Mason Black
Is brown the new black?
It’s truly amazing how quickly trends can change for kitchen designs and granite worktop colors!
For years we have installed black stone work surfaces, including many variations of China blacks, Indian blacks and African blacks, although a few years back, many variations of brown stone were the rage, although with this said; black has always been a leader.
I recently spoke to a customer who only a year and a half previously had us install a Shanxi black granite worktop for them, but now has requested that it all is changed for brown. They are changing the entire kitchen, including the base units, as these were matched to the color of the stone used.
Naturally, as more and more consumers choose a particular colour or shade of stone, the need for something different increases, even if the new choice has seen past popularity and with so many variations to choose from, brown stone has a variation to suit most kitchen designs.
The following list details some of the variations of brown stone that can be obtained today.
Baltic Brown
A medium dark brown on a black background; this stone was very popular a few years ago and is now making a return to fashion!
Starlight Brown
Starlight brown is possibly the next fashion leader and is generally a dark brown, with silver, star chips within.
Antique Brown
A beautiful dark brown, which shadows slight differences in its variations; most people like this, but it does tend to be a rather expensive choice – worth it if you can run to it!
Labrador Antique
Mottled shades of brown mixed with scattered pearlescent blue crystals
Tropical Brown
Medium dark brown with some black colors found within!
Cafe Brown
Mottled shades of brown
Tan Brown
Soft mottled dark and light brown colors; this stone is very attractive, as the dark and light colors blend so well together.
Sapphire Brown
Sapphire brown is a lighter version of Tan brown and has a beautiful soft color mix of these two brown shades.
Ubatuba
Green and brown with some gold and scattered pearlescent crystals; possibly the most fitting colour for oak kitchens
With many other brown types of stone available, hopefully this list has provided you with the insight required to make your choice!
Alan Bottomley is a Granite Worktops Designer for HartGranite; who import, fabricate and supply many home and industrial stone products – their URL is: [http://www.hartgranite.co.uk] if you would like more information.
Is there a difference between the Freemasons and the Black masons?
I don’t know any White Masons but I know they’re history is bigger than Black Masons as far as going back to establishing the country and such. I know Blacks had nothing to do w/that. Do they have the same practices and beliefs. At the lodges near my house I’ve never seen Whites going in and out so that made me wonder if there was a difference or just coincidence. What about Black/White Eastern Stars?
Thanks 0.02 I couldn’t think of the proper name…so I just said Black…I knew someone would get it! Thanks Casey for the links!
By black Masons I believe you are referring to the Prince Hall Masons. However, there is no such think as “White Masons”. Freemasonry admits men of any color. In my lodge, we have blacks, whites, asians, hispanics, as well as catholics, jews and muslims. A black man can choose to join American Freemasonry or Prince Hall Masonry.
The basic principles of the fraternities are the same. The reason that there are Prince Hall Masons is that blacks were at one time not permitted to join many lodges, especially in the southern united states. Originally, many blacks in the US were slaves, and there is a requirement that all masons must be free-born men, so they started their own lodges after Prince Hall was initiated a Freemason outside the United States.
While it is unfortunate that blacks were not originally allowed to join regular Freemasonry, Prince Hall Masonry is something to be proud of. They do great charity work, have excellent ritual skills, and carry on the Freemason tradition. Prince Hall Masons are now widely recognized by Masonic bodies.
As for other Masonic organizations, Prince Hall has those as well. There is a Prince Hall Affiliated body of Eastern Star, and there are also Prince Hall Shriners, Prince hall Scottish Rite, and Prince Hall York Rite. All of the rituals and ideals are very similar.
Black Affair aka Steve Mason interview from BBC Radio Scotland
