Sintered Stone Gallery, Jakarta

To see full slabs rather than photographs, visit the gallery at Jl. Peternakan II No.21C, Kapuk, Jakarta Barat, open 10.00–18.00 WIB daily.

What to compare in person

Photographs answer one question: whether a pattern is attractive. They do not answer the questions that decide the project. In the gallery, four things are worth checking. First, scale: a vein that looks restrained on a phone can dominate a 3 m island. Second, direction: the same slab reads differently when the pattern runs along the counter rather than across it. Third, finish: bright surfaces reflect the room and change the perceived colour, while matte surfaces hold a steadier tone. Fourth, edge: a mitred edge changes how thick the surface appears from the side.

Bring something to compare against

A cabinet door, a floor sample or a photograph of the room in daylight makes the comparison concrete. Material chosen in isolation tends to be chosen on pattern alone, which is the most common reason a finished kitchen feels different from the render.