Engineered quartz is an excellent choice for your bathroom counter, or even your shower backsplash. It is a stunning material that lasts for decades. Engineered quartz is also stain-resistant, heat-resistant, and easy to clean, making it the perfect choice for everyone from busy professionals to young families. There are a ton of options to choose from when selecting the color of your new bathroom counter. Take a look at the tips below to help make your decision easier.

Existing Colors

If you are not renovating your entire bathroom, but are just replacing your counter, take the time to consider the existing shades. Having bright and fun accent objects can be a fun way to insert a bit of personality into your home décor. However, it is important not to go overboard. As such, you should be sure you pick a counter that compliments your flooring and paint. You do not necessarily have to choose a counter that matches exactly, but one that is in a complimentary color can bring a lot of beauty to the room.

You should also examine the walls. Are they a solid shade? Or do you have intricate wallpaper with patterns or designs? If your walls are solid shades, you can get away with a counter that has a bit of a pattern or design to it. Muted engineered quartz in a solid shade is a better choice for bathrooms that have detailed wallpaper.

Think Ahead

Engineered quartz is an incredibly durable product. This means your countertop should last for decades, potentially longer. As a result, it may outlive your existing design preferences and trends in home décor. Make sure you select a countertop that has a color and pattern you can live with for years to come. If possible, look for one that works with multiple other décor options to maximize your future design choices.

Always Bring Samples

Whenever you go shopping for any part of any renovation, bring samples with you. Shopping for a new bathroom countertop is no different. To be sure you find one in the right shade, bring samples of other elements in your bathroom with you. For example, bring a tile sample and paint chips with you to be sure the counter does not contrast with those items. You should also complete this exercise in the reverse: bringing home samples of countertops with you. Bringing your own samples with you reduces the time you spend looking at color choices only to discount the ones that do not work. When you bring a sample home, you can see how the counter looks in your bathroom lighting. This ensures you find a countertop you can be happy with for years to come.

When picking out a material for your new bathroom counter, you cannot go wrong with engineered quartz. It is a beautiful material that also happens to be incredibly resilient and easy to keep clean. Basically, it is every homeowner’s dream. Since engineered quartz lasts for so long, it is important to select the right color for your bathroom. The tips above can help make this decision much easier, ensuring you find the perfect counter you can love for years to come.

To get the most out of any fireplace you install or upgrade, you need be very careful about the material you choose for the hearth. Without an attractive hearth, your fireplace turns into a giant eyesore, detracting from the beauty of your room. There are many materials that are popular for hearths, two of which include granite and slate. There are numerous benefits and drawbacks to each, but once you learn more about the materials, you can see a clear advantage to selecting granite.

Maintenance

When choosing a material for your hearth, you should consider the amount of work it takes to keep it in good condition. A dirty hearth definitely ruins the beauty and coziness your fireplace could bring to the room. This makes it important to select a material you can easily keep clean without much effort.

Both slate and granite are natural stones, making them slightly easier to clean than other man-made materials. However, granite is scratch resistant, and slate is not. In fact, scratches are visible on slate the moment they occur, and are incredibly hard to treat or remove. Depending on the depth of the scratch, it might be there until you replace your hearth. Slate scratches very easily as well. Some homeowners find that they scratch their hearths simply trying to clean away built-up soot.

Granite is heat and scratch resistant, making it an ideal choice for homeowners from all walks of life. Pets and children cannot ruin it by sitting and playing nearby, nor can you accidentally cause scratches by overzealous cleaning. It is also less important to clean as frequently. With slate, you must clean often so bits of dust, dirt, soot, and debris do not accumulate and causes scratches. Since granite is so scratch resistant, you can go a few days between cleaning without risking your hearth.

Appearance

It is also important to select a hearth that goes well with your home. If you pick something that stands out too much, it can detract from the intended aesthetic of your fireplace. Choosing a hearth that clashes too much with the surrounding décor can be distracting, ruining the cozy aesthetic a fireplace otherwise provides.

