from current design trends to stone upkeep and maintenance. “We’ve been in the stone business a very long time,” she says. “It all comes back to education and understanding the product.”
Marble Uniques® is a family-owned business serving all of Indiana and surrounding areas. Visit their Tipton showroom, or give them a call at (317) 596-9786.
