Different ways to use granite in bathrooms

You should know that choosing granite in the bathroom is a great idea. You can use granite for your bathroom countertop thanks to how well it handles heat and water, and resists microorganisms. But what can you really do with it? Where can you put it? Read on for our tips on the three best ways to use granite in your bathroom.

Solid granite slabs for the shower

There are few things that can match a natural setting for a shower. You may not be able to take a walk outside to the local waterfall, especially if you live in Nashville, but you can create a natural setting with a large granite slab in your shower.

Select a granite slab that has a grain that moves down and you’ll have that ‘in a waterfall’ feeling every time you take a shower.

Granite slabs for your bathroom countertop

A granite countertop in the bathroom is a great idea as it is strong and resistant to breaking, chips and scratches. Not only is it as strong as something that comes from volcanic activity, but it also comes in a wide variety of colors. You’ll be sure to find a granite countertop that perfectly matches your bathroom design plans. Take a look at what we have on offer in Nashville right now to find real inspiration.

The strength of a granite countertop has some great benefits associated with it. Since granite will last for years longer than your home, it will greatly increase your resale value.

Granite tiles for your entire bathroom

If you want the feel of granite everywhere you step inside your bathroom, choosing granite tiles is your best option. The wide variety of colors available makes sure that you find a color that matches your vision. You can create all manner of patterns and borders all over your home – all with the strength and natural beauty create by unique cuts of granite.

For some first class examples of the bathroom that you can build right here in Nashville, check out our bathroom gallery. Many of them use granite throughout, with some extraordinary granite countertops showcased. You’ll be sure to find some visual inspiration as you build on what you learned in this article.

Selecting the right granite countertop shape and style for kitchen islands

Making sure that you choose the right shape granite countertops for your kitchen island is crucial. This relates to how you will move around the kitchen itself, how you will use the space and what size of granite countertop you will need to order.

Getting this wrong can result in you having an awkward kitchen that is difficult to cook in – and who wants that when you’ve got a big Tennessee BBQ to prepare?

Where to place your kitchen island

The first consideration should be placement. No matter what size or shape you choose, you’re going to need to get around the kitchen island efficiently. An ideal aisle size, created by the distance between the kitchen countertops and the island, for a single cook, is 42 inches. If two cooks are in your family you’ll be better off with 48 inches. This extra six inches is to keep butts from bumping as you move between your island and kitchen countertops.

Choosing the right size for your kitchen countertop island

Finding a size that works for your kitchen is tough. You must consider proportion as a large kitchen countertop island becomes an obstacle, rather than a help. A small kitchen countertop island becomes useless in a hurry. The common rule of thumb is to make sure that it is the same width as the counter, and that it maintains the 42 or 48 inch aisle all the way around the other kitchen countertops.

Shape of the kitchen countertop island itself

Most people will opt for a standard four sided square or rectangle shape. This is all that is possible in most closed off kitchens. If your kitchen has a more open plan, you can start bringing in angles to help close off the kitchen space, while still having the open feel provided by not having walls.

Think about how L, V, Y and U shapes can fit in your open plan home. These interesting shapes may be more costly to build, and will make for some interesting granite top cuts, but they give the benefit of added shelves, drawers, towel racks and – most importantly – wine racks.

Once you have started to finalise the size of your kitchen island, start taking a look at the granite countertops that we have on offer at our Nashville location. You’ll be sure to find one that will fit your vision – in size, shape and color – as we typically have over 60 choices on offer!

Ideas for using granite in bathroom showers

When you want to remodel your bathroom, or if you’re designing a whole new one from scratch, choosing granite countertops, and other granite uses, are excellent choices. This long lasting material was forged in the depths of volcanic activity – it can handle the hottest shower you’ll have this chilly winter in Nashville!

I can personally speak to the beauty and function of a granite shower. My entire bathroom is granite tile with marble highlights. The warmth that you feel in a shower made of natural materials, rather than cheap plastic or flimsy glass, is one that can not be beat.

Granite slabs as part of your shower

The granite that will have the most impact in a bathroom is a solid slab. Being able to walk into your bathroom every day and see the grains flowing through the slab, well, who can’t help but compare it to the flow of the water about to envelop your body?

For a look that flows with your shower, choose a granite slab that with grain that moves from the top to the bottom, rather than side to side. You’ll feel like you’re in your own personal waterfall with all of the downward movement around you.

For a bathroom shower that looks like it truly belongs in your home, choose a granite slab that has a similarly colored and patterned piece that you can use for your bathroom countertop.

Granite tiles as a cheaper alternative in your bathroom

Ok, to be reasonable, a solid granite slab is out of the range of a large segment of people in Nashville, and the surrounding Tennessee area. This is not the case for granite tiles. These are still unique and completely decorative aseach one is cut from an actual stone. They’re easier to ship and install, and that does a lot to cut down the cost.

When you start looking around at granite tiles, keep in mind that you will have to grout each one. Choose one which is at least 12 x 12 inches in size. This will cut down on the amount of grouting and installation you have to do.

The great thing about choosing granite tiles is that you can choose a variety of them and create unique patterns. Why not have a contrasting border along the top or middle of your entire bathroom? This can move the eye around the room.

To start thinking about the actual granite that you can have in your home in Nashville, browse our granite selection. You’ll see a wide variety of colors, grains and sizes for all granite bathroom showers.

