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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.

Ahhhh…the Man Cave! A space solely designated for the man of the house, where he enjoys his masculine pass-times. It’s the one space in the home where a man can break the rules of décor and perhaps decorum. A space where the man of the house can do as he pleases, right?

Of course natural stone countertops in the kitchen or bath are a status symbol of sorts. But there’s another area trending when it comes to countertops—the closet. Granted, we’re talking about large homes with roomy walk-in closets. And it’s certainly a luxury. But these closet countertops add a new element of functionality that’s getting lots of attention these days.

Did you know that in Georgia, marble is nearly as iconic in status as peaches? In fact, once a year, the public is allowed to tour the largest open pit marble quarries in the world during the Annual Georgia Marble Festival. Indeed, Georgia Marble has been mined for decades and has been used to create historic architecture around the world.