Bathroom Countertops

Design Tips – Play Off the Colors in Your Countertop

March 20, 2018 by Stone World TN

It isn’t particularly difficult to install a variety of components into your home in order to complete a kitchen or bathroom. However, the task of actually bringing those individual components together into a cohesive unit that looks good as a whole is something entirely different. As you are thinking about the design and décor of your new space, it is important to keep in mind how each specific piece is going to work as a part of the whole.

Since your countertops are going to be one of the most-prominent features in your design, it only makes sense to use them as a starting point for developing a color palette. This works particularly well with stone, since many natural stones include a variety of colors which all can be used in one way or another. For example, a granite counter that is mostly black may have flecks of gray, white, and other shades that you can use for inspiration around the room.

Picking a Backsplash

The backsplash that you use for your counter is one of the key elements of design that needs to be settled before your project will be complete. As one option, you can choose to use the same material for your backsplash as you used for the counter itself. This kind of cohesive look is attractive to some people, while others prefer to have a backsplash that stand out as different from the counter. If you are looking for contrast, consider a backsplash that uses a color which is included to a small degree in your stone counter. Pick out a color that is flecked in your counter and use that as your shade of choice for the entire backsplash.

Think Cabinets

Other than your counters, it is your cabinets that will be taking up the most visual space in your kitchen – and probably your bath as well. As a general rule of thumb, you want to look for a dramatic contrast between the color of your cabinets and the color of your counters. Since each of these pieces is so large, having them take up a similar space in the color spectrum might not be the best design choice (although it can work in some cases).

So, if you are going with a light counter top – marble, for instance – you will want to think about possibly using a dark finish on your cabinets in order to set up a beautiful contrast. On the other hand, a dark stone counter could be accented nicely by a light stain on the cabinets. The final choice on this point is yours, of course, but always keep in mind the appeal of stark contract within a space.

Remember Your Appliances

When it comes to the kitchen, the other key element to keep in mind is your collection of appliances. Most likely, you will have at least a dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator which are all similar in color and style. Before you settle on the colors that you are going to use to finish the room, make sure you are picking shades that are going to work nicely with the appliances you have in place.

If you need any help picking out the perfect stone counter to set up your design to be a success, feel free to contact the friendly staff here at Stone World. Our team has tons of experience in this business, and we would love to share our knowledge with you. We hope to hear from you soon!

Consider Your Entire House When Picking a Countertop

March 15, 2016 by Stone World TN

Kitchen Renovation - Countertops — Kitchen Renovation – Countertops

When you are in the middle of a kitchen renovation, it is easy to focus in on the kitchen alone. That project can quickly become your whole world, and everything outside of the kitchen seems to take a backseat while you are in the middle of the process. Of course, ignoring everything outside of the kitchen would be a mistake, because what is going on in the kitchen needs to work nicely with the rest of your home.

Coordination is Key

If you have one type of countertops throughout the rest of your home – in the bathrooms, and maybe on a wet bar in another room – you don’t want to totally conflict those counters with the choice you make in the new kitchen. Consider these primary countertop locations:

Kitchen Countertops
Bathroom Countertops
Outdoor Countertops
Wet Bar Countertops

Of course, they don’t need to match perfectly, and matching perfectly might not even be an option if you are talking about a natural stone product. However, you want to at least make sure to think about the other surfaces in your house when choosing a counter for the new kitchen. You may decide to sell your home one day, and you don’t want prospective buyers to be put off by the confusion collection of counters that you have assembled.

Color Scheme

Do you have a common color scheme that is carried throughout your home? If so, keep that scheme in mind and pick a counter that carries on that style right through the kitchen. If necessary, you might even decide to enlist the help of a designer to allow you to pick out a countertop that makes sense for your colors. Since materials like granite often have more than one shade within them, you might find that the help of a trained eye is beneficial in this process. There is a significant time and money investment made in installing a new counter, so you want to be sure to pick out the perfect one for the job.

Don’t Overdo It

The investment that you make in your kitchen, including the counter that you select, should make sense within the context of your home from a financial perspective as well. If you own something that would be considered a ‘starter home’, you don’t want to purchase the most expensive counter on the market to install in your otherwise affordable home. The people who will be interested in buying your home when it goes up for sale are not going to be able to afford a luxury counter, so you aren’t likely to recover that original investment. There is nothing wrong with putting a nice kitchen into a ‘starter home’, but make sure you don’t go too far or you will wind up wasting money in the end.

As you are working on completing your kitchen renovation, make sure to keep the whole house in mind while making design and materials choices. You don’t need to match everything else in the house, but you certainly don’t want to create a kitchen that stands out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of your décor. If necessary, work with a professional designer to get the finishing touches picked out just right.

