Columned Homes Making a Comeback?
Classic columns made of synthetic materials and engineered to look like stone, marble or wood are reemerging as a home design trend.
NEW YORK — Designers suggest that Greek and Roman columns may make a comeback in the United States. With the right materials and colors, columns can be worth the effort without looking showy, according to Connecticut architect Michael Gorski.
In historic neighborhoods, classic columns fit right in, and in other neighborhoods, color can make columns appear less imposing. Designers also say that natural variations in marble, quartz and other stones can provide columns with a quality that grows with the patina in weather, though the columns will need to be resealed once per year to prevent damage.
"The inherent beauty in aging is what attracts people to this style. We love to see things age, versus looking perfect and new," said Austin Carrier, co-founder of Hommeboys Interiors.
For East Coast shingle-style houses, painted wooden columns are a popular option because they look warm and relaxed, and cedar and cypress can be weathered and repainted, explained Gorski.
Due to higher costs associated with wood and stone, many homeowners will use synthetic columns, which can be made of mixed materials including stone dust, resin, fiberglass, and pigment. Heavy fiberglass and engineered stone can look like marble, he added. Carrier added that synthetic columns can be covered with plaster and stucco to provide "movement and depth of texture in the material" for a modern, refreshing look.
Jack Gao, founder of MarbleBee, a Canadian stone and brass sculpture manufacturing company, said that an 8-foot-tall, roughly 12-inches-wide column from common marble would typically cost between $5,000 to $15,000, but high-end marble with intricate designs could cost over $50,000 per column.
Gorski pointed out that synthetic columns from fiberglass to engineered stone are usually cast in a mold and cost between $300 and $4,000 each, or up to $12,000 each depending on size and composition.
Source: Wall Street Journal (11/03/24) Paynter, Sarah
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