A new design collaboration is capturing the essence of rock in every sense of the word. Interior designer Cara Woodhouse has teamed with ABC Stone for a “Classic Rock Capsule Collection.” And the resulting nine pieces celebrate both Rock & Roll cool and the eternal beauty of rock itself. In service to both, each piece is available in five distinctive colorways of Italian stone.
“My obsession for marble and stone runs deep,” says Woodhouse of her decision to focus on the material. “I have always been so fascinated how mother nature can create such beauty!” Her collaborator’s reputation for connecting the design community to product from top quarries made them a natural collaborator. “ABC stone is one of my most favorite stone vendors because they truly carry some of the most magnificent stone on the East Coast,” says Woodhouse.
ABC Stone was similarly enthused to work with Woodhouse. “Cara brought such a fun, instinctual air to the process,” says ABC Stone Creative Director Lyndsey Belle Tyler. “She just ran with the idea, and we ended up with something that truly elucidates the magic of stone.”
Meanwhile, Woodhouse had the sexier, Rock & Roll angle covered. “Each piece definitely has a bit of my signature design style, very curvaceous and elevated,” she explains. “I am always drawn to circular and curved rather than sharp edges. It’s more inviting to me and a luxurious feeling having a sense of softness.”
The Rock Out bench in Calacatta Viola and the Solid Sound vanity with Grand Antique.
What Stone Captures the Essence of Rock?
“The stones that I chose for the collection are some of my favorite stones available and some that I am currently using on many current projects at the moment,” says Woodhouse. The collection includes the:
- Arabescato Corchia | white base with dancing gray veining
- Grand Antique | dark field with striking white veining
- Pink Onyx | a vibrant blush
- Silver Travertine | a swirling mix of sandy and darker shades
- Calacatta Viola | striking combination of white and dark red
“Overall we wanted to show a variety of stones and how they can be so different and still used in the same silhouette,” says Woodhouse. In making these choices, “I brought my expertise in with regards to the colorways and the veining types used,” she adds.
Two of the Rock & Roll vanities: at left, the curves of the Rolling Stones vanity and, at right, the Brass on Marble Styx in Calacatta Viola.
What Does Furniture that Rocks Look Like?
Woodhouse describes the overall collection as playful. “Just how I like things,” she adds.
On the softer side, there are the Rock Out bench and stool, which pair striking stone with a pillowy perch. Meanwhile, Soft Rock accent chairs mix stone and shearling to create a combo fit for any dressing room. And both would pair beautifully with the Beat side table, which calls to mind a simple drum.
The pieces get more mountainous when it comes to the bath. The Rock & Roll bathtub has the appearance of a beautiful boulder balanced on brass legs. Similarly, Flintstonian is the Solid Sound sink vanity, with drawer fronts and feet showing off the stone. The Rolling Stones vanity adds an eye-catching undulating extension. What’s more, the two Styx vanities (Brass on Brass or Brass on Marble) offer stone balanced atop brass scaffolding, along with either a brass basin or a marble one that mimics the shape of the tub.
“I think the Brass on Marble Styx vanity and the Solid Sound vanity really show how we chose to celebrate physical rock,” says Woodhouse. “We used marble in truly unconventional ways and showed the variety of stone and its breadth as a material.”
What Does It Mean to Capture the Essence of Rock?
So how does ABC Stone see these stones rolling? “This collection is literally stone art,” says Tyler. “We want those who integrate these pieces into their projects and spaces to understand that they are investing in bespoke sculptural objects meant to spark wonder and joy. No two pieces will ever be the same, because the stone it is created from will never be the same.”
Woodhouse sees the collection as a tribute to the art of collaboration. “I have always been such a supporter of creative collaboration,” she says. “Collaboration is a chance to join creative forces, something that I love doing and am fortunate to do with so many wonderful businesses and artisans that I admire.” She sees the increasing sense of community created by working together as unifying and uplifting. “It brings me such joy to feel connected and to support other designers,” she says.
But what kind of clients are cool enough to roll with these collaborations that rock? “Clients that are bold and aren’t scared to make a statement with extraordinary design sensibility,” answers Woodhouse. “Also, obviously, someone that appreciates a quality piece of marble!”
See more about the Classic Rock Capsule Collection here. And learn more about ABC Stone from this conversation with Creative Director Lyndsey Belle Tyler.
Photography courtesy ABC Stone.
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