Slate is a very rustic material, with a dull, matte look. In small doses, slate fits in well with the décor of most homes. However, when homeowners use slate in their fireplaces, it can quickly become overwhelming. The dark, matte material can seem very out of place in rooms with modern touches. It can also clash with the rest of your décor, the material chosen for your mantle, and even your gate and other accessories. Homes that include slate in their hearths successfully tend to do so in rooms that feature an old-fashioned appearance, such as rustic bed and breakfasts.

Granite is much shinier, available in multiple shades, and works well with any décor. It is much better suited than slate as the material you use for your heart. You can select the style, color, and texture to suit the room. Homeowners can also select granite hearths knowing that they are versatile enough to work well even if you change the rest of the room’s décor.

There are a few elements that come together to create a beautiful fireplace. The mantle, the fireplace itself, and the material chosen for its hearth. When you install or upgrade your fireplace, be sure to spend time on each of these elements, selecting the right material and look carefully. Picking the right combination of materials, including a granite hearth, can add warmth, beauty, and value to any room.

Granite flooring is your best choice for bathroom flooring that lasts. It is extremely durable and resistant to heat, scratches, and dents. In addition, it is incredibly easy to clean and maintain, requiring nothing more than warm soapy water every so often. Flooring like this deserves to stand out, especially if you have recently renovated your bathroom. If you have recently installed granite tiles, consider the following decorating tips to help them stand out.

Tip #1: Start with the Fixtures

When renovating a bathroom, make sure you select your new fixtures before you start searching for smaller element such as towels or a soap dish. The type of fixtures you need depends on the extent of your renovation. Experts recommend that you upgrade everything in your bathroom at once, to prevent one element form looking dated. This means investing in a new sink, toilet, and tub or shower enclosure. You also need to pick out new faucets for your sink and tub.

As you shop around, look for ones that contrast with the color of your floor. For example, if you selected a dark black or grey granite, consider choosing a white sink, toilet, and shower enclosure with brushed metal faucets. This contrast makes a stunning impression when a person enters your bathroom.

Tip #2: Make Sure Your Accessories Compliment Your Flooring, Fixtures, and Faucets

It is also important to be sure that the accessories, such as the towels, soap dishes, and towel racks you choose compliment the other items in your bathroom. Having one solid color running throughout the room is a poor decision. It can make the bathroom appear drab, boring, or clinical depending on the one shade selected. On the other hand, too many contrasting colors and patterns can also ruin the aesthetic of a recently renovated bathroom.

Instead of looking for accessories that are trendy or that are an exact match to your flooring, find ones in complimenting shades. For example, grey or soft green towels look amazing with black flooring and white fixtures. Make sure that the shades you choose work well with the fixtures, faucets, and flooring. Consider bringing a flooring sample with you when you shop to be sure that the colors complement each other.

Tip #3: Shop with Your Heart

Above all else, make sure you buy the items you love the most. There is no sense in buying a practical grey bathmat if you had your heart set on a more colorful option. While you should strive for coordination, there is nothing wrong with having one accent or statement piece in your bathroom. In fact, it can add a lot of character and a bit of charm to your newly renovated space.

Granite tile flooring is a great way to bring a rich and elegant look to your bathroom without resorting to fragile or hard-to-clean flooring options. Keeping the decorating tips above in mind can help you choose accessories and fixtures that highlight the natural beauty of your granite tiles. It is a great way to make the most out of your bathroom, helping you enjoy your home more when you live there and helping to add value in the event you plan to sell.

Since your counter sees so much activity, it is important to select one that is durable and resilient. It is also crucial to choose a counter that looks stunning. Finding a material that can meet all of these objectives is easy when you look into Caesarstone quartz countertops. Caesarstone is a type of engineered quartz, specifically designed for the home. It is an elegant, charming material that can meet the needs of even the busiest chef.

Resilient, Resistant, and Reliable

Quartz is an incredibly strong material and is resistant to scratches, cracks, and stains. Countertops made from engineered quartz are also resistant to extreme temperatures, making it perfectly safe to set down a pot of boiling water or a bag of ice without risking the beauty of your countertop. Homes and businesses alike rely on engineered quartz counters, such as those made by Caesarstone, to add beauty and practicality to their kitchens.

