Starr Miller Interior Design, Inc.

An Insiders Guide to Granite: How to Choose What's Best For You, Part 2, Quality and Choosing a Fabricator

Hey again! It's Sam and I see that your back for more granite! Read on to find out how to get the Best Quality and best Fabrication!

After you've narrowed down your selections and have your quotes and number of slabs you need, its time to reserve your slabs! A helpful slab yard will be able to move your slabs to make selections on specific slabs. If the lighting is not good, see if they can move it to better light to help with the selection. Here is what to look for when selecting:

You want good quality!!

-Run your hand across the slab to feel for any rough pitting and/or cracks and fissures. You don't want pits because it effects the look and work surface. Cracks and fissures also don't look good and can be dangerous in the fabrication process causing it to break (trust me, you want to prevent this at all costs!).

-Be sure to turn your head to look at the slab at all angles, some flaws can hide in bad lighting.

-One thing to keep in mind is that some species of granite have “natural fissures”. These usually aren't harmful during the fabrication process and you can't feel them. They usually look to be apart of the pattern and over all look.

*Once you've put your names on the slabs, contact your fabricator so that he can get the ordering on the ball; The granite yard usually only reserves the slabs for one to two weeks.

granite slab

Choosing the Fabricator for You!

Once you have made the best decision and selected your slabs, its in the hands of the fabricator. They may have you come to their shop to approve the slabs and schedule the install. Here are some things to consider when selecting the best fabricator.

Do your research!

-Go to their showroom to view their work firsthand. If they are a small company, ask to see a portfolio of their work. Make sure their quality and craftsmanship is suitable to your standards.

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  • Don't be afraid to ask for references!
  • Make sure they are licensed and insured.
  • See if they guarantee their work.

  • Feel comfortable, if they seem shady, then they probably are.

  • A good fabricator will come to your home to template

  • A good fabricator will be willing to help you shop for your granite and let you approve your slab and have some kind of say in what will be showing on your counters.

  • Get more than one quote, you may be able to find better quality and reasonable pricing.

 

An Insider's Guide to Granite: How to Choose What's Best For You, Part 1, Budget and Look

 
 

Granite is one of the hottest countertop trends today. Because of its increasing affordability and natural -never the same look - we know its here to stay. There are upwards of 800 colors on the market today. This overwhelming amount of selections can really make the decision a tough one. Heres a good place to start:

Budget:

We all know that costs is a huge factor in most of our purchases. Usually a granite fabricator will send their client to a granite yard (or warehouse)to make a few selections. In these granite yards, nine times out of ten, they aren't allowed to give any price indication. This is because they are solely open as a courtesy to the fabricator to let you make selections. You don't buy from these guys, the fabricator does, so pricing can become somewhat of a mystery. So how can you avoid this hassle? Become knowledgeable on what drives cost in granite.

• Price is based on rarity, some granites are not as readily available as others. And when it's gone, IT'S GONE!

• Most granites that have “tight” patterns and are combinations of earth tones (brown, rust, gold, blacks) are typically less expensive. Ex. New Venetian Gold, St. Cecilia, Giallo Ornamental and Uba Tuba.

 New Venetian Gold

Uba Tuba

Granite that has veins and flowing patterns should be indicators of a more exotic stone and is probably more expensive. Ex: delicatus, magma, sienna bordeaux and succuri.

 

  Delicatus

Sienna Bordeaux

 

Colors are also very important to price: If you see electric blues, vibrant greens and striking reds, these are almost sure-fire indicators of a very very pricey stone! Ex: blue bahia, aphrodite and red fire.

 Blue Bahia

Aphrodite

 

 

The Look:

How to choose:

• More than likely, you will find yourself gravitating toward certain styles of granite, you need to evaluate the colors and pattern. This is where your cabinet door will help. You obviously make sure the two work well together, whether it is creating the right contrast or blend (colorwise). Next, look at the pattern. If you have a small kitchen you should go for a tighter pattern. You want this so that it is proportionate and not overwhelming. If you were to use one with lots of movement, you will more than likely lose the look you loved in the whole slab. When looking at any slab you must invision it in 2ft horizontal sections, this will give you a better idea as to how it will look as an actual counter top.

