By Jennifer Martin

When it comes to personal taste in decorating, Chicagoans have grown far more sophisticated over time. Fifteen years ago, a business that supplied fine stone for countertops and flooring was considered well-stocked if it offered 30 different types of granite. Now, buyers can choose from more than 300 types, and just as many varieties of marble.
Nowhere in Chicago do homeowners have a more varied and beautiful selection than at Stone Design. This historic wholesale supplier has grown so vastly that its inventory comprises more than 19,000 slabs and nearly 2 million square feet of tile. Yet the service is always personal and customized to the client.
“We work directly with architects, interior designers, contractors, anyone who needs premium stone and tile products for a discriminating clientele,” said Jeff Dahlberg, sales manager for Stone Design. “We start by doing a detailed project assessment that gives us a strong picture of what they’re looking for. Then we give them a wide palette of options.”
Stone Design offers an extensive array of granites, marbles, limestones, onyx, and travertines and many other types of materials such as Gemstone Glass and Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces. Created ultimately to serve homeowners with the highest standards, the company has something to suit every taste and project. Whether you’re designing a small bathroom or a 10,000-square-foot mansion, Stone Design is known as a convenient one-stop-shop.
“Our specialty is the large-depth inventory,” Dahlberg said. “Just as an example, we have a huge variety of exotic stones, anything from labrodorites to bowenites to quartzites. These stones originate in places such as India, Africa, Madagascar, Italy, Brazil, China and Pakistan, and they come in an amazing assortment of natural patterns and colors. Their markings create a one of a kind work of art compliments of Mother Nature.”
With tens of thousands of clients nationwide, Stone Design specializes in carrying exclusive lines such as its unique Pakistani marbles, limestones and onyx known as the Oasis series. The company is also highly regarded for its strong Riviera limestone line, a delicate mixture of fossils and particles that’s known for its warm “old world” look. “We also have a huge selection of onyx stones, particularly from the Middle East,” Dahlberg said. “Stone Design's selection and size of inventory of onyx slabs or tile is unmatched in the United States”
Stone Design was launched by George Lockerbie, originally a contractor and installer in the business. Homeowners developed such a strong taste and demand for natural stone products that Lockerbie decided to leverage his expertise and become a wholesale supplier. He wasn't alone: Since the 1980s, the number of stone suppliers in the Chicago area has jumped from three to more than 30. However, Stone Design is still considered one of the nation's leading elite Natural Stone suppliers, "more Bloomingdale's than discount store," as Dahlberg says.
"With the Internet, people have developed a much more in-depth understanding of the range of stone choices they have available," he said. "Stone Design constantly strives to stay ahead of the curve to deliver new and more exotic options to customers.
"There are the top 50 stone types that seem to be commodicized -- in other words, everyone carries them. What makes or breaks a supplier is the quality and availability of the commodities as well as what it has to offer above and beyond those top 50 stones. "Stone Designs reputation for top quality as well as unique selection of the 51st to the 300th type and beyond showcases Stone Design expertise."
Internet users can view the company's selection by visiting the website, www.stone-design.com. "As product comes in, we get a digital shot of every bundle," Dahlberg said. "Intranet clients can go into the digital database and select the stone they feel is most aesthetically pleasing, all from the comfort of their home or office."
A full-service distribution company, Stone Design also offers a warehouse purchasing program for large wholesalers outside of the Midwest. With strategic management, high quality and competitive prices, Stone Design has continued to expand even as the housing market has contracted in some regions. Dahlberg expects the company's growth to continue.
"Natural Stone used to be just for high-end hotels and residences," he said. "Now, everybody wants it. They're recognizing its beauty and exceptional durability. For an elegant and long-lasting surface, you can't beat the materials that Stone Design offers."

Web Site: http://www.stone-design.com
E-mail: jdahlberg@stone-design.com
ILLINOIS: 1-800-424-1332
INDIANA: 1-800-450-9855
WISCONSIN: 1-800-669-4963