Stone World of Tennessee can help guide you in the right countertop choices for your home! Beautiful countertops is what we love. Let us make your idea a reality – contact us today for a free consultation.

The Benefits of Stone Counters in Your Bathrooms

December 5, 2015 by Stone World TN

It is increasingly common to seen stone counters, whether granite or another stone, it kitchens. The benefits of using stone in the kitchen are well known, as they look great and provide a number of functional advantages as well. With that said, stone counters don’t have to be limited to just the kitchen. Most bathrooms have some form of counter space as well, and stone surfaces are just as fitting for the bathroom as they are on display in the kitchen.

Great Looks

Many homeowners view their bathrooms – specifically, the master bathroom – as something of a retreat from the rest of the house. If you feel that way, adding a stone counter in your main bathroom, or even in all of your bathrooms, is a great way to add a classy appearance to the space. It is easy to find a stone that will beautifully complement your other décor choices, so you won’t be limited in any way from a design perspective when you choose to employ stone in the bathroom.

Moisture Friendly

When you pick granite that is properly sealed, you can rest assured that the stone counter will hold up over time to the damp environment that is present in the bathroom. With hot showers and a frequently running sink, there is plenty of moisture in the air in the bathroom on a daily basis. While some lesser materials, such as a laminate, may eventually show wear as a result of the moisture, your granite will continue to look great for years to come. Also, thanks to the durability of the stone, you won’t have to worry about spilling a bit of water onto the counter, as is prone to happen when you are shaving, washing your face, etc.

Heat Resistance

If you use a hair dryer or flat iron on a regular basis, you know how difficult it can be to find a safe surface to set your appliance down on when you are finished. Since stones like granite are heat resistance, you should be able to place your equipment down when you are done with it without worrying about the counter. Of course, you should never run these appliances when you are out of the room even if they are sitting on the counter, but it nice to be able to use the counter while you are still present and the equipment is cooling down.

Smaller Surface

For most people, the counter that is required in the bathroom is going to be quite a bit smaller than that required in the kitchen. Therefore, picking a quality stone counter won’t come with near the expense in your bathroom that it will require if you would like to install a new kitchen counter with the same stone. If you have a relatively small vanity in the bathroom in question, the whole project might be more affordable than you would expect.
To learn more about installing a stone counter in your upcoming bathroom project, please contact Stone World today!

https://stoneworldtn.com/contact-us/

What are the Pros and Cons of Marble Bathroom Countertops?

June 25, 2015 by Stone World TN

Marble bathroom countertops are always going to be popular, and are always going to be part of the Nashville design community. You should, however, take a moment to read the pros and cons below so that you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into!

What are the pros and cons of marble bathroom countertops?

Marble bathroom countertop pros:

Appearance

Stone World TN Marble Bathroom Countertops

You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone in the Nashville area who truly thinks that marble bathroom countertops look ugly. Their swirls and veins of gray are always eye pleasing, eliciting all kinds of praise any time someone new looks at them!

Since it’s in the bathroom, an area with fewer damaging activities taking place in it, you can have a highly polished finish that lasts for years. A polished finish will add even more light to your bathroom!

Durability

Marble bathroom countertops are more durable than many synthetic materials. Where some would melt or burn, marble bathroom countertops can take it. They’re not impervious to heat, but they can take a little bit more than plastics.

Cost

Some homeowners in Nashville may think that this is a con, but marble bathroom countertops can actually cost less than some other stone countertop choices. Marble slabs are available in a wide range of prices, you just need to shop around a little!

Another point about cost is how marble bathroom countertops will last longer than plywood. They’re an investment that pays off over the years as you don’t need to replace them!

Marble bathroom countertop cons:

Stains and etching

There’s no way around it, marble bathroom countertops will stain and etch slightly. Anyone who has ever owned one knows this, they’ve all been able to live with it though! If you, however, want your bathroom countertops to look exactly the same ten years from now as the day they were installed, you may want to consider another material.

You can eliminate some stains and etching from your marble bathroom countertops with a little bit of work, but some is inevitably going to stay.

Maintenance

A marble bathroom countertop can’t be maintained the same way as a formica countertop. It must be resealed annually, harsh cleaners can’t be used to clean it, and it must always be dried off after use.

Should you choose marble bathroom countertops for your home in Nashville?

If you’ve weighed the pros and cons above and need more help making a choice, contact the team here at Stone World. If you’ve made your choice, and know that marble bathroom countertops are right for your home in Nashville…definitely give them a call!