 

• If you have a large kitchen and large island, a slab with lots of movement would work perfectly, if thats your style. The island could fit most of the movement you loved while being complimented by all of the perimeter counters. However, there are stones with the right movement and interest that could work just fine in your small kitchen, you just have to visualize it in your space and make the best judgment.

I hope this helped! -Sam

An Insiders Guide To Granite Counters: Is it for you?

We have a great team here at StarrMiller Interior Design!  This week our Design Assistant Sam is going to teach us all about granite!

 

Hey there Guys! My name is Sam Monds, and I'm a Design Assistant for StarrMiller and also this week's guest writer. I used to work on the wholesale side of the granite industry for a couple of years and left with tons of knowledge on the topic. I've compiled some of the most important things that you should know when selecting granite for your counters. Please give us your feedback and questions and we're here to help!

 

Weigh out these options when deciding if granite is the best choice for your counters.

Benefits of Choosing Granite:

-Extremely Durable, will last a lifetime.

-Can with stand extreme heat, so you can set hot pots on it! If your house burns down, your counters are more than likely to still be intact.

-Won't scratch if you cut directly on it, but it will probably dull your knives!

-When properly sealed, it will not stain, you must still clean spills when they happen.

-Will boost the value of your home.

-Easy cleaning

-It's natural beauty, plain and simple, granite can transform any kitchen or bathroom.

 When Granite isn't for you:

• If you want flawlessness or perfection (it ain't gonna happen!)

• If you constantly cook with acidic things such as lemon juice or red wine and olive oil. This can potentially be harmful to the polish of your counter tops and penetrate the counters possibly causing stains or accumulation of germs.

• If your budget is super tight, even though the price of granite has certainly come down over the past few years, it still isn't "cheap".

• 

Caring For Granite:

Most people will say that they aren't going to chose granite because you have to seal it frequently and it sounds like a hassle. Well lets please throw that mentality right out of the window. When a slab of granite goes through its finishing process at the quarry, they apply a super strong seal at that time. Then when your fabricator installs your granite, they more than likely will seal your granite or at least offer it. Experts recommend that you seal your counters at least once or twice a year. Sealing your counter tops is as easy as spraying Windex on a window and wiping it down... seriously, its that easy (I don't know what people have been complaining about!). Another bonus to that is that most daily cleaners made specifically made for granite counters have sealers in them, so you are getting your protection every time you clean. Other than that just be sure to clean any spills right away, just as you would any other big investment. As far as preventing scratches and breakage, the only way this is going to happen is if you do some serious damage. So this means, try not hitting it with your sledge hammer or scraping bricks or rocks across it. I think you'll be pleased with how easy it really is to take care of your granite. Oh yea, one cool thing about granite is that most patterns in granite allow you to have crumbs on your counters and no one even notices it because it camouflages so well!

 

 

Lake Norman Woman Article - June 2010 - HGTV's Two Day Makeover: Fact or Fiction?

The #1 complaint practicing interior designers have about HGTV is the theater of a home makeover in 1 or 2 days.  #2 Complaint would be that the costs seem so low and #3 would be that everything arrives on time and everything is so easy anyone could do it........(click on article for larger version)

Lake Norman Woman Article - April 2010 - The Scoop on Home Makeovers!

Running behind on my blogs...so it is time to catch up!  Here was my article from April 2010.  HGTV the inside scoop. (Click on article for larger version...)

 

BeWare Psychedelic Splash of Tile

This blog is not just about things I love.  Sometimes it is about a subject, such as tile, and what I have seen that may stretch the imagination.  It may not be my taste, but in the end I can walk away and say I learned something.  So here it is - the home of designer Apryl Miller. 

 

Now I love color as much if not more than most, but when I walked into this space at first my mouth dropped open, then I looked at my husband to see his horrified reaction, then I laughed and then I enjoyed one person’s love of chaos.  Again – not me, but in the end if you slow down and note how she uses materials in a different way you will learn something.  Whether you choose to use it in your own life or file it away as a wild adventure will be a decision made best with a cocktail (or 2) in hand. Now sunglasses on this ride is leaving the station!