In a busy kitchen, it is important to have counters that can handle a lot of use. Caesarstone counters can take a lot of abuse without showing any signs of damage. It is incredibly hard to destroy or damage Caesarstone. However, if something happens to your counter, you can often call the manufacturer who can provide assistance with repairs in a fast and easy way.

Easy to Clean

Busy chefs use their counters a lot. They often make dishes with a ton of ingredients and even more steps. To keep everyone safe and healthy, it is important to clean your counter between food items. For example, you should always completely clean your counter after cutting or handling raw chicken to prevent the spread of bacteria. Engineered quartz counters are quick and easy to clean while cooking. In most cases, all you need is warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth. This makes it amazingly easy to wipe down every surface that may have come into contact with one food item before moving on to prepare the next.

Engineered quartz, such as Caesarstone, is non-porous. This means that it is much harder to stain than other solid surface counters. It is actually very difficult to stain a quartz counter, as most liquids roll off of it rather than become absorbed. For chefs who may accidentally spill certain ingredients while cooking, this is an exceedingly beneficial advantage to quartz.

Longevity

Kitchen renovations are not a lot of fun to live through, especially for active chefs. Engineered quartz is designed to last for decades, making it one item in your kitchen you do not need to think about replacing for a while. For those who hate “making due” when you are without a counter in your kitchen, this can be a huge selling feature. Caesarstone is an excellent surface to choose because it can outlast even your interest in your home. When you are ready to sell, having an engineered quartz countertop is a huge feature, with the potential to attract many buyers.

Once you learn more about all that Caesarstone has to offer, you may want to install a new counter right away. The material is as durable as it is beautiful, making it an excellent choice for those who take pride in their kitchen. Homeowners that are looking for a counter top that is both functional and charming should visit their local retailer to check out Caesarstone in person and see all that it has to offer.

Switching to granite carries with numerous benefits aside from the aesthetic boost it gives your kitchen. Learning more about these perks can help you find the perfect countertop for your home; one that is an ideal match for your needs in the kitchen. Those who love food know how important it is to love the area you prepare it in, and the importance of having a kitchen that is as convenient as it is beautiful.

Heat and Scratch Resistant

Granite is infamously heat and scratch resistant, making it perfect for experienced and blooming chefs alike. You do not need to worry about setting down your hot pots for a few moments on the countertop, nor do you need to fret if you have accidentally allowed your knife to fall off the cutting board. In fact, while it is not recommended, many at-home chefs skip the cutting board altogether and use the surface of the granite itself.

Being heat and scratch resistant also means that you don’t need to worry about damage you could do to your counter when cooking with materials such as oil, which have a tendency to splash the surface of the counter. While you should clean it up as soon as it is dry, you do not need to worry about it forming a stain or leaving a burn mark behind.

Easy to Clean

Granite is one of the easiest materials to clean. Homeowners are able to keep their counters spotless by using nothing more than warm water and dish soap, wiping them down once a day at least. Cleaning up tough spills and stains often involves nothing more than a little elbow grease, or the use of another at home cleaner such as Goo Gone or a degreasing agent.

Since granite is so simple to clean, chefs can quickly and easily clean the counter between ingredients. This reduces the spread of bacteria and makes cleaning up after cooking a large meal a breeze. It also reduces the risk of spills hardening. Homeowners find that they can save a lot of money on cleaning products and keep their families safe from the effects of the harsh chemicals in those cleansers by switching to an easy-to-clean surface such as granite.

Reduce the Spread of Bacteria

One of the biggest perks behind granite countertops is how easy it is to contain the spread of bacteria. Granite is a non-porous surface, meaning that unless your countertop has numerous scratches, there is no way for bacteria to get inside. Removing it from the surface of the counter when you are finished with that particular food item is as easy as wiping it down with warm water mixed with an anti-bacterial dish soap.

Granite counters are one of the healthier countertop choices, along with engineered quartz. If you cook with foods containing bacteria, such as raw meat, often, you should consider switching to granite as soon as possible. This is especially true if your current countertops are made from a solid material.

