A New Perspective on Luxury. A New Freedom in Design.
Project Spotlight / Old Westbury, Long Island
LUXURY REIMAGINED.
EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE. EXTRAORDINARY VALUE.
For a home of this caliber, natural stone once seemed like the inevitable choice. Zicana Boutique opened the door to something different: the freedom to achieve the same architectural elegance with materials that offer greater resistance to everyday wear, less maintenance, and a dramatically lower investment.
Nicola Maganuco: “The breakthrough begins with education. These homeowners assumed that achieving the look they wanted meant using natural stone throughout. We showed them porcelain and sintered stone surfaces that capture that character while offering exceptional resistance to scratches, stains, and etching. By comparing brands, finishes, thicknesses, and prices together, they could understand the possibilities—and see how those materials would complement carefully selected marble and quartzite.”
For this 12,000-square-foot Old Westbury residence, that knowledge transformed the project. The homeowners achieved their vision with demanding performance requirements and substantial budget savings. Zicana Boutique brought the materials, comparisons, and personal expertise together—introducing a new way to shop for luxury homes, where informed choices expand what is possible.
01 / The freedom to choose differently
Design freedom.
Extraordinary possibilities.
Why did the homeowners choose Zicana Boutique?
Nicola Maganuco: They found us online, but our reputation earned their trust. A ground-up, 12,000-square-foot home left no room for guesswork. Our reviews and more than 25 years of experience gave them confidence. Upfront material pricing and a team guiding selection, sourcing, and delivery meant they knew who they were dealing with and what they were paying for.
What changed their perspective?
Nicola Maganuco: The turning point was realizing that the look of natural stone did not require using it everywhere. We reviewed samples and full slabs together, showing how porcelain and sintered stone could complement marble and quartzite throughout the home. They could preserve its elegance, reserve natural stone for selected focal points, and make their budget go substantially further.
“They gained the freedom to build the home they wanted with choices they did not know they had.”
NICOLA MAGANUCO / CEO & FOUNDER, ZICANA BOUTIQUE02 / Natural stone, chosen with purpose
Two kitchens.
Distinct priorities.
Why retain natural stone in the kitchens?
Nicola Maganuco: With a separate working kitchen for everyday preparation, the main kitchen could make a more expressive architectural statement. Honed Breccia Capraia marble defines the island and backsplash, set against Premium White porcelain flooring. The working kitchen features honed Taj Mahal quartzite. Each material was chosen for the way the space would be used and the character the clients wanted to create.
03 / Materials in dialogue
Different materials.
A shared design vision.
Across the bathrooms, each pairing shows the possibilities that open when natural and manufactured surfaces can be considered together.
Taga & Taj Mahal / a warm, coordinated palette
Fior di Bosco & Calacatta Gold
Asian Statuary & Arabescato
04 / From selection to fabrication
Confidence before
the first cut.
How did digital planning support the project?
Nicola Maganuco: We photographed individual slabs and prepared digital layouts so the clients could see how the selected material would appear across the finished surfaces. Shop drawings translated the room dimensions into required pieces and slab quantities. It gave them a much clearer picture before fabrication began.
From dimensions to a three-slab plan
The kitchen shop drawing and cutting layout show how the required pieces were arranged across three slabs of Breccia Capraia marble, based on the dimensions and selected material.
05 / Beyond the interior
The material story
continues outdoors.
06 / A new standard for luxury procurement
A new way to shop.
A new freedom to create.
What makes this a different way to shop for a luxury home?
Nicola Maganuco: We brought the choices that were scattered across brands and distributors into one place, then gave the clients the knowledge to use them. They could compare porcelain and sintered stone alongside marble and quartzite, understand the differences, and see how the materials could work together throughout the home. Our team carried that understanding into slab planning, sourcing, and delivery. The result was the luxury home they envisioned, with substantial savings and a far clearer path from selection to installation.
How did that help on site?
Nicola Maganuco: The 6-millimeter material could be cut and installed directly on site, reducing labor and installation costs and shortening the timeline. We coordinated deliveries and worked with the general contractor on technical questions to facilitate installation.
07 / ProjectIQ / Coming soon
The next leap in
material procurement.
01 / Calculate
Understand material requirements with slab sizes, seams, cutouts, and yield in view.
02 / Plan the layout
Arrange pieces, assign edges, and translate measurements into a digital takeoff.
03 / Compare quotes
Carry project details into local proposals and compare price, availability, timeline, and scope.
What makes ProjectIQ a breakthrough for the A&D community?
Nicola Maganuco: We are giving architects and designers a way to move from choosing a surface to understanding what it will take to realize the project, directly through our website. They will be able to estimate material needs, develop a digital layout, and use those details to request competing local installation quotes. The same freedom we brought to comparing materials will extend to planning and procurement. That is what makes this next step so powerful.
When professionals
compete, you win.
Why should clients compare installation options as carefully as they compare materials?
Nicola Maganuco: Finding the right surface is only part of the decision. Clients also need to know who can do the work, what is included, and when it can happen. ProjectIQ will bring up to three proposals from participating local professionals into one comparison, using the same project details. They can make a choice with a clearer understanding of the cost and the work behind it.
Better value
“We want clients to see what they are getting for their money. Competing proposals let them weigh the price against the fabrication, installation, and services included.”
Faster decisions
“Instead of calling different shops and waiting for disconnected answers, clients will have their options together. They can compare availability and timelines alongside price.”
More transparency
“We want the differences to be visible: what is included, what each proposal costs, and the timing offered. That gives clients a clearer basis for deciding who to work with.”
The complete editorial
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