 

 

 

 

And while I have mainly devoted this month to tile, it is also interesting to see what other things she has done with her design.  (Don't try this at home, this is done under extreme conditions and could cause blindness!)

 

And at last a spot for the eye to rest. I often tell clients that it is important to have space to rest the eyes, a relief if you will - white space between the art.

And here I leave you with one last thought.  Embrace color, learn from art, and remember that each person's home means something different to them.  You may take your sunglasses off now!

http://www.aprylmillerstudios.com/

My Favorite Tile Project

In the last post I wrote about connections.  This time I want to show you one project that I found a few years back that made me fall in love with the beautiful way tile can make a bathroom feel current and timeless at the same time.  I found the project in a magazine, but researched further and realized that it was from the television series "This Old House".  It is called the Cambridge Project and I encourage you to look at the connections once again as they are magnificent! 

 

First, I want to show you what I love the most....  Look at how the architecture of the home and the interior design of the bath compliment one another! 

 

The organic nature of the house plan are beautifully paid tribute by the planes of tile, stone and wood in this master bath. I love the connection between the shower and bath tub shown here.

 

 

The other baths are just as lovely on a smaller scale.

This one is quiet and serene.

 

This powder room is anything but frills.   Love the simplicity!

 

 

 

 

Dive on in.....

Since we have been talking about tile this month I started reminiscing about NYC and my studies at Parsons.  In one of my classes on materials the professor kept stressing the need to look at connections.  How one material meets the next truly determines the success of a design.  That was a light bulb moment.  When we see things that seem awkward or have gaps we focus on the gaps not on the beauty.  That’s why a good presenter doesn’t have stains on their blouse or spinach in their teeth.  They want us to focus on their face, inflection and the information not the gaps!

When working with tile we need to focus on the connection it has with other materials.Look at this wall from the restaurant Rosa Mexicana, designed by The Rockwell Group.  It is majestic. 

 

Now look at the connection of the tile to the wavy surface that has the water fall and divers.  It is a very clean line. 

If it was wavy and uneven it would draw your eye away from the attraction of the divers and the theater of the room and force you to the distraction of a poorly connected or finished material.

 

Remember, just as in life, the connections we make and how we handle them defines us.

I Can't Get Enough of These Tile Vendors....

Remember when tile was simply a ceramic square?  And then remember when everyone got excited about subway tiles?  Well tile ain't what it used to be!  Here are two of my favorite tile vendors...

Ann Sacks - Always cutting edge and makes me dream of exciting new spaces. 

 

 

 

Walker Zanger - Can you stand it?  Mix it up and make it special!

 

Yummy!

Jump Off The Grid!

I love tile – I was working with it today in a kitchen we are currently renovating. The possibilities are endless!  As a designer, I relish the opportunity to show clients the versatility of any material and tile is no exception.  Tile-be it ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone-is not as rigid as one might think. Jump off the grid, pattern that is, and take a look at the many moods of a not so flat substance….

 

Designer Sarah Richardson uses tile to create an area rug pattern in a Powder Room

 

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These Walker Zanger tiles become ceramic mouldings that do the same job as their wood counterparts but hold up to the damp environments of our kitchens and baths.

 

Speaking of wood, another Walker Zanger product shows it can hold its own with any Parisian herringbone patterned salon floor.

 

 

Opposites do attract-mixing wood flooring and tile seems to just bring out the best in both.

  

 

Mother Nature is always the best teacher in design and tile can become an excellent student with a deft use of pattern or substance.

 

 

Remember, I said we were jumping off the grid so I thought we would circle back around and finish with both the elegance and the whimsy of this many faceted material.

 

Lake Norman Woman Article - August 2009 "The Mystery of the 5 Star Bathroom"

I am mixing it up this month with a short story about Sara.  Follow her as she navigates her way to the realization that she can relax everyday!

I love to hear your ideas so feel free to comment!!!  You may click on the article to enlarge.