Marble

Granite, Marble, Quartz and Other Stone Applications Outside of the Kitchen and Bath

January 18, 2018 by Stone World TN

Everyone loves a beautiful granite countertop that is set in the kitchen or bathroom. Those are the two rooms most associated with stone because they are the two rooms that almost always have countertops of some kind. However, did you know that granite, marble and quartz can be used just as effectively in other areas of the home? When you open your mind to the possibilities, you will soon see that there is a place for stone surfaces in many spots that you may not expect. Here are some examples to consider.

The Wet Bar

If you are going to include a wet bar in the design of your home, or if you already have one that is in need of renovation, using stone is a natural choice. Ideally, you will be able to carry the same type of stone through to the wet bar that you have already used in the kitchen. Using a stone counter on the wet bar in your living room or den will give the space a finished, high-end look. Our specialized stone consultants can help when deciding on weather to use granite, marble, or quartz for your wet bar countertops.

A Custom Table

When you need to add a new table to your home, consider using a piece of stone as the top of the table. This might be a unique idea, but it can look absolutely beautiful in the right setting. When you are able to pick out a piece of stone that fits in nicely with the rest of your décor, you can have that slab turned into a table with very little trouble. The resulting table will be heavy, sturdy, and a conversation piece for years to come.

Around a Fireplace

It is always a nice touch to add a fireplace to a living room or even a bedroom, but it can be tough to find a material to use as a finish around the edges of the fireplace installation. As you struggle with this conundrum, be sure to consider some form of natural stone for the job. The stone will serve as a nice contrast to the fire in many cases, and natural stone obviously holds up very nicely against the heat. Brick is a classic material to use around a fireplace, but you just might fall in love with the look that is possible when you opt for stone.

An Outdoor Kitchen

Okay, so this is still a kitchen, but it isn’t the kitchen inside your home. If you are going to have an outdoor kitchen on your property, a stone counter – such as granite – is a great pick. Stone is naturally inclined to fight off the elements, and it looks just as beautiful outdoors as it does inside. It can be tough to build an outdoor kitchen that is going to stand the test of time, but a granite counter is one piece of the puzzle that should be a no-brainer.

No matter where you decide to use stone in or around your home, Stone World would be happy to lend our experience and expertise. Contact us right away for more information on the products and services that we have to offer and to request a FREE consultation. Thanks for stopping by!

The following products were featured in this article:
Granite Countertops
Marble Countertops
Quartz Countertops

We service the following areas:
Nashville, Green Hills, Bellevue, Brentwood, Franklin, Cool Springs, Spring Hill, Columbia, Lawrenceburg, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Hermitage, Donelson, Madison, Hendersonville, Antioch and more. We even service southern Kentucky.

What are the Strengths of Marble Countertops?

July 20, 2015 by Stone World TN

Marble countertops are a timeless choice, they’ve been popular since stone was first used in modern bathrooms, and are still popular to in Nashville today. The reasons why people choose marble countertops are the same now as they have ever been. We will look at those strengths now so that you can see whether choosing marble countertops is right for your home.

What are the strengths of marble countertops?

Stone World TN Strengths of Marble Countertops

There are four main reasons why people in Nashville are choosing marble countertops:

1. Marble countertops look amazing

This point can not be underlined enough. Marble countertops have been used for centuries solely because of how amazing they look, and neverminding any other reason. People in Nashville who like to show off do so with marble countertops in their kitchen, bathroom, or hallways.

That stark white combined with those dark ripples of gray make for a striking look. You can try an imitation, but anyone will be able to spot a fake right away. Choose real marble countertops for your home in Nashville and they’ll reward you with their looks for decades to come.

2. Marble countertops add value to your home

Installing marble countertop in your home is like installing instant money into your home’s resale value here in Nashville. All those bargain seekers trying to whittle you down won’t have much to say when they want a break on pricing due to bad countertops!

3. Marble countertops are durable

While marble countertops are the most porous of the stone countertop choices, it is still more durable than any plywood countertop with a covering on it. This is an aspect of why people choose them, they know that they won’t need a new one for a long time, unlike those cheaper laminate/plywood models which have to be changed out or repaired every 5 – 10 years.

Marble countertops are also heat resistant to a point. If you leave a hot curling iron on them, or a pan right off the stove top, they will burn – like anything else on the planet. But they are much more resistant to heat than your average plastic covered plywood countertop.

4. Marble countertops are easier to customize

Marble is a soft stone, making it easier to have cut and shaped into the unique shape that your marble countertops need to be in. This design feature is favored by many home designers in Nashville as they know that they can get away with a little bit more creativity.

Are marble countertops right for your home in Nashville?

The team here are Stone World have helped a few people in the Nashville area figure out if marble countertops are right for their home. Contact them today to see how marble can work in your home!

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!