Installing a granite countertop is the best way to instantly improve the look of your kitchen. Granite countertops also help you step up your game as a chef, making easy and less stressful to move about in your kitchen. If you love spending time in the kitchen, and if cooking is a joy as well as a skill, you should definitely consider upgrading to granite for the multiple reasons listed above.

With perks like these, it’s no wonder homeowners everywhere are switching to engineered stone. Once installed, many people become nervous about how to keep these counters clean and in excellent condition. While they are resilient, numerous cleansers can wear away the surface, leaving a damaged or stained counter behind. Thankfully, there are a few cleaners you can use, with items you probably already have at home, that can get your counters clean without risking their longevity or appearance.

Everyday Cleaning

You should take the time to clean your counter every day, even if it has not seen heavy use. This keeps it free from dust and crumbs, preventing scratches and the spread of bacteria. For everyday cleaning, you can simply use warm water. Add some mild dish soap if the counter is particularly dirty or has seen a lot of use that day.

Remember to never use an abrasive cloth or scouring pad on your engineered stone countertops. Just as crumbs and dirt can cause scratches, so too can scouring pads. Instead, use a soft cloth, preferably a microfiber one, to ensure that you do everything you can to protect your counters. Microfiber clothes are also an excellent choice to use when drying off your counter after cleaning it. This prevents water from pooling up and creating unsightly marks. Drying off your counter after cleaning it also ensures that you have gotten as much dirt as possible.

Removing Grease

Cooking grease can get everywhere, despite your best efforts, especially if you are cooking with oil or other fats. Using warm water alone cannot get your counter adequately de-greased. Instead, use a degreasing product such as certain brands of dish soap to first remove the grease before tackling it with warm water.

Dried Spills

It is best to wipe up any spills or stains immediately, to prevent drying or staining your countertops. However, this is not always practical. Sometimes, things drip without notice or people can accidentally knock things over, forgetting to clean it up until later. The best way to tackle dried spills like these is to use a soft sponge, such as those tailored to non-stick pans, and a glass cleaner. If the spill has hardened, use a putty knife to remove as much of the stain as possible.

Permanent Markers

If you have small children, or a careless roommate/partner, you may find a permanent market stain on your counters. This can happen when kids are overeager in getting into their craft supplies or if someone does not adequately protect the countertop when using a Sharpe or other type of marker. Removing these stains does not need to be difficult, however. Simply wet a microfiber cloth with Goo Gone or another similar product and run it into the stain. Rinse with warm water to remove any residue from the cleaner, and repeat until the stain is gone.

Whenever you choose to upgrade certain parts of your home, consider selecting engineered stone. It is a diverse material that looks great in almost any room, including surrounding fireplaces, in your kitchen, and in the bathroom. Once you familiarize yourself with these quick and easy cleaning tips, you can safely install this beautiful material in any room you choose with confidence.

Ideally, you should purchase your flooring from the same place you purchased your counter. This ensures that everything flows well together. However, if that is not possible, bring a sample of your counter with you and carefully compare it to the flooring you are thinking about buying. There are a few other tips you can keep in mind, too, that make finding complimentary flooring an easy task.

Consider Flooring Materials

The first thing you should consider when selecting flooring is the type of material you want. There are numerous options available for kitchen floors, including hardwood, linoleum, granite, and tiles. Determining the best option for you depends on multiple factors, including how often you use your kitchen, the type of traffic your kitchen sees, how often the floor requires cleaning, and your own personal preferences. For example, linoleum is quite easy to clean making it ideal for those who do a lot of cooking and baking. However, it is not very aesthetically pleasing nor is it very comfortable to stand on for extended periods. As a result, it is less popular than other flooring options.

Granite tiles are a perfect choice for most homeowners. You can choose a style you like, a material that is comfortable to stand on, and lay them down in any pattern you want. Tiling is also relatively easy to clean, requiring the occasional mopping with soapy water. Hardwood is a poor choice for most kitchens, and should be avoided wherever possible. It is hard to keep clean, requiring special cleaners and frequent mops. In addition, spills must be cleaned up immediately to prevent staining. While they are a beautiful addition to your kitchen, they are not worth it in the long run because of the maintenance involved. Instead, opt for tiles and save the hardwood for your living room or other areas of your home.

