A HEART FOR CUSTOM

Imagination is the limit with custom-designed concrete elements from Hartstone

by DANA W. TODD / photography by HOLGER OBENAUS

When building a dream home , no homeowner wants to cut corners, and it’s not necessary with Hartstone. Specializing in custom concrete elements for both interior and exterior applications, Hartstone manufactures handmade concrete tiles in a variety of colors and can accommodate virtually any shape and size needed. Homeowners have carte blanche with the designs they can create with the company’s architectural elements.

Popular in hardscapes, such as driveways, pool decking, walkway pavers, column caps, pool coping, loggias and custom firepits, concrete tiles from Hartstone are made to exactly fit a homeowner ’s—or their architect’s or builder’s—specifications. Interior applications include countertops, fireplace surrounds and mantels, stairs and balusters. “While we already offer a great assortment of standard sizes, patterns and colors, we have the ability to make what most others are not capable of making,” says Natalie Wilson, the Hartstone sales representative for South Carolina. “We offer this because we see the difference it makes in the end result of a project. When all of the material needed coordinates, it creates a truly cohesive project. This definitely shows.”

What makes it all possible is Hartstone’s unique manufacturing center—a cave 100 feet underneath Louisville, Kentucky, that is a former limestone mine. “The underground facility provides an environment with a constant temperature of 55 to 60 degrees and a high humidity level, which are perfect conditions for manufacturing concrete,” says Hartstone co-owner JT Hart. “Our proprietary blend of high-quality cement, limestone, sand and aggregate is slow cured underground so it is very hard, dense and durable.”

The company thrives on customization, and a hands-on design process with a Hartstone representative makes it easy for homeowners. Although the company carries a variety of standard colors and sizes, it can also manufacture custom sizes to a homeowner’s specifications. With an on-site mold maker, the company can handle most requests, even for extra-thick elements that other companies are not able to produce or radial architectural features that are hard for others to replicate. “I tell homeowners to go big and bold and add their own personal touches to their houses,” Hartstone co-owner Steve Kamin says. “They can achieve a totally different look from their neighbor through customization.”

Hartstone is used in both high-end residential and commercial applications, such as the 2021 Southeastern Designer Showhouse in Atlanta, where the entire exterior of the house is clad in Hartstone’s product. “We have fooled masons and architects who think our concrete elements are travertine or limestone,” says Kamin. “Because our products are made so well, they look like natural stone.”

Charleston homeowners who live on the coast are especially fond of the lighter shades of the tile, such as ‘Ultra White’ or ‘Ice White,’ as they have an inherently beachy vibe and are cool underfoot, according to Kamin. A shadier spot may be the perfect place to try out the ‘Lowcountry Green,’ ‘Caffe’ or ‘Charcoal’ colors.

Hartstone is prized for its ability to create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living. Using tile for the interior’s main living areas and flowing it to the outdoor patio and pool deck beyond provides aesthetic congruence and an expansive view of all the entertaining spaces a home has to offer. “In one home, for example, we installed 9-inch-by-36-inch planks both inside and outside for a flawless look you can see in just one view,” Kamin says.

Once installed and sealed by a professional contractor, Hartstone’s concrete products are easy to maintain, using a broom for routine cleaning or bleach, dishwashing soap and warm water for tougher stains. The tile is fully vetted with appropriate industry testing for strength, water absorption, solar reflectivity and freeze-thaw effects; all results are available on the company’s website. For homeowners who need recommendations on an appropriate installer, Hartstone has references in the Charleston area to share.

“You design your Michelangelo, and we will make it happen,” Kamin says. “We can complete your dream.” *

Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and art.