Marble and Granite's Blog

Now that we have taken you through the entire kitchen countertop renovation process from why you should renovate your kitchen to the installation of your countertops, it's time to celebrate and decorate. We turned to one of the most popular interior design magazines, Elle Decor, for ideas on different ways to glorify your countertops through beautiful kitchen decor. Since it is the season of cold temperatures and warm hues, we chose our favorite decor that was inspired by the warm colors and natural textures of autumn. Tell us in a comment which decorating ideas are your favorite or share with us one of your own decorating ideas!

Create a table setting full of fall colors.

So it's out with the old countertops and in with the new countertops. In our last blog post, we discussed your options when deciding on what the scope of your kitchen renovation will be based on three different budget levels. Now we're going to cover what your options are when picking out new countertops. To help you determine which material will suit your specific needs, here are the most popular countertop surfaces and their pros and cons.

Laminate: made from paper layers, fabric and resins.

Pros - Inexpensive; easy to install; won't stain; good for medium traffic areas.
Cons - Shows seams; vulnerable to high heat and water damage; can scratch; can't be repaired.

Quartz: engineered stone made from resins, chips and pigments.

Pros - Won't stain; won't scratch; heat-resistant; good for high traffic areas; comes in many colors and patterns.
Cons - Sharp edges can chip at impact; appearance can look unnatural and uniform.

Granite: natural stone.

Pros - Heat resistant; won't scratch; good for high traffic areas; appears unique and natural; comes in several variations and colors.
Cons - Requires periodic sealing for protection against stains.

Marble: natural stone.

Pros - Heat resistant; scratches can be polished out; good for medium traffic areas; colors and variation offer traditional look.
Cons - Requires periodic sealing; requires specific cleaners; can nick and chip easily.

Wood: Butcher block.
Pros - Good for light traffic; nice surface to work on.
Cons - Can scratch; difficult to clean.

Recycled Glass: made from shards of recycled glass.
Pros - Heat-resistant; good cutting surface; won't scratch.
Cons - Stains easily; weak at impact.

Solid Surfaces: made from polyester or acrylic resins and mineral fillers.
Pros - Some stain resistance; some scratch resistance; some impact resistance.
Cons - Not heat-resistant; can scratch.

Soapstone: natural stone.
Pros - Won't stain; heat-resistant; scratches easy but removable.
Cons - High maintenance; chips at impact.

Concrete: natural stone.
Pros - Very little scratching; some heat-resistance.
Cons - Stains easily; breaks at impact.

If you decide you want to go with durable and beautiful natural stone, visit one of the Marble and Granite showrooms in Milford, Connecticut or Westwood, Massachusetts for the largest selection of granite, marble, Caesarstone and soapstone in New England. We also offer the latest advancements in all-natural surfaces such as the ceramic Sinterlite Slabs by TheSize. Come in and explore your natural stone options.

 

Sources: Consumer Reports and Elle Decor.
Photo by Bob Narod via Kitchens.com (kitchen design by Savena Doychinov, CKD).

As the largest natural stone wholesaler in New England, at Marble and Granite, we know stone.  But as a part of our commitment to provide the highest level of support, we want our customers to know their stone, too. We sought out to find the facts and the myths that homeowners know (or don't know) and that affect their perception of natural stone. With help from the Marble Institute of America, we will attempt to leave no stone myth unturned.

Myth #1: Natural stone is more expensive than all other countertop materials.

• Prices of natural stone compete with those of quartz surface products or can even be lower.

 

Fall is quickly approaching, which means designers are already looking at what the trends will be for the upcoming year. Sherwin-Williams has released its 2012 Color Forecast with color palette predicting what will be the hottest interior design color trends next year. With the 4 families of neutrals, reds, blues and greens of the Colormix™ 2012 forecast, it looks like interior design will be paying great homage to Mother Nature.

Marble and Granite is thrilled with this forecast because there is nothing that will complement these earthy hues better than natural stone. Contractors, designers and homeowners will find that our selection of granite, marble, soapstone and CaesarStone® will make it easy to meet these earth-inspired interior design trends. Take a look at some of the stones that beautifully suit these four earth-toned color pallets.

Which stone do you think will be the most popular in 2012 kitchen design? How about bathroom design? Tell us your thoughts by posting a comment below!

For the largest selection of natural stone in New England that will help you meet the latest interior design trends, contact Marble and Granite at 877-39-STONE, and we'll set up with a fabricator near you.

When you choose to purchase your granite, marble, CaesarStone or other natural stone from Marble and Granite, you are receiving more than just the highest quality in stone surfaces that the industry has to offer. To show you what we mean, here is the story of a recent warranty claim by one of our customers.

Just the other day, a homeowner in Newton contacted Marble and Granite to make a warranty claim on a Caesarstone countertop. One of our salespeople visited the home to inspect the stone surface. The problem turned out to be a simple cleaning issue that was easily resolved with soap and water. Satisfied to know the stone countertops were holding up beautifully, the homeowner inquired how much she owed for the service call. Our salesperson was able to explain to the customer that Marble and Granite is happy to make goodwill visits like this one free of charge because we are truly dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction with every stone product we sell.

If you have purchased natural stone from Marble and Granite and have had a similar experience, please tell us in a comment below. We would love to hear your story!