Images by Blakeney Clouse

Q & A

78: Where do I begin on choosing a color for my countertop?

BS: 

1. Evaluate the kitchen/bath in comparison to the rest of the house. You want to keep the same flow, style, but not necessarily the same color, so it still flows together. All rooms should feel connected.

2. Do you have a picture in your head of your “dream” or “ideal” kitchen/bath? Pinterest is a great place to start for ideas and to see new trends. Remember— just because there is a new style or trend doesn’t mean it is right for your space. Not every new trend fits every person/house. 

3. Once you narrow down styles and ideas, it’s time to come and see me or one of my sales associates and let us help you determine which stone will best suit your needs.

78: Marble, granite, quartz…what’s the difference?

BS: Quartz, granite and marble are the most popular countertop options.

1.Quartz is a man-made product. It is a very low to zero maintenance product. You will see it in solid, speckled or even made to resemble a marble. Quartz is rising in popularity due to it being low maintenance. 

2. Quartz is kid-friendly or worry-free. You can “have your cake and eat it too.” In other words, you can have the look of marble without the worry of it.

The only negative I find in quartz is it not being very heat friendly. You will be fine, as long as you remember to put a trinket or a hot pad under your pan before taking it out of the oven. The positives will most definitely outweigh this negative.  

2. Granite-With granite your possibilities are endless!! Every slab of granite is unique. Granite comes in countless colors, styles and patterns. Granite is very durable and heat resistant. Granite is the perfect stone for your outside applications such as kitchens and firepits. However, granite does need to be sealed. Sealing granite is as easy as wiping down your countertop. Don’t let this little maintenance requirement steer you away from this choice.

3. Marble, hands down, is my favorite. Honestly, if you know what you getting, are educated upfront properly, use common sense, and are OK with your stone not being perfect forever (consider this it’s character), marble is great!! Marble is classic and timeless. Marble is typically bright white and has beautiful veins. This is something that you can’t find in a granite. Marble is wonderful for working with pastry since it is naturally cool. 

Marble has been around for over 2,000 years. We see marble used in various architectural structures such as the White House. (A little side note: Alabama White Marble, which is mined out of Sylacauga, is installed in the White House.) 

A negative of marble is it is very soft, and porous. Marble needs to be sealed on a regular basis after it has achieved a good initial seal. (I tell my clients, once you can drip water on your countertops and it beads up like Rain-X does on your windshield, you are good.) You typically need to reseal once every 6 months to a year (When water stops beading up…reseal). This applies to granite as well.

78: What makes your business unique or great?

BS: I get to work with some great homeowners while they are building, remodeling or just simply “polishing” up one of their biggest investments. You really see a different side of someone while they are nurturing their investment. We take this task pretty serious. I love to see this transformation as well. I’m lucky enough to be the one to see the countertop project at the beginning steps of planning. I love to give my design ideas and opinions.  

My idea of a successful day is seeing a smile on a client’s face or seeing their eyes light up when they see their plans and ideas come to actual fruition. That is what makes the occasional “stresses” completely worth it.