Family Affair: Set in Stone
Author:Lindsey ShookNothing can break the core values shared by family and friends at All Natural Stone
Larry Perez has always been a man of many talents. He spent his early career building models at Lockheed and NASA and eventually ran his own aircraft cabinetry business. “I’ve been a Bay Area resident my whole life, and I’ve always had an appreciation for craftsmanship—whether it’s a beautifully built car, boat or piece of architecture,” says Larry. “I have an engineer’s mind and have always been handy with all things construction, especially woodworking.” But when that chapter came to an end, he found himself on a new path—one that would lead him to discover a love for stone.
In 1999, Larry stumbled upon the opportunity to purchase a small but promising business called All Natural Stone—a company focused primarily on stone slabs that quickly transformed under Larry’s direction. “My professional background and personal interests made it easy for me to fall in love with the product—especially the tile and slabs,” he remarks. His engineering mindset and passion for quality led him to expand the business, introducing an array of tiles and materials from around the globe. “Back in the day, granite was a big thing, but we expanded to offer a wide array of tiles, bringing in some of the most innovative tile lines from all over the world, including porcelain from Italy and handmade ceramics from the U.S.” It was this thinking that positioned All Natural Stone as one of the top go-to resources for high-end, innovative materials throughout the entire Bay Area.
But it wasn’t just Larry’s expertise that fueled the company’s success. His partner Juan Vasquez started at the company in maintenance and operations roles but quickly gained notoriety due to his attention to detail and hard work. Larry understood Juan would play an integral role in the success of the company and the two decided to solidify a formal partnership that after two decades has proven to be a seamless operation built on trust and mutual respect. “Communication and trust are essential,” says Juan. “We’ve been doing this together for over 23 years, so we have a rhythm.” Larry notes, “We each bring different skills to the table, and that balance is key. We’ve learned to let each other handle what we’re best at, and it works.”
Both of their families have also played a crucial role in building the empire. Larry’s son, daughter, nephew and other family members work side by side with him to help grow the company into a thriving, family-driven enterprise. For Larry, it wasn’t just about building a business; it was about building something meaningful with the people he loved. “Our family shares the same passion for the business, and that’s something rare to find,” he remarks. “We enjoy working together and I work a lot, but at least I get to do it with my family.”
That spirit of collaboration extends beyond the family to the larger design and construction community. With a deep respect for architecture and design, Larry and Juan have built long-standing relationships with designers by putting service not sales at the heart of their approach. “As a craftsman myself, I understand the importance of taking care of the trade,” says Larry. “Our approach is to treat people the way we’d want to be treated, and that’s what builds long-term relationships. Plus, we don’t operate on a commission structure, so our focus is purely on service.”
Photos by Michelle Drewes Photography.
In recent years, innovation has become an essential part of their growth, including the introduction of new cutting-edge porcelain slabs with leathered finishes and large-format tiles that are reshaping the design landscape. “We keep a close eye on trends, attending trade shows and staying active on social media,” Juan notes. “Right now we’re seeing a rise in new textures, like leathered finishes on porcelain and 5×5 porcelain tiles. We have our own finishing facility, which allows us to offer polished finishes as well, although we don’t do fabrication in-house.”
As All Natural Stone moves into the future, expansion is on the horizon. They are opening a new location in Hayward and have their sights set on Southern California and even Hawaii. With their 25th anniversary approaching in 2025, they plan to celebrate with the opening of a new showroom in Dublin and a distribution center in Hayward, and the introduction of large-format panels are just the beginning. For Larry, Juan, and their family, the journey continues—driven by a love for the design community, a commitment to the industry and the belief that the best work is always done with a great team and big hearts.
