Turned to Stone

FROM MOSAICS TO MARBLE, KAUKAUNA'S CARVED STONE CREATIONS IS A SHOPPING MUSEUM FOR THOSE SEEING UNIQUE STONE STYLES

Fox Cities Panache – Spring 2005
Written By: Jill Zimanek

Jaime Filtzkowski gazes down at a sample of coffee-colored travertine, pretty certain that this is what she wants in her new home.

“I love it. It's very, very nice. Ceramic is out. I want this for my flooring. I've wanted it for a long time. And I want it around my fireplace,” she says, adding she's also getting a granite countertop for her kitchen.

Filtzkowski is perusing the myriad of stone samples – granite, limestone, marble, slate, sandstone, onyx and travertine of every color – found at Carved Stone Creations in Kaukauna. Everything in the building, including the building itself, is made of stone. The outside is covered in quartzite slate. Standing out front of the building are statuary lions, a horse, monkeys and other animals, along with fountains, stone tables and paved walkways.

Inside it looks like a museum with its enormous carved black marble staircase, various tone floors, carved fireplaces and indoor sculptures. Mosaics don the walls along with silk oriental rugs.

“It's great to come in here, if anything just to look,” Filtzkowski says. “And the owners are very nice, very helpful. They know what your plans are and can give you a good idea of what you need.”

Owned by Rob and Eileen Ripley, the business opened in July 2004, making many Fox Valley builders' lives much easier.

“There is no other place comparable to Carved Stone Creations in this area,” says Charles Wolski, owner of Aberdeen Homes. “They have a wide variety of stone that can be molded into anything you want and purchased at reasonable prices. They provide services and goods that are one of the best in the country. You can visit their showroom and have everything at your finger tips. It's great for a builder.”

“I never could have afforded quartz and marble before in my homes because it was too expensive. Now, whatever your heart's desire, they can order and do it for you. They can duplicate designs on houses in stone that were impossible to pay for in the past,” Wolski continues. “The fact that you can buy anything reasonable in stone makes Carved Stone Creations special all around.”

Owner, Rob Ripley, a building contractor, has had a longstanding passion for stone. After completing six granite fountains in the cul de sac of a subdivision he was developing, Rob and his wife decided to go into the stone business.

“Anything you ever wanted handcrafted out of stone, we can do,” Eileen says. “Stone columns, statuary, memorials, gravestones, fountains, fireplace surrounds, sinks, countertops, flooring…we have a little of everything.”

Shaynette Baxter, one of Wolski's clients, is using Carved Stone Creations sandstone both inside and outside of her home.

“We have sandstone columns on the outside of our house to breakup the brick and a sandstone entrance around the front door. We thought it would be beautiful to bring that inside, so we have two fireplace fronts out of sandstone and two pillars inside, “ Baxter says.

One of the most unusual requests Carved Stone Creations has had thus far is for the creation of an urn made of white marble to look exactly like the deceased's country line-dancing boot.

“The woman was dying and wanted to see it before she died. It was an unusual request, but we satisfied it,” Eileen says.

Set in Stone

Carved Stone Creations to offer a fantasy in granite.

THE POST-CRESCENT – FOX VALLEY INC.

Wednesday, May 12, 2006 - BY: MAUREEEN WALLENFANG

KAUKAUNA - It's part Egypt, part Fantasyland and very hard to miss!

Carved Stone Creations' new stone studio, visible from U.S.41 is already drawing surprised reactions from passersby and it isn't even open yet – that will happen sometime early next month.

The eccentric business which will sell fountains, statues and architectural details made of stone, stands out like a quirky oasis on the north side of an otherwise ordinary industrial stretch of highway going through the city.

It boasts an elaborate quartzite slate façade and two-story solid granite columns with porticos. Its grounds are home to gazebos, fountains and statues that include Atlas, Buddha and at least one mermaid.

Carved Stone Creations' owners, Rob and Eileen Ripley, wanted to indulge their fantasies to show potential business and residential clients that nearly anything can be carved out of stone.

“You want cupids? You want snakes? You want flowers and vines?” Rob asked. “There is no limit. We're showing the extremes because we want to show all the possibilities. We wanted to be fancier than any five-star hotel, beyond anything you can imagine!”

Much of it, he acknowledges, is over the top and inspired by exotic things the well-traveled couple found while globetrotting.

“You wouldn't do this on a residence,” he said, referring to the diamond pattern polished granite on the building's exterior. “We're just trying to get your attention!”

