John Colaneri is a construction manager and designer who specializes in residential development in Northern New Jersey and commercial projects throughout the East Coast. He has starred in the HGTV shows Kitchen Cousins, Cousins on Call, Cousins Undercover and America’s Most Desperate Kitchens, and has been a regular guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Rachael Ray Show.

Recently, Colaneri did an exterior stone makeover of his own Mid-Century Modern ranch with a suite of Polycor natural stone products. Below he takes us through his material choices and what they brought to the project.

Going Big with Large Stone Pavers

Colaneri expanded a small backyard patio to 450 square feet using SAINT HENRY BLACK™ granite XL natural stone pavers. The extra-large stones (36” x 36” x 3cm) made a big difference in achieving his design goals, and he noted that few companies produce them.

“A larger paver makes the space look double the size of what it actually is,” he said. “When you have fewer joints between the pavers, it allows your eye to open up.”

The stone color was chosen to complement the black trim that plays a prominent role on the home, including its window and door trim. Colaneri loves how the stone undergoes a subtle transformation as the natural light changes throughout the day.

“You start out with this very rich black color, then it will go to something that has a shimmer and a shine when the sun is hitting it,” he said. “Then when you get to dusk, you start to see some blues come out of it. With a natural stone like a granite, it’s never just a solid color – it’s got an interesting mix of colors.”

Saint Henry Black granite, in particular, has a unique crystalline structure with large opalescent flakes that capture and refract the light. Instead of a flat appearance on the surface like engineered stone, it has a depth and translucence that adds visual interest and character to the material.

Thin Granite: ‘A Beautiful Statement’

Colaneri did a total renovation of his home’s exterior at the same time he expanded the patio. He used a mixed-materials approach for the walls, with James Hardie siding and Polycor Estate Veneer Series – Vanderbilt Classic™️ thin veneer in Saint Henry Black™️ granite thermal finish to match the large pavers. He selectively chose the areas where the veneer would be installed as accents to the rest of the Hardie siding. 

The color of the siding was coincidentally named ‘Stone Paver’, a greige taupe that Colaneri said projected warm tones in dimmer lighting and cool grays in the full sun. The dark, thin granite veneer around the entryway, garage door and chimney was chosen once again as “the perfect accent” to the black siding highlights.

“You get that same variation from the Saint Henry Black™️ granite on the front of the house that you get on the back patio,” he said. “It’s even more bold on the house because it’s right in front of your face. It really makes a beautiful statement.” Installed in a vertical application as a thin stone veneer it catches the light in even more interesting ways than when it is installed horizontally as paving. 

The crew installed the thin granite veneer over the home’s existing brick work, drilling into the masonry to mechanically attach wire lath and scratch coat for proper adhesion. When the existing masonry is sturdy and in sound condition, as this was, Colaneri advises clients to avoid unnecessary demolition work and instead overlay the veneer using proper materials and installation methods.

Getting Creative with Thin Granite Veneer

The front entryway of the home had an existing concrete pad that was also in need of an upgrade. After evaluating the structural integrity and flatness of the pad, Colaneri decided to install the thin granite veneer as an overlay on top of the existing concrete. The high density and compressive strength of the ¾” thick Saint Henry Black™️ granite made it suitable for the application, and with the help of a premium polymer-modified mortar, the veneer was easily installed onto the concrete base. 

Front Steps For Instant Curb Appeal

Colaneri had one more stone selection to make for his project – the granite treads and wall caps that would serve as an accent for his front entryway. He chose Eastern Gray™️ granite because its light color popped from the black veneer while its highlights also called out to it.

“It gave it a really nice deviation from the Saint Henry™️, but at the same time, with the speckles of black and gray in that stone, it complements it really well,” he said.

Granite entry steps provide a durable and long-lasting solution to the front entryway of the home. They receive the most abuse, especially during the winter months, when snow, ice, salt and shovels come in contact with the surface. Due to their incredible resilience and rough, textured finish, there’s no need to be concerned about the steps wearing prematurely over time – they will outlast any other building material option.

For the final phase of his project, Colaneri added an outdoor kitchen and granite firepit to enhance his outdoor living space and entertain guests year-round. With stainless steel appliances, pizza oven, and a white countertop for some differentiation.

All told, he views his project as a model for how some pretty straightforward improvements can revive the energy of an older home. He said the house dated back to the early 60’s but was well-built and just needed some updates to bring out its charm.

“Now if you drive past, you might assume it’s the newest house on the block. Such is the power of exterior renovation,” Colaneri said.

Need help finding the perfect stone for your project? Contact Polycor today to learn about our world-renowned selection of products.