The truth about granite and radon radiation

There has been a lot of loose talk lately around granite and radiation, especially as to how it relates to the granite countertop in your home. This myth was recently given popularity on ‘The Doctors Show’ and those of us in the stone community just shook our heads. The understanding behind how this works was very low, and it has created a completely unnecessary panic.

What is radiation and where is it?

Radiation is something that occurs naturally. The leading source of radiation here in Nashville, and all across the world, is the sun itself. You’re being exposed to radiation every time you step outside – but in quantities that your body is use to.

You can also find radiation in other objects. It is in your concrete, smoke detectors, your TV, even bananas and brazil nuts. Granite countertops contain some radiation as well, in the form of radon – about as much as your banana!

What is radon and how could it harm me?

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally. It is all around you, and always has been. The most common places to find it is in your own soil and the stones under it.

Radon will dissipate into the atmosphere over time, as it has since the beginning of life on Earth. It can get into homes through the basement as it seeps through all of the tons and tons of dirt underneath. Volume is the key here as it takes a lot of material to give off any amount of radon that is noticeable, let alone harmful.

What does this translate to when it comes to the granite countertop in your home? There simply is not anywhere near enough material to radiate any amount of radon to you that is harmful. It is more harmful to go outside and lay on the grass on a sunny day for a period of time than to even lick your own granite countertop every day for ten years.

If you came here expecting to read about how radon in your granite countertop will slowly kill your family, please just think practically. Granite comes from the ground. You stand on the ground all day. Your ancestors have stood on it since the beginning of time. The ground will not harm you unless you trip!

With that said, rest easy as you take a look at our wide range of granite countertop slabs – they’re perfectly safe for your home in Nashville!

Increasing kitchen countertop space in a small kitchen

Just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean that you have to be doomed to a small kitchen countertop that is no bigger than your salad bowl – for one, we don’t do a lot with salad here in Nashville!

We’ll look at four of the best, and easiest, ways to expand kitchen countertops and space without knocking down a wall, so that you can have the big Tennessee BBQ that you love.

Move appliances off of your kitchen countertop

Looking in my own kitchen, I have a microwave sitting right on my kitchen countertop. If I wanted more space, which I don’t because mine is bigger than a surfboard, I could have that microwave mounted somewhere else that gets it up off of the counter. Don’t just look at expanding your kitchen countertop, look at how you can use it better.

Cutting boards as temporary kitchen countertops

This is more help than you think if you start thinking about cutting boards that fit over top of your sink or cooking surface. When you put one over the sink, not only does it create more space for cutting up vegetables or whatever else, but having it right over the sink can be an advantage when it comes to cleaning.

In regards to the cooking surface, why not use that space before you actually start cooking? Multi-use spaces are the easiest way to increase your functional kitchen countertop space.

Pull out surfaces for a pull out kitchen countertop

This is an old school approach. I remember my grandmother having a pullout cutting board mounted just above one of the storage drawers in her kitchen countertop’s design. This hideaway option will not only increase your cutting and prep space, but it will get right out of your way when you don’t need it.

Fold down cutting and prep surfaces

A hinge is all you need to add valuable prep space to your kitchen. Take a larger cutting board, an ordinary set of hinges, and maybe some sort of support for underneath the cutting board and screw it securely to the wall. You can fold it down when you need that extra kitchen countertop space. When not in use it’s just another part of the wall!

Take a look at our kitchen gallery to find inspiration for what you can do with your own kitchen, and get the space you need to cook an excellent meal! Our team in Nashville is ready to speak with you about any kitchen countertop questions you may have!

Choose the best granite for a country kitchen

There are two dominant kitchen design ideas in the world – modern, and country. For those who want a country granite kitchen, that really feels like the Nashville homes of old, there is no better type of stone to choose for your kitchen countertop.

This diverse stone is available in a wide variety of color selections, has excellent graining that can create excitement and movement, and is so strong it has to be cut and polished with diamonds!

Why do you want to use granite in the kitchen?

Before moving forward, I’d like to highlight the reasons why you want to use granite for your kitchen countertops. First, this stone is forged in the heat of volcanic activity. You’ll be sure that it can handle your hot pans, a little boiling water, and hot grease. This can’t be said for lesser materials.

The second reason, from a use perspective, is that this solid stone is resistant to bacteria as it and water can not penetrate it. This is especially true when it is properly sealed.

From a design perspective, few things say ‘country kitchen’ like a stone such as granite will. This is because the old styles of homes used what was around when they were built. The hardest material would be used for the kitchen countertop – and that was stone!

Color selection for a genuine country kitchen in Nashville

Country kitchens can come in all manner of colors, but most opt for natural earth colors – this is perfect for stone! Coupling some exposed wood beams with a granite countertop will really give you that rustic country feel – perfect for Nashville and our country roots!

For a brownish to yellow granite, that goes well with lighter woods like pine, try looking at something like our Giallo Veneziano or Carioca Gold. If you’re using a slightly darker wood, like teak, try a darker example of granite such as our African Madikwe or African Juperana. Take a look at them on our website so that you can start envisioning them in your kitchen, and plan around them.

Choosing the right finish for your granite in a country kitchen

There are all manner of finishes available, some will work better on granite countertops in a country kitchen than others:

• Vintage
• Natural cleft
• Leathered
• Honed

These four common finishes give a look that is closer to natural than a highly polished one will. The look you’re going for is ‘this just came in from outside,’ choose one these finishes to get that feeling.