This property originally had a narrow walkway that hugged the home and an embankment adjacent to the walkway. The homeowners wanted to expand their front lawn to include a wider walkway and Asian elements...
Read MoreAsian-Inspired Hardscapes
The Fire Pit, Elevated
The fire pit and sitting area under construction
While love comes in many forms, a nearly 4,000 pound rock isn't what usually comes to mind. But like a new pair of shoes or perfect fall sweater, she had to have it...
Read MoreArtisan & Handcrafted: What's In A Word?
Happily Handcrafted Salads
A scene from 'The Sopranos' comes to mind. Tony ushers Meadow into a church that his grandfather and great uncle helped build - first generation Americans and stonemasons from Italy. There's a moment of familial pride when...
Read MoreStone Patios: What To Ask Before You Buy
A lively mix of random flagstone - dry laid with tightly fitted joints
Looking forward to family time this summer on your new stone patio? If you hire a contractor, make sure he gets the fundamentals right up front, so you won't have problems later on...
Read MoreStylish Stonework: 5 Keys To Quality Craftsmanship
Stylish steps and landing finished with bullnose edging
At European Stone Masonry LLC, we talk about how quality craftsmanship is in the details, and that details make all the difference. But what exactly are those details? Can you recognize them when you're in need of a stonemason?
Read MoreCarrying A Torch For Bluestone
Circular bluestone steps, 13' wide and asymmetrical
Besides the variety of vivid colors and styles available, there's another reason to love bluestone - thermalling. Thermalling or flaming...
Read MoreBack To The Future: Belvidere Park Installs A Time Capsule
Belvidere Park Garden Club Christmas party
A small neighborhood project was a big reminder of how different Raleigh was in the 1950's...
Read MoreTwo Coins In The Stonework
Tools of the trade
The tradition of placing coins in stonework that's under construction goes way back, but I came upon it in the late 1990's...
Read MorePorches And Steps May Cause Separation Anxiety
A bluestone and granite front proch
This bluestone porch has had surgery but you can't see it - a kind of nip/tuck for masonry. It's a common problem with older homes and even some new ones around Raleigh...
Read MoreA Stone Wall From The Inside Out
A new granite sitting wall for Christ Church
Our Twitter followers may remember a series of tweets about this job last year. Here's a more detailed look at the anatomy of a stone wall we built in downtown Raleigh. For this project, a large oak tree was key to how the stone wall was designed and constructed...
Read MoreStonework Along The Iron Heritage Trail
Beckley Furnace
This month, we're more than a stone's throw away from Raleigh. On a recent trip to Connecticut, we discovered the historic stonework along the Iron Heritage Trail. The Iron Heritage Trail is a series of 58 blast furnaces, lime kilns, forges, iron mining and mill sites...
Read MoreNew Stone Bench Marks Belvidere Park Entrance
Belvidere Park residents moving granite bench into place
Belvidere Park residents had fun yesterday placing a new stone bench near the Vale Street entrance. The project is funded by a neighborhood improvement program through the City of Raleigh. The stone bench is the next step in lengthy process...
Read MoreA Buying Guide For Stonework: Choosing Your Contractor
Pets are often part of the project too.
So how do you choose a residential masonry contractor? As with most home projects, it's well worth the effort to do a some research. Oh sure, we've learned the hard way too. Don't ask about our bathtub debacle...
Read MoreA Buying Guide For Stonework: Choosing Your Stone
Daffodils along a stone wall announce spring.
Ah, spring! It's the season of renewal and for moving ahead on those honey-do projects you've been dreaming about all winter. Is stonework on your list? Maybe a winding garden wall to define your planting beds. Or a stone patio for summer celebrations...
Read MoreThis Stone Fireplace Has A Porcine Past
Old stone fireplace along Hwy. 64 in Knightdale
If you've ever traveled along Highway 64 west towards Raleigh, you may have wondered about this old stone fireplace from another era. It sits on an embankment on the right just past the Neuse River...
Read MoreBelvidere Breaks Ground On New Stone Entryway
Belvidere Park residents
Welcome to A Stone's Throw, a new blog from European Stone Masonry LLC. Every month or so, we'll focus on stonework, history and happenings from around Raleigh and maybe farther afield. This month we highlight a local project that's taken over 2 years and lots of twists...
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