2015

Stone begins its life as simple rock inside the earth. The quarries are important. Without them, we’d have no stone to offer. Distributors are important. Without them, it would be nearly impossible to obtain granite or marble for your kitchen and bath countertops. But it’s the fabricators who are the true artists. They are, after all, the ones who take an ordinary slab of stone and turn it into a beautiful, functional surface. Often, these materials look more like sculpture than something that was quarried out of the mountain.

When thinking of the Nordstrom brand, one thinks of high-end style, the latest fashions, and impeccable customer service. But now one might also think of ultra-compact and versatile Neolith surfacing.

This location started out as an outdated Sears store. Using Neolith, Seattle-based Callison, the number-one retail design firm in the world (designer of more than 150 new and remodeled Nordstrom stores in North America) transformed the space into a sophisticated Nordstrom anchor store, located in an extremely high-traffic retail destination in Ontario, Canada.

Q: I’m shopping for countertops for my kitchen remodel. I like the look of black (especially with the white cabinetry we’ve selected) in kitchen design. But my friend said I’m making a mistake. She says black countertops will make my kitchen feel dark and heavy, plus it will be impossible for me to keep them clean. I see black in all of the magazines and online. They look so sleek! Surely they’re not all just for show?

A: You’re right. Though some might think that black countertops are the exact opposite of white, they actually offer a very similar feel. Black looks every bit as classic as white does in the kitchen. And it’s an extremely versatile color. Black offers a striking focal point that’s dramatic, yet simple and clean. Whether glossy or in a textured matte finish, black offers beautiful contrast—especially with your new white kitchen cabinets.

As for cleaning, all things being equal (comparing granite to granite and marble to marble…) black countertops don’t require any more maintenance than any other color. Now, that being said, talk with anybody who owns a black car and they’ll tell you that it can require a little extra elbow grease to remove dust and fingerprints. It’s not that black attracts more dirt. It’s just that dirt and fingerprints can blend into other colors, such as white or beige. They’re still there. They just may not be as easy to see. At least, on a black countertop, you’ll see what needs to be cleaned. If you love the look, you won’t mind the extra wiping.

Everyone can appreciate the classic, refined beauty of marble. But a recent episode of National Geographic Channel’s “Building Wild” proved that marble straight from the ground, in its purest form, is just as captivating.

On this episode, Vermont quarry owner Danielle Epstein wanted to use the marble found around her 100-year-old abandoned quarry to build a cabin and entertaining space she could share with friends. The Cabin Kings, Pat “Tuffy” Bakaitis and Paul DiMeo faced the heavy challenge of identifying the right stones, moving the gigantic slabs (some of which weighed up to 14,000 pounds), and crafting them into a building structure as well as an amphitheater.

The project is located in Dorset, Vermont, a town that was once one of the largest producers of marble. In fact, the area still produces some of the finest marble available today. Vermont Quarries Corp. produces the Danby marble varieties, which are some of our most popular marbles sold at Marble and Granite, Inc. They include:

Transitional style is open to interpretation. It blends the old and the new. And most of all, it is a great style for those who really want to reflect their own personality. In fact, a recent survey by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) reports that transitional design has moved into the number-one spot for the first time, edging out the long-popular traditional style. The reason? Transitional style has a universal appeal. It defies trends and takes a practical, functional approach to kitchen design.

Transitional design can be cozy, elegant, clean, modern, classic, familiar, and edgy all at once. It’s called “transitional” because it’s the point where traditional intersects with, or transitions to, modern. It can also be thought of as a style that’s always in motion…always evolving…going somewhere. Transitional style uses elements that feel familiar. And while it may reference the past, there is an element of modern that makes it fresh and updated.

Here at Marble and Granite, Inc., we love ColorQuartz. And we enjoy sharing with you, our readers, the many reasons why. But we also think it might be helpful for you to hear straight from our customers why they, too, are fans of this innovative material.

Details. Details. Details. These are the ingredients that make up a traditionally styled space. Classic and timeless, traditional style is one of three overall themes that describe kitchen design today. (The others being contemporary and transitional.) In a three-part series, we’ll take an in-depth look at each style of décor and learn about which elements—from cabinets to countertops—can be found in each style of space.

Kitchens work hard. Cabinets and countertops are among the things we utilize on a daily basis. And with today’s kitchens functioning as the hub of the home, they’ve become a “catch-all” for countless household items. Organization can be tricky, and not just for small spaces. Even the largest kitchens require careful planning and organizing for optimal ergonomics and function.

No matter what size of house you’re dealing with, designing a space for couples has its challenges. This is especially true when we’re talking about the bathroom. How do you create a sharable space in this intimate area that’s often also the smallest room in the house?

In a recent press release, Cheryl Dixon, Head of Brand and Trade Marketing for GROHE America said, “It has often been said in jest that separate bathrooms is key to a happy marriage.” But that’s not always possible, especially in tighter city spaces. However, with some strategic planning a single bathroom can work for two.