Flooring, counters, backsplashes, cabinets, appliances and lighting can each change the look and feel of a kitchen. On their own they can update the kitchen; together they will give your kitchen a whole new look. Selecting a single one of these to work with your existing kitchen can be tricky. Choosing a combination of new counters, cabinets and flooring can be downright daunting. Enter the kitchen designer.

Kitchen designers can help you select a stone backsplash that coordinates with granite counter tops that also work with your existing cabinetry. Larger guts and remodels can be planned by a kitchen designer to change not only the look of your kitchen but its functionality.  These designers can recommend changes to floor plans that can up the function of your kitchen without expanding the floor plan.  For major projects an in home consultation to take measurements is a must.  Even for surface changes, a home appointment should be done for measurements and color samples.

To hire a kitchen designer you can begin by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations who have recently remodeled their kitchens. If there is a local kitchen showroom, visit and ask for a consultation. Get several estimates before deciding to make sure you find the right kitchen designer for your home and budget.

Reader Question:

I am thinking about granite countertops in my kitchen and have heard many conflicting stories about whether you can cut directly on them or use hot pots directly on them. Before I fall in love with a color I want to be sure this is the right product for me! Can you clear up either of these and also tell me if there are other things I should know about? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Theresa from Washington

Answer:

Theresa,

Great questions! These are questions I hear very frequently, so you are not alone. Granite is a wonderful choice for countertops, but even though it is a rock- it is not indestructible. Below are answers to your questions as well as a few other things you may want to know about granite.

• Hot pots should be placed on trivets or potholders rather than directly on the countertop. Placing hot pots directly on the countertop can burn the sealer that has been applied to protect the tops.
• You should always use a cutting board on any countertop surface for cleanliness, slip resistance and also protection from knife blades.
• Granite countertops should be sealed because granite can be permanently stained by  grease and other oily substances. It can also be etched by acids found in common household products and foods such as lemons.
• Granite countertops can be made from slabs or granite tiles. When choosing granite tiles, its always a good idea to seal the grout or use epoxy grout to prevent staining.
• When selecting the color of your countertops, look at the largest sample possible to see the veining and color variation that is naturally occurring in granite. (Remember, the more movement and variation in your granite, the more unique it is and also easier to hide dirt!)

Enjoy your new countertops, but protect your investment by taking proper care of them. Thanks again for the question. I am sure there are others out there wondering the same thing!

This kitchen is a great example of one I would want to spend a lot of time in. There’s lots of space, plenty of color, a variety of textures and even a whimsical element in the furniture.

Let’s take a look at some of the features in this kitchen that make it unique and give it a look and feel that encourages you to spend time in it!

• Notice the pattern of the floor tile. There is not only a beautiful tile that shows color and range, but it is mixed with metal accents. The floor starts out straight around the perimeter and then is divided by a metal floor border. Then, inside the border the direction the tile is laid changes to a diagonal install with metal accent dots in the alternating intersections of the joints.
• The warmness of the floor compliments the color of the cabinets well. Then, notice how the countertop does an excellent job of tying the colors in the floor and the colors in the cabinet together. Note how things blend and coordinate, but do not match.
• The designer chose to go with a lighter, more neutral backsplash and use a pattern to set the tile for the focus rather than introducing more color.  It serves as a nice restful backdrop for the decorative items displayed on the counter.
• Of course there has to be a comment about the whimsical Picasso barstools. The finish on the stools ties in well with the color of the cabinet hardware. The seat cushion brings in the warmth of the wall color -all while introducing an element of fun!
• Overall, this kitchen achieves a feeling of warmth and comfort while being extremely functional and not to mention – easy to keep clean!

What are your thoughts on this kitchen? What would you change? Does the warmth and color scheme appeal to you?

Are you tired of the same countertop choices? Are you looking for something new? Innovative? Green? If so, keep reading to learn more about ECO countertops by Cosentino.

This durable countertop surface is made from 75% recycled content (either pre- or post- consumer depending on color), which is bound by an environmentally friendly resin which comes in part from corn oil. ECO by Cosentino is a sustainable substitute for natural and/or engineered stone.

Attributes:

* It won’t scratch, stain or scorch (but you should always use a cutting board to protect your knives)
* Doesn’t require sealing because it’s low in porosity
* Available in 10 designer colors and two textures (Leather™ and polished)
* Available in 63”x 128” slab and standard size tiles
* Backed by a 5 year limited warranty
* LEED credits: MR Credit 4.1 and 4.2 : Recycled Content

There are other eco-friendly surfacing materials in the market today, but no other like ECO by Cosentino. ECO by Cosentino reutilizes materials that have reached the end of their life cycle, thus saving on the creation and consumption of natural resources. Most of the raw materials used in the creation of ECO are: Porcelain Mirror, Glass Corn Based Resin
and Crystallized Ash Stone Scraps.