Chip and Scratch Repair for Marble Bathroom Countertops

December 1, 2014 by Stone World TN

Marble bathroom countertops are loved all over Nashville for their unmistakable beauty. Freshly installed marble bathroom countertops are incredibly striking, but it takes work to keep them looking that way as they are a softer stone.

Here are a few ways to repair chips, scratches, and nicks in marble bathroom countertops.

Chip and scratch repair for marble bathroom countertops

Wax can repair your marble bathroom countertops

Wax should be your first choice as it is the least permanent. Find a wax at your local hardware store in Nashville. Rub the wax into the chip or scratch until they are full. Use a 0000 grade steel wool to smooth it out.

While this fix may make it look ‘good enough,’ it will not be permanent. If your marble bathroom countertops are damaged in an unnoticeable area, this is your first choice. Work down for worse problems, or more permanent solutions.

Color-matched epoxies to repair marble bathroom countertops

Marble chip repair kits are common in most hardware stores around Nashville. They are more permanent than wax, but they do have problems:

You have to mix a few ingredients together, and can make a mistake when doing so.
Application can be messy.
The color will never match exactly.
The repair is more visible on plain marble bathroom countertops.

Clear acrylic gels to repair marble bathroom countertops

This yields similar visual results to the wax, but is a more permanent solution. You will inject the clear acrylic gel it into the chip or scratch nicks. This natural stone underneath will show through for a nearly invisible repair.

Hire a professional to repair your marble bathroom countertops

A professional can grind it down and re-polish your marble bathroom countertops for the worst problems. This can be pricey, but may be the only way to repair multiple scratches.

Further advice on repairing marble bathroom countertops

For first hand advice, call up the Stone World team. They’ve helped many of our own past customers get their marble bathroom countertops looking nearly new again. If you’re looking to buy your first marble bathroom countertop, they’re the go to team in the entire Nashville area!

Caring for your Outdoor Marble Countertop

November 15, 2014 by Stone World TN

An outdoor marble countertop is not for the faint of heart, or for those obsessed with things never changing. A harsh winter, or even a busy summer party season in Nashville, can do a number on them. Read this article to find out how to care for your outdoor marble countertop.

Caring for your outdoor marble countertop

Use a natural stone cleaner

There are many types of natural stone cleaners available in Nashville that will easily clean your outdoor marble countertops, no matter how dirty they are. A good one will have enough power to clean dirt and grime, but will not be so powerful that it will damage the finish of your marble countertop.

If your outdoor marble countertop still looks dirty after a cleaning with a natural stone cleaner then it likely has stains. These stains are not on the surface, like with other stones, these stains are in the marble itself due to how porous it is.

You can clean these with a homemade poultice, a mix of water and baking soda to a toothpaste like consistency, or purchase a more powerful one from a hardware store in Nashville.

A poultice works by reversing the staining process. It pulls the stain back out of the marble and into itself.

How to polish an outdoor marble countertop

For polished countertops, you can use an etch remover polish in small areas where you notice your outdoor marble countertop dulling.

Larger areas that are dull will likely require a professional as they will need to grind it down and polish it all over again. If you’re in the Nashville area, call up the team at Stone World for help with this.

If your outdoor marble countertop is honed, or a matte finish, a professional must be called to bring it back to its former glory. This fix requires tools, not lotions, to get it back to normal.

With an outdoor marble countertop, you can not expect it to be as perfect as the marble countertop inside your home. It’s not as bad in Nashville weather-wise as it is further north, but you’ll be able to get it decent looking with the advice above.

Help with your outdoor marble countertop

If you have any other questions about your outdoor marble countertop, contact the team at Stone World. We have the know-how and the experience to get your outdoor marble countertop looking better.

Unique Uses for Marble

April 1, 2011 by Stone World TN

Marble is a naturally beautiful stone that works well as a kitchen countertop option, but what many people don’t realize is that marble is incredibly versatile and can be used in a lot of other places throughout the home.

There are a few “obvious” uses that have become synonymous with luxury (such as marble staircases and fireplaces), but those are just a couple of other ways to use marble in the home. Marble staircases may be excessive, but utilizing marble as a fixture in the staircase (such as the entry way) might be a more feasible option for many homeowners.

One way to create something gorgeous and unique is to use marble to create a tile mosaic —whether it’s in a bathroom or as flooring in the entryway to the home. Obviously marble can also be used in other artistic ways (it was an easy choice for many sculptors and other artists.)

Marble can be used in hallways as well — it’s so versatile you can essentially use it in any way you’d like. It’s durable and easy to maintain and clean, so it makes for a perfect surface in any place in the house. Some experts will advise against using marble in the bathroom or in the shower, but many homeowners choose to utilize it in these spaces. It’s important to remember if you use marble in these surfaces, it needs to be cleaned correctly and with care.

Still, regardless of how you’d like to use it, the unique uses for marble are a versatile and beautiful stone option for your home.