Thinking about Color

Granite counters can come in a few different shades, with brown, beige, grey, and black being the most popular ones. Make sure you choose flooring that compliments those tones without being too distracting. For example, do not pick a busy pattern in shades of blue if your granite countertop has green specks running throughout out. Instead, select a floor in a color and pattern that suit the style of the counter and the overall aesthetic of the kitchen.

In most cases, simple shades such as blacks, whites, and greys are perfect for kitchen flooring. If you have a lot of natural light in your kitchen, you may want to consider black or grey flooring to match the granite. This creates a uniform look in your kitchen, creating a calming and welcoming atmosphere. Black flooring has the added perk of hiding dirt and spills while you are cooking until you have the time to clean them up; a huge perk for those who experience unexpected guests before dinner.

Once you find the granite countertop of your dreams, your next task is to find flooring that compliments it perfectly. The tips above can help make this complicated task much easier. Remember that the most important thing is to pick flooring you love, ignoring trends. Your kitchen renovation is an investment you want to last, so make sure you spend the time selecting elements you know you can love for years to come.

There are numerous materials available for this purpose. Two of the most popular choices are engineered quartz and solid surfaces. Even though both are top sellers, one material is a much better choice for homeowners who want their renovation to last, both aesthetically and practically speaking.

Resistance to Heat

Engineered quartz is perfect for homeowners who love to use their kitchens. It has a high level of heat resistance, meaning you can briefly set down your skillet or pot on the countertop without worrying about stains or lasting damage. Countertops made with engineered quartz are perfect for those who cook with a lot of grease or boiling water, too. The splash back that you experience does not ruin or stain quartz. Of course, you need to ensure you remove the grease once it has dried, but you do not need to worry about any damage the boiling hot liquid could have caused.

In contrast, solid surface countertops do not respond to heat well. In fact, even briefly setting down a pot that had been in or on the oven can result in hard-to-remove scorch marks. While you can either sand out these stains or have your counter re-polished, it is a huge inconvenience. Instead, if you do decide to get a solid surface countertop, you should always use protective pads on your counter.

Scratch Resistant

Obviously, you should not take a knife and deliberately try to scratch up your counter. However, engineered quartz countertops are very resistant to scratches. Homeowners that use and care for their counters properly may never see a single scratch in the lifetime of their counters. Even if you occasionally allow your knife to fall off the cutting board, you do not have to fret about significant damage to your counter.

Conversely, solid surface countertops are not scratch resistant at all. Letting your knife fall off a cutting board could result in permanent scratches to the counter. In turn, this could cause a ton of other issues. Scratches in the surface of your countertop can become havens for bacteria, creating an unsafe cooking situation in your kitchen. If you are the type of person who tends to scratch the surface of their countertops, even by accident, you should consider quartz.

Appearance

Engineered quartz is a stunning material, designed to suit a variety of homes and decors. It is possible to find a countertop that flows well with the other surfaces of your home, while still retaining a rich-looking aesthetic. Solid surface counters can also be stunning in appearance, but only when they are made to resemble other materials. After the initial installation, wear and tear can reveal the true nature of the counter, ruining the aesthetic.

While solid surface countertops do have their place in some homes, individuals looking to add class and style to their kitchens should take the time to find an engineered quartz counter. These countertops are beautiful, durable, and are a great way to attract attention to your kitchen. Engineered quartz is also a great way to add value to your home if you do plan to eventually sell, while increasing your enjoyment of your home while you still live there.

In a kitchen, granite is both beautiful and practical. It is also luxurious and affordable. If you are thinking about installing granite countertops, here are three things that you should know:

1 – Granite is Durable

One of the things that you should know about granite is that it is durable. In fact, it’s likely one of the most durable materials on the market. It is second only to pure diamonds in terms of hardness, and you can expect a granite countertop to last for decades. Granite is also resistant to heat, and you can place a hot pot directly onto the surface. You also don’t have to worry about impact, unless, of course, you take a sledgehammer to it. Typical kitchen drops, such as a heavy pot or pan, onto the surface does not harm granite at all.

