Coryell Street Stone

Transforming your home with reclaimed finds.
By Alina Makhnovetsky

It has been several years since Pamela Blake last visited the historic grounds of Bucks County’s Moravian Pottery and Tile Works during their annual exhibition of ceramic art tiles—which continuously gathers hundreds of quality tile artists, makers and dealers around the country, for a mosaic display of both historic and contemporary tiles—and
the excursion proved to be a memorable one. It was there; Blake spotted and immediately fell in love with a particular pattern carried by Coryell Street Stone of Lambertville, New Jersey.  In fact, it would be this same tile that would so preoccupy Blake that she would sporadically wonder into Coryell Street Stone shop, just to gaze upon it.

This year, the stars finally aligned and Blake along with her husband began an overhaul of the kitchen in their 1860s Victorian home in Lumberville, PA. Blake once again entered Coryell Street Stone and met with owner Stan Gdowski, an expert tile dealer with over 21 years of experience, who proudly showcased his most unique selection in the area. The tile Blake fell for turned out to be 100-year-old, reclaimed French terracotta which would be later used to outfit Blake’s kitchen and the adjacent powder room. “ I didn’t really know there was such a thing,” said Blake. “But I thought it would be an interesting way to blend my new kitchen with the old details of our home,” she explains.

Gdowski proved to be much more than a salesman, but a master of his skill, Blake describes him as a “real artist,” recalling all of Gdowski’s recommendations and suggestions. “He is a craftsman with an artist’s eye,” says Blake. For a woman who clearly knows exactly what she likes, Gdowski’s work ethic turned out to also be the most valuable. “ Stan had a lot of patience with me and wanted to make sure I was completely settled on what we were doing,” says Blake. First Gdowski layed out the French terracotta diagonally, then across and then in a distinct pattern and then again diagonally—placing the reclaimed tile four or five different ways for Blake’s evaluation. In the powder room, Gdowski utilized the same tile, this time creating a geometric pattern as well as cutting the terracotta to scale for the size of the room.

Under Gdowski’s direction, Coryell Street Stone specializes in selections that are exceptionally beautiful, exclusive, as well as, environmentally friendly, as they use materials that are reclaimed. At the store, you may find Chicago bricks, originally crafted by local brick makers during 1800’s through 1970’s and later salvaged from various historical demolitions. “ [Chicago Bricks] have a natural yellow, orange and pink hue of the regional clay,” explains Gdowski. “If the bricks are installed with facing the outside the factory stamp may be seen to authenticate its origin” confirms Gdowski.

Coryell Street Stone’s wood products are made from retrieved wooden planks, which are then transformed into floorboards, doors or even Versailles Parquet panels. In a nod to tradition, Gdowski maintains the methods of original craftsmanship and assembles the woven wood with only wooden pegs, sans glue or nails. The work thus turns out to be 100 percent recycled French oak and Gdowski even finishes with BioShield low or no VOC glosses. Thanks to the demolition and refurbishing of older structures, Coryell Street Stone also has an abundant variety of terracotta and parfeuille tiles. While new terracotta tiles are actually produced by hand, honoring the century old traditions of Spanish custom made tile work. Lastly, Coryell Street Stone offers reclaimed limestone and marble tile from various regions of France, available by custom orders.

With incredible dedication, continued search for exquisite reclaimed product and a firm hands-on approach to customer service, Coryell Street Stone makes home design an easy thing to fall in love with, that is, once you find your ideal tile match.

Coryell Street Stone is located at 43 N. Union in Lambertville, NJ. For more information, visit www.coryellststone.com or call (609) 397-3973.

Alina Makhnovetsky is a freelance writer and lives in Philadelphia, PA.