Three Rules for Proper Granite Bathroom Countertop Care

May 27, 2015 by Stone World TN

There is occasionally some hesitation amongst homeowners in the Middle Tennessee area who are looking to install a granite bathroom countertop. They fear that the upkeep and maintenance is difficult, but it can be boiled down to the three granite bathroom countertop rules below.

Granite bathroom countertop care rules

Rule #1: Sealing a granite bathroom countertop

Those in Middle Tennessee who properly seal their granite bathroom countertop enjoy stain free living. You can do this yourself and will not need to hire someone to do it for you. Your granite bathroom countertop should generally be sealed every year, but too often can lead to it looking milky. Here are two tests to help you determine if you need to seal your granite bathroom countertop:

Take paint thinner and place it on a tiny part of your granite bathroom countertop. Watch carefully, if it begins to darken you need to protect it against oil based stains.
Use a piece of paper towel that is wet in a small area. Leave it on a spot on your granite bathroom countertop for a few minutes, up to five at most. If the area darkens you need to seal against water based stains. This is very important in the bathroom – obviously!

Just be sure to completely clean your granite bathroom countertop with a granite cleaner, available at most hardware stores in the Middle Tennessee area, before applying the sealer that you need and you’ll be fine.

Rule #2: Cleaning your granite bathroom countertop

You need to use the right type of cleaners on your granite bathroom countertop or it will lose its finish. This includes the obvious ones that are being used more than they should be in the Middle Tennessee area, like bleach and ammonia, but also includes natural products like lemon and other acidic cleaners. A mild soap and some water is all you need.

Making sure that you have a dry cloth around to clean up any spills on your granite bathroom countertop will also help keep it clean of stains. A good sealant will keep this from happening, but better safe than stained, right?

Rule #3: Preventing damage to your granite bathroom countertops

A granite bathroom countertop is resistant to heat, but why test it needlessly? Be sure not to leave curling irons directly on the surface, and turn your hairdryer off. Enough heat will damage anything on Earth, even granite.

Try to hang anything with sharp edges as they can damage a granite bathroom countertop over time. Have a pad around if you’re setting something sharp down on it in the same spot repeatedly to prevent anything from happening.

Have a granite bathroom countertop installed in your home

You see? Three simple rules, nothing too complicated. You can have a granite bathroom countertop installed in your home here in Middle Tennessee and not have to worry about complicated maintenance.

Contact the team here at Stone World today to start working on which granite bathroom countertop will work best with your design ideas!

Choosing the Right White Bathroom Countertop Material

January 5, 2015 by Stone World TN

A white bathroom countertop can be the perfect complement to an already light and airy bathroom, or a striking contrast to a dark floor. How you use a white bathroom countertop is up to your design ideas, but finding the right material is crucial. There are three basic choices in the stone family, and we’ll look at them below.

White bathroom countertop materials

White marble bathroom countertops

White bathroom countertops made from marble have been the A+, number one standard since bathroom design first began. This popular white bathroom countertop material is a favorite amongst Nashville area bathroom designers as they know that their design will get a few easy thumbs up!

White bathroom countertops and marble go together so well because many people automatically think of marble when they think of white countertops. Be sure that the marble slab you’re ordering is as white as you want it to be. Some varieties of marble can have heavy grey marbling, and some others can be brown to black!

We’re not going to say you’ll be royalty with marble as you white bathroom countertop material, but you will certain be stylish!

White quartz bathroom cabinet countertops

With marble being the defacto white bathroom countertop material in Nashville, Quartz bathroom countertops in white can be a refreshing change. You can find quartz in much more pure white forms, without the marbling that marble gets its name from.

You’ll find quartz in a wide variety of whites, which is great from a color selection perspective. From a longevity perspective, nothing will outlast a good slab of quartz. They’re acid resistant, scratch resistant, won’t break or chip, and are non-porous. Quartz may be the most unsung of all the white bathroom countertop materials in Nashville!

White soapstone bathroom countertops

Soapstone isn’t a very popular option for those who want a white bathroom countertop as it never really comes in a dazzling white. It is non-porous though, and this helps it immensely as a bathroom material in general.

There are many lightly colored examples of white soapstone out there so you could possibly find one light enough for your white bathroom countertop plans. What you will not find is one which can be as dazzlingly white as quartz, or as beautifully marbled as marble.

Help deciding on the best white bathroom countertop for your home in Nashville

If you’re still unsure of which white bathroom countertop will be the best for your home in Nashville, contact the team here at Stone World. They know the ins and outs of the design world, and they know white bathroom countertops materials just as well!

Design Tips – Play Off the Colors in Your Countertop

Consider Your Entire House When Picking a Countertop