The $1 million, 10,000 – square-foot building itself was “inspired by Luxor,” said Eileen. “At the same time, we try to do things that people will actually use,” Rob said as he displayed drawings for the studio's staircase, which is still under construction. “Will I sell many staircases? Probably not. But someone might like its relief carving.”

Inside, the studio displays many understated natural stone products and architectural details like elegant marble tiles starting at $7 a square foot, fireplace surrounds, graceful vessel sinks for bathrooms and classic mosaic flooring.

“It's going to be wonderful,” said Deborah Brahm, designer for Distinctive Design of Green Bay. ‘This area needs a business like this.”

Town of Greenville supervisor, Andy Peters, didn't wait until CSC's doors were open. He saw the building under construction and walked through the mud to get information on fountains.

Ultimately, the town and sesquicentennial committee asked CSC to make a stately 11-foot-tall, three-tiered granite fountain topped with a carved eagle for the Jennerjohn Park on State 15. It will be purchased with private donations. “We wanted something unique and I did a lot of research on the internet. I found this to be reasonably priced. Their prices were comparable to concrete, so this was a much, much better buy because it will last!”

The $21,000 fountain is scheduled to arrive in July and will be the focal point of the new walking trail that connects all three parks, the YMCA and two schools.

Perishable vs. nonperishable

The Ripleys come from a real estate development/construction background and also own Ripley Inc., based in Krakow . Before that, they farmed for many years.

“I could see the writing on the walls as far as farming goes,” Rob said. “It was not a problem to grow, it was a problem selling. There wasn't the return.”

Centralized distribution patterns meant the smaller farmer had a tough time. They ended up throwing out or donating a lot of unsold food. “We ended up farming for the food banks,” Eileen said.

Ten years ago, they moved into real estate development and then construction using Rob's background in structural architecture. He currently is president of the Brown County Home Builders Association.

The idea of going into stone importing came about when they had a tough time finding the high-end fountains they envisioned for a development called Lake Sandia, north of Pulaski. They didn't want cast fountains, but rather carved granite that would stand the test of time.

When they found what they wanted, they also opened a new market. The Ripleys moved completely away from the perishable world of farming into nonperishables; most notably granite.

Because of Wisconsin winters, they focus on granite for exterior fountains and statues. They don't sell marble for exterior use – it's too porous and better suited to warm climates – or molded cement statues, which Rob said show significant damage in as little as 25 years from freezing and thawing. Granite, however, will last for many lifetimes!

Their decision to open in the Fox Cities was based solely on availability of the very visible location. “If not, we would have looked on the interstate near Chicago,” Rob said. “ We needed 62,000 cars driving past every day. This way, we force the builder to come here because the consumer saw us. We're working it backwards.”

Learning curve

Fond their farming days, the Ripley's retained their work ethic, which means it's normal to put in 70 hour workweeks. They learned the eccentric world of importing, in which a shipment might be delayed as much as two weeks going through customs. “We import hand carvings from Asia because it's one of the few place there are artisans left to do it. I might take a year to carve a loin.” Rob said. “There aren't the same kinds of artisans here in the United States . They don't exist.”

They import stone and tiles from South America, India, Pakistan, Italy, Turkey and Mexico .

Wess Ripley, their son, does graphic design for the firm. His drawings for the mezzanine relief panels, for example, are currently in Asia being carved to his specifications.

The Ripley's figure their work will be a natural fit for commercial users. But at the same time, they know individuals often have ideas of something special they want for a garden or an entryway to a home.

Deborah Brahm of Ashwaubenon went to the Ripley's to find a sculpture for her garden and instead ended up ordering both a gazebo and a fountain.

“When I saw this gazebo, I thought it was like a sculpture that you could sit in. It's beautiful and ties in with the columns inside my house,” Brahm said. “I like the style, the low maintenance and the fact that it is made of natural materials, which is what's going on in design right now.”

Maureen Wallenfang can be reached at 920-993-1000 ext. 28 7 or by e-mail at mailto:mwallenfang@postcrescent.com.

Expressive Entryways

Grand staircases, carved stone, mosaics make for memorable first impressions

Marketplace-Spring Homes of Distinction 2005
By: Cheryl Hentz

Your home’s entryway; it’s the first thing guests see when they arrive and it sets the tone for the rest of the house.

In reality, the entryway may be the farthest point many visitors get into your home. What that means is those visitors’ first impression of you and your home could very well be their last. Your home’s entryway determines the statement you make to those temporary guests.

