 ountertops must not only
satisfy homeowner's craving for a certain style
but must also meet the
functional demands of being a used and abused surface. More and more, granite is the material of choice thanks to its natural durability and visual appeal. "It's the luxurious look of the stone that lures homeowners first, but the practicality that grabs them in the end," says Vicki Smith, designer and owner of Dallas-based Active Marble Inc.
The Material
Granite, found from Brazil to North
Dakota, is a igneous rock composed
primarily of mica, feldspar and
42 CUSTOM KITCHENS & BATHS |
quartz. It's also the second-hardest stone, next to diamond. Granite is also naturally resistant to heat scratching and bacteria.
"In many ways, it's the ideal kitchen countertop material,". says Cheri Antozak, CKD, CBD, NKBA member and owner of Grandville, Michigan-based Interiors by Cheri. "You can take hot pans off the stove or out of the oven and place them directly on the counter without having to be concerned that you will damage the surface.".
How to Choose
Color choices rang from basic blacks and whites to brilliant blues and greens. "If you have a kitchen with |
streamlined cabinets and lots of stainless steel, you'll want to use a dark shade of granite like a greenish black Uba Tuba, " Antozak says. In a more traditional kitchen, colors such as Gold Juparanna, a brownish yellow work well.
Because there is often a wide variety between the showroom samples and the actual quarried stock, both designers and fabricators suggest handpicking each slab at the suppliers warehouse. If the granite you want needs to be special ordered, ask the quarry to send pictures of the individual slabs for approval before they are shipped to the fabricator to ensure you get the look you want.
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