Most often formed in warm, shallow seas as coral, sand, shells and marine debris slowly compress into rock, limestone has been a favourite of builders and architects since ancient times. Limestone once covered the Great Pyramids of Giza and, 4,500 years after it was built, the facing on top of Khafre’s Pyramid still gleams in the desert sun. More recently, it’s been the choice of architects in iconic structures from the Empire State Building to Paris’ Notre Dame cathedral. Commonly used for walls, floors and facings, both interior and exterior, limestone is most often sold in neutral hues from cream to buff and grey. Dense, strong and heat-resistant, it supports a wide range of finishes, from polished through to brushed, making it a very adaptable stone.