The Pebbles Collection from Caesarstone

Earlier this year, Caesarstone (the inventor of quartz surfacing celebrating its 35th anniversary this year in 2022!), unveiled their new nature inspired Pebbles Collection that features five designs celebrating the never-ending transformation of wind and water over stone.

Their press release says, "The new Pebbles Collection embodies the bigger essence of small stones. A palette of warm, dynamic monochromes is laced with softer hues and enriched by distinctive textures that are inspired by the everlasting path of the pebble, bringing the blessings of sunlight and rain into the heart of the home."

1001 Riverlet: A gentle off-white touched by honied amber capillaries that flow softly across the surface, with Honed finish for a tinge of freshness that reflects more light in the kitchen. Available in honed finish.

1002 Wyndigo: Warm earthy gradients wash over a soft greige surface veined with foamy greys, capturing a pebble’s two-toned mottled patina. Available in honed finish.

1003 Raindream: Two layers of slate greys are accentuated by soft dark grey strokes contoured in neutral highlights with a finish that makes the surface look like a wet river stone. Available in polished finish.

1004 Stoneburst: Two shades of sage grey with soft mineral undertones and subtle grey veining that complements this calm complexion. Available in honed finish.

1006 Agger Grey: A rich two-toned base of warm smoky greys with delicate clay undertones and white veins that create a two-toned surface. Available in honed and polished finish.

These look to be perfect choices for many different types of kitchens.

Happy designing!

8 New Colors of Neolith

Neolith, the company that makes sintered stone products, has unveiled eight new models in their New Classtone Series, available exclusively in North America. Dedicated to sustainability, this product is all natural and 100% recyclable. Available in 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" thicknesses, the New Classtone Series is also lightweight, waterproof, scratch resistant, easy to clean, bend resistant, and UV and high traffic resistant. But most impressive of all is the fact that the material is embedded with neoLEAT, a technology developed by neolith R&D&I. This technology makes the material ultra-hygienic by preventing the spread of bacteria such as listeria, monocytogenes and salmonella. Of course it does not have to be used only on kitchen counters or islands or in bathrooms...it can be used for flooring or wall cladding in any room!

Alexandra is a lovely soft veined material in cool greys and whites.

The Arabesque model features stronger, lace-like veining...

Calcatta Royale has medium veining in what appears to be warmer greige tone.

The Calista model is reminiscent of Silver Travertine with its gentle striations.

The Colorado Dunes model features grey and black geometric veining shot through with occasional traces of gold which recalls the jaggedness of the Rockies.

Niagara is a beautiful, dramatic black product that mimics Nero Marquino marble.

And finally, Whitehaven features an irregular pattern recalling cut geodes.

Happy designing!

Curated Floating Vanities From Robern

Robern, a leader in bathroom amenities and furnishings has introduced a new program of floating vanities. The Curated Cartesian Vanity collection is a great opportunity to being a high-end look to your bathroom or powder room. Vanities come in single, double, or triple drawers in white, grey, or smoked mirror. Features offered include spacious drawers and tip-out storage options, in-drawer electric outlets, hot storage, and LED night lights. And conveniently, Robern has paired with Cosentino, makers of Silestone to provide quartz counter tops for this line, which is fantastic for designers since it is always difficult finding a remnant small enough for a single vanity like this. Problem solved!

Visit their website here to see more!

Happy designing!

Slab and Template: Together Forever

I am currently working on a whole-house remodel for a client and we are in the kitchen phase. After we picked out our color scheme for the cabinets, counter, and backsplash, we set about choosing materials. I found a gorgeous backsplash made out of crosshatch pieces of light cream marble punctuated with decorative squares of variegated Dream Stone.

Since the feeling of this house is light, open, and calm, I wanted a counter material that would have very minimal movement in terms of a pattern so as not to compete with the texture of the backsplash. My clients prefer natural stone and one of the prettiest out there is Crema Marfil. This stone is a marble, and while I generally try to steer clients away from using marble in a kitchen setting as it can etch from acidic foods like vinegar and lemons, Crema Marfil is a little heartier. If properly sealed, and if you are the type of cook who cleans up as you go, then this marble could be for you. The cream color has beautiful clouds of tan and warm grey, making it a soft visual statement.

But choosing the type of material is only half the story. When buying slabs for a kitchen, I always like to bring clients to the marble and stone slab showroom so we can choose the exact slabs we want. Stone is a natural material and variation in color and pattern is an inevitability. So it is wise to have the slab warehouse open up what is called the "packet" (the bundle of stone slabs in their order of how they were mined from the quarry) for your inspection. After all, the sample you saw might be from a packet or bundle that was quarried years ago and the material being quarried now might not look the same in terms of color or veining.

My client and I went to the slab warehouse where they used a special mechanized crane to lift and lay out seven slabs for us to review. Only three are needed for the kitchen so we had a nice selection to choose from. Below you can see the rows and rows of slabs under the movable crane that travels up and down the aisles.

It's a delicate and dangerous operation as these slabs can weight upwards of 800 or 900 pounds each.

And here are the slabs, in sequence of how they appear in the packet, laid out for us to inspect.

After we chose three slabs, they were shipped to the fabricator for a template review. Larger marble and stone warehouses often only sell the material and do not act as fabricators (the ones who will cut the slabs up into counter shapes with properly sized holes for sinks and faucets, etc.). In this case, the fabricator is nearby so transport was relatively simple. If you choose your slabs from the fabricator, this step will obviously be eliminated.

Here are photos of the templates on our chosen slabs. A template is a pattern that is made by the fabricator of the exact dimensions and shapes of the counter top. Sink and faucet holes are cut on site to guarantee precision.

These are just a few of the many thousands of steps and decisions involved in a kitchen remodel. If you're thinking of a new kitchen but feel overwhelmed with the prospect, give me a call. I'm happy to guide you through it all to the kitchen of your dreams.

Happy designing!