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Though granite is the most popular choice for kitchen countertops today, there is no reason your countertop should look just like your neighbor’s. There are as many options in granite as there are for cabinet styles and colors. Combine that with the variety of finishes available and you’re guaranteed to have a look as unique as you are.

Occasionally adding an existing hutch or dresser into the kitchen or bath has evolved into building actual kitchen and bath cabinets that look like pieces of furniture. The secret is in the details.

While there is an overall trend toward simplicity and function when it comes to cabinetry, at the same time cabinets are more elegant than ever before. Not only do consumers want cabinets to perform at a higher level in strength and durability, but they also have to look the part. Incorporating exquisite furniture-style details into the mix provides the personality consumers are looking for.

It’s true that we in New England treasure our colonial roots. We proudly trace our heritage back to the first English settlers who sailed from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, through the brave Patriots’ protest against the British Tea Act, right on through 1775 when the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired at Concord. We love our history and tradition. And when it comes to design, we embrace elements that remind us of this proud heritage. But we really love it when something gently harkens back to old times, yet celebrates modernity. Colonial Cream granite is one of those materials.

Not exactly. But shades of beige, taupe, cream or off-white paired with black cabinetry is a hot look right now!

Here’s a great example using stunning Fantasy Brown Quartzite with dark bathroom cabinets:

It’s no surprise to us that HGTV has named Neolith to their “DIY Hotlist” for ultra tough countertops. But you may be surprised to see the ways they try, in this video, to mark or damage a Neolith countertop.

http://videos.hgtv.com/video/neolith-counters-make-hot-list-0212148

As Thomas Ozello from Stone Design tells DIY host James Young, Neolith is “the most indestructible thing you can put on a countertop.” The pair then proceeds to scrape it (hard!) with a screwdriver. This makes sparks fly, but leaves not a mark. Next, they remove spray paint with a swipe of acetone. And, finally, they take an actual blowtorch right to it. The result—nothing!

Statistics say that only 30-percent of marble quarried ends up as a finished product. Italian designers Paolo Ulian and Moreno Ratti have set out to do something about that.

The designer duo makes a line of products from rejected marble. Their latest collection is Little Gerla, a collection of four vases. Each one is made from a single tile and yields zero waste.

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.