One of the best features:
To maintain ECO surfaces’ beauty and shine, simply wipe the surface with soap and water on a regular basis.

Thanks, CaraGreen for the introduction of ECO by Cosentino!

Question:

My architect made a farm sink out of the same limestone she used for her countertops. I really like the look and was just wondering if you had any experience with it.

Answer: I contacted Cambria for this special request and was pleased to find out that you can in fact have a farm sink made from Cambria. It is a special / custom order that can be done. Each order is priced on an individual basis. Other information that Cambria will need includes, your location, where you plan to purchase Cambria and an estimated size of your sink.

For more information, contact

Angie Hilgenberg

Director of Marketing Promotions

Angie.Hilgenberg@CambriaUSA.com

If you are not familiar with Cambria – see below for some of the benefits of Cambria:

• Strength & Durability- Cambria Natural Quartz Surfaces™ are twice as strong as granite. Cambria is a surface that is truly everlasting.
• Maintenance Free – No sealing, polishing or reconditioning is needed. Simply wash with warm water. It’s that simple. Plus, unlike granite, Cambria will resist stains from common food items such as wine, coffee and tea.
• Food Safe – Unlike granite, Cambria has been certified by NSF International as safe for use as a food preparation surface. Cambria is nonporous; therefore, food and moisture cannot penetrate the surface — the main source of growth for harmful bacteria.
• All Natural – Cambria is created from pure natural quartz, an extremely hard stone. In fact, quartz is the hardest non-precious stone that can be found in the earth’s surface.
• Everlasting Value – With its beauty and performance advantages over granite, a Cambria kitchen countertop or bathroom vanity will add value to your home.
• Guaranteed – As the only producer of quartz surfaces in the United States, Cambria is covered by a Lifetime Limited Warranty.

The closer you look, the more you’ll discover the benefits of Cambria over other surfaces. With Cambria, you’ll add warmth and beauty plus the strength and durability that can only be found in natural quartz. Your dream home begins with Cambria!

Cambria is committed to environmental responsibility in its product offerings and business practices.

Product Attributes:

• Natural quartz; strong, durable and long lasting.
• Cambria is nonporous and nonabsorbant, and therefore resists stains from common household items such as coffee, tea, and wine.
• As the only quartz countertop produced in the USA, Cambria has lower transportation requirements than other quartz surfacing products produced in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
• Cambria is GREENGUARD For Children and Schools^SM certified.
• Cambria is GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified^®.
• Cambria can contribute to projects achieving LEED points.
• Cambria is certified by NSF International (Standard 51-Food Equipment Materials) as safe for use as a food preparation surface.
• Cambria is radon free.

For a product comparison of other types of countertops, click here.

You may be asking yourself, why is a sealer needed for a hard stone like granite? Granite is actually semi-porous and if left unsealed, stains can penetrate deep into the stone. Using a sealer allows the sealer to penetrate deep into the pores of the granite, filling them so that stains cannot penetrate  those pores.

Keep in mind that not all sealers are the same. There are topical sealers and penetrating sealers. To get the best job, you want to use a penetrating sealer.  A penetrating sealer fills the pores of the granite so that when a stain tries to fill those pores it can’t because the sealer is already there blocking the pores.

With granite sealers, you get what you pay for. Look for sealers with the longest warranty and generally the highest price tag. The higher priced sealers usually are better quality. Cheaper sealers can require more coats and more frequent applications.

The good news is, sealing granite is something you can do yourself. There are no tools needed, just the sealer, a clean cloth and your time. However, if doing it yourself is not your thing, you can certainly hire a professional to do it for you.

Like carpet cleaning, granite needs to be sealed annually. It’s easy to forget until you see stains that can have already caused permanent damage. You need to reseal every year because normal use and cleaning dissolves the sealer. For kitchens with high traffic and use, sealing may be required bi-annually.

How can you tell if you need to reseal? Simply pour some water on your countertop. If after half an hour your countertop does not turn dark, then your sealer is still working.

Protecting your investment is easy. Call your local retailer today to find the best sealing product for you. If you have another natural stone besides granite that needs sealing, there are products available for those as well.