2 – Granite Comes in Any Color and Design Imaginable

You also should know that granite is available in a huge range of colors and designs. In fact, since granite is created by Mother Nature, no two slabs of granite look exactly alike. So, the granite that you install into your home is the only piece that looks exactly like that in the world. Though you and your neighbor might both choose Venetian Gold granite, for example, the countertops do not look the same.

Even if a granite slab looks similar to another, you can further make it look unique by choosing a different finish or edging. This really makes the choice you have for granite in the kitchen literally endless. However, if you want to choose a fully solid color, or you are looking for something uniform in color or design, consider an engineered quartz countertop. These are similar in durability and price to granite, but since they are man-made, it’s all the same.

3 – Granite Isn’t as Expensive as You Think

It doesn’t matter what type of countertop material you are considering, it will be 10% – 15% of the total kitchen remodeling project budget. So, whether you choose laminate, for instance, or granite, the countertop is a big chunk of your costs. That doesn’t mean, however, that all granite is going to break the bank. Sure, some granite is expensive, but the expensive granite is typically a rare color or unique design. So, yes, you can spend a lot of money on granite, but you can also make sure that it’s very affordable. This is the same with any countertop material, too.

If you are still not sure about the cost of granite, there are other options, too. For instance, you can often find that companies sell overstock granite pieces. These might be pieces that were used for other countertops, but they aren’t large enough for a full countertop. Or, you might want to consider granite tiles. These are small squares of granite that are placed like tile on a countertop. Generally, this is cheaper than a slab, yet brings all of the benefits of granite.

Now that you know these benefits of choosing granite, what are you waiting for? Contact us to learn more about this gorgeous kitchen countertop material.

There are Many Color Choices

There are several manufacturers of quartz on the market, and each manufacturer has dozens of color options. This means which ever manufacturer you choose, you won’t have any trouble matching the color with your existing décor.

Quartz is Extremely Durable

Quartz is one of the strongest materials on the market for countertops. It is comparable with granite, and the only thing stronger than granite is a diamond. So, you will have few worries about the durability of this material.

Quartz is Versatile

Another benefit of quartz is that it is versatile. You can not only use it in the kitchen, but can use it in other areas of the home, too, such as the bathroom. You can even use quartz tiles or slabs in the shower, since it is great in damp conditions.

Quartz Can Have Custom Edges

You can also choose custom edges for your quartz. Your options are similar to granite, and each option adds to the beauty of your countertops. You should talk to your quartz countertop supplier to find out which custom edges are available.

Quartz is Very Low Maintenance

You will also find that quartz is very low maintenance. It doesn’t have to be sealed like other materials. It is also incredibly easy to clean. All you need is a soft cloth and mild soap, and your quartz is clean and ready to use.

Quartz Countertops Allow for an Undermount Sink

If you have your heart set on an undermount sink, here is some great news: you can get one of these when you choose quartz countertops. This isn’t an available option for all materials, so you might find that you are a bit limited. With quartz, however, there are no sink limits to speak of.

Quartz is Resistant to Heat

Quartz is excellent in a kitchen because it is resistant to heat.  Unlike other materials, like laminate, if you place a hot pot directly on the quartz it doesn’t burn or scorch. Though manufacturers recommend using trivets, technically, if you sit a very hot pot on your quartz surface, it doesn’t harm the countertop.

Quartz Adds Value to Your Home

If you are concerned about the cost of the quartz, don’t be. This countertop material actually adds a lot of value to your home. So, over the years, it certainly helps to pay for itself, and if you ever decide to sell, it gives your home excellent curb appeal.

Quartz is Resistant to Bacteria

Finally, you should know that quartz is resistant to bacteria. This is also a huge benefit for those who like to cook. No more worries about your countertops getting moldy, smelly, or harboring bacteria that could make your family sick.

The bottom line here is that quartz is one of the most popular, dependable, and versatile countertop materials on the market. As you can see, it also comes with a number of amazing benefits, too. If you want to learn more about what quartz countertops can bring to your home, talk to us at your earliest convenience.