Ken's Quick Answer:
"There are a number of important steps to take when ordering natural stone to ensure that you're truly happy with the product. First of all, get all your stone from the same lot. Second, order a single box from the lot you plan to order. This helps ensure you like how that lot looks."
Ken's In-Depth Answer:
"If you're shopping for stone, you have to know about the non-WYSIWYG principle: What you see is NOT what you get.
Natural stone looks different depending on the hole that you quarry it from. If you like the way the sample in the store looks, keep in mind, when you order it, it's not going to look the same! Yes, it will be the same type of stone, but because it's a natural product, there will be a lot of variation from tile to tile.
You also need to make sure that you order enough stone. Each stone has a 'lot' designation. If you run out of material and need to order more stone, the new tiles may come from a second lot! If this happens, you'll likely end up with two different-looking types of stone that don't match.
So remember, not all white Carrara marble, or whatever stone you're ordering, is going to look the same. It's going to be different from piece to piece, and it's going to be different from lot to lot. When I have a client who's very particular with how they want their stone to look, I encourage them to order one box from a large lot at the distributor. If you like what you see in those ten tiles, you can feel pretty comfortable about ordering the rest.
Those are the hidden secrets of stone. If you need any help selecting natural stone for your home, don't hesitate to give us a call at 401-214-0285."