Is it any wonder that more and more people are investing money and personal touches into their home’s foyer?

Artfully designed doors, stonework and pillars can add drama to the outside. In the foyer, mosaic floor designs, polished wood and decorative lighting can heighten the effect. To make an impression in a big way, some homeowners choose the classic design element of a grand staircase as a foyer centerpiece.

“We used to sell what we call standard stairways for maybe an 8-foot high ceiling and with maybe 14-foot risers. They would cost anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000,” says Sharon Kressin, co-owner of Arcways in Neenah. “Now, we’re seeing people go to a real high-end market – at least at our company. Everything is very custom. The medium price range is probably $25,000 to $35,000. It’s not unusual to have jobs that are over $100,000. The complexion of the business has really changed over the years.”

She says that in many cases people are designing their own stairways to compliment their personal taste and desires. It’s not just in how the stairway looks; it’s how they’re crafted as well.

“We’re talking everything from exotic types of wood for us to use, different handrails, balusters and so forth, for their own personal look.” Kressin explains, “Some are very wide open, some have very tight curves and some of the stairways are s-shaped. They are all very unique design, depending on their personal taste. It’s endless as to what can be done!”

“Wrought-iron balusters are really hot. They’ve been popular for a few years now,” Kressin says, and she sees their popularity growing. Some specialty balusters are also imported from Spain and Italy to meet clients’ needs. “They’re hand-carved and have a real unique design. They’re a very hot item right now, too. People seem to want a very ornate look,” Kressen says.

One other trend Kressin says they’re seeing people requesting stone treads and risers on their stairways. “We use marble, travertine or granite. That’s a whole other look and they may faux paint the skirt boards to look like they’re stone. Then we’ll put a fancy wood turning from Spain on the stairway and create an elaborate look,” she says.

Decorative tile floors are also becoming more prevalent; especially in entryways. Tile colors run the gamut. “The entryway is the area everybody sees right away, so people tend to be a bit more daring,” says Kathy Conard, co-owner of CTI of Wisconsin (Concrete Technology, Inc.). “And they’re using a little bit more of the darker colors these days. We never seem to do two floors the same, so colors and styles can be tweaked to the owner’s liking. We’ve done homes with everything ranging from brown tones to marble black and gray to blues.”

Even concrete approaches to front doors are making more of a statement these days. And many are doing so with a brick or stone-type look, something the Conard says can be done very simply with a special type of solid spray.

“Other than appearance, safety issues are concerns that are somewhat encouraging this,” she says. “The spray, once applied, is almost like salt-resistant. Being in Wisconsin you can put the salt out and it melts the ice, but you don’t have to worry about it peeling or popping your concrete.”

“The exterior of your home can be done in a classy, tasteful manner that exudes elegance,” says Rob Ripley, owner of Carved Stone Creations in Kaukauna. For example, a quartz slate exterior can be applied to the exterior walls of a building in the same manner as putting down a tiled floor. The result is very bold, yet rich and unique looking. “People are looking for something that lasts; something that’s quality; and something that’s one of a kind,” explains Ripley.
One of the things Ripley says he is getting a lot of requests for is custom mosaics on floors, including those in the entryway areas.

“We inventory about 60,000 square feet of stone that can be used on the floor. There are so many different designs it’d make your head spin,” he says. “Sometimes people use mosaics on the walls, too. We see a lot of statues, stone columns and wall fountains going in front entryways. Even grand staircases embellished with stone are becoming somewhat popular.”

There are several reasons for peoples’ interest in stone. “The most important thing with stone is there are no two pieces ever alike. They are as unique as the people who are putting them in,” Ripley says. “Plus stone also has an enduring characteristic to it. It has that classic look that you’ve seen in castles and fancy homes in Florida or California. Mansions, always, always have stone. And in the past five years, I would venture to guess that the stone prices have dome down dramatically; probably as much as 50 percent. And the stones – which are absolutely beautiful – are being harvested in many different countries including Brazil, the Philippines and here in the States as well.”

From a practical standpoint, stonework appreciates in value rather than depreciating.

The motto at Carved Stone Creations is, “Nothing is impossible. If you can see it in your mind it can be made real.”

Ripley says that even though society has become somewhat accustomed to faux finishes and faux is everything, there is a movement to bring back the real McCoy. Not only is the cost not that much more, it’s worth it, he says. In the end, it will outlive the owner.