During the month of September, most Americans know that football season begins, and unless you are able to travel to every game, that also means the start of football party season. It’s much easier to go to a party than throw one, but eventually your friends will notice that you haven’t hosted one since Brett Favre retired the first time, and it will be your turn.
Get the snacks ready. Football season is upon us.
Day after day the thermometer seems to poke its head annoyingly above 90. With each passing day the commute to work is filled with more air-conditioned car rides, dry air-conditioned offices, fans blasting at a rate usually seen only in wind farms, and yet when we get home we don’t want to wallow indoors. It’s the summertime! And for those of us who live in the northern states this is our chance to soak up our yards, patios, and outdoor areas to their fullest – regardless of the oppressive heat (just whip up some lemonade).
A decadent poolside bar setup.
We spend a great deal of time on our blog talking about homes, way to upgrade homes, other people’s homes that we think are notably attractive, and basically anything else you could think of that can be neatly filed under the keyword “home.” Well today is your lucky day, especially if you’re someone who prefers the nautical lifestyle to one bound by yards, sidewalks, and driveways.
The revamped English river boat.
Have you ever lived in a house or apartment that was really in need of some counter-space? I know I have. Countertops are easily taken for granted if you have them, but when you’re searching for a place to prepare a meal or place any number of items you normally would in a kitchen replete with countertop space and you’re without it can be maddening. I lived in an apartment in Brooklyn that was a cook’s worst nightmare. We decided to live there because it was in a great location and the price was just right, but the kitchen had a problem we idiotically overlooked in the apartment search process. The kitchen had a four burner stove and a double basin sink, but no countertops! There was nothing. Initially we were preparing food in the minuscule space in between the burners – a paltry situation to be in.
Where's the countertop?
Remember when you decided to uncork that bottle of Shiraz to celebrate your birthday last year? Well, it’s part of your countertop this year. Now, I’m not sure that you celebrated your birthday in such a fashion, or if you like Shiraz, or if you even enjoy beverages originally housed in glass bottles, but one thing is certain – whatever glass bottle gets drank over the course of time will inevitably lead a long and prosperous life as a post-consumer, re-propagated product. So just think, when you’re uncorking a new bottle of wine on your new glass composite countertop – you know, the scratch resistant, un-dentable one – you can rest assured that you’re getting a big fat figurative pat on the back from Mother Nature. Let us stroll through the life-span of a bottle as it becomes your brand new recycled glass countertop.
Glass bottles, ready to get processed and re-used.
When you’re purchasing granite for your home, whether it be for your countertops, fireplace, floors, or anywhere else you can find a place for it; do you really know the granite you’re using? Where did it come from? How does it compare to other varieties of granite? Basically, is this the granite for me? Well, I think I can shed a bit of light on what you’re buying. Many people choose to install granite as a solid slab, which requires full replacement and construction. Others, like those who come to Granite Transformations for their granite fixtures, select engineered granite that not only doesn’t require a full demolition, but has technical advantages over the standard, mid-range granite.
I bet your granite couldn't withstand a chop from this man.
Juxtaposed before and after work from Granite Transformations.
A harrowing, time-devouring experience? No. A quick, kitchen coddling exercise in rapid turnaround with beautiful results? Yes! Granite overlay installation is the quick way to give your countertops a fresh new look without all of the demolition, hassle, or home disruption. In only a couple of days from deciding that granite overlays are for you, a beautiful new kitchen can be utilized to its full potential. Allow me to walk you through the process…
The first step when it comes to kitchen remodeling is to choose a color scheme you like. Once you do that, then you can begin to organize your kitchen design around it. We have selected three of the most common kitchen color schemes below and briefly described how to achieve these looks in your own home.
Don’t get us wrong, dark kitchens are not easy to pull off. Nonetheless, when well executed they can reflect a mysterious, elegant beauty that brighter kitchen designs cannot imitate. Below is an image taken from House & Garden of Gwyneth Paltrow’s kitchen in her home in the Hamptons. The light countertops and white chandelier do a wonderful job of offsetting the dramatic black cabinetry. If you are considering a similar color scheme, Perla Bianca Trend Stonegranite veneer overlays would be an excellent choice for your countertops. Silver hardware, faucets, and appliances can also make dark cabinetry pop and bring a little bit of brightness to the room.
Gwyneth Paltrow's Dark Kitchen
Photo by aunto CC BY 2.0
Are you in the midst of a kitchen remodeling? Are you possibly rethinking your current kitchen design? There are likely many considerations you are keeping in mind – price, style, and quality to name a few. But there’s one more thing we want to remind you of before sending you out into the land of Kitchen Remodeling Design – Don’t forget to go green!
Below we have compiled a great list of tips to help you go green in your kitchen. Some of them will require a little bit of upfront investment, but you will surely see a return as the years go by.
Granite Countertop
If you are considering new countertops, granite is an excellent option that will bring a special touch of beauty and elegance to your home. However, you will likely have concerns regarding how difficult the installation will be and the extent to which it may interrupt your daily life. Choosing an overlay countertop is a great way to lessen the headache of installation and be rewarded with stunning results. Trend Stone is a custom-fitted overlay engineered from the world’s highest quality granite, stone, and quartz. It adheres directly to your existing countertops so the hassle of demolition is avoided.
The process is very simple and installation is finished in the space of one day. After all measurements are double-checked for accuracy, a custom Trend Stone overlay will be produced to suit your countertop. It is then cut, and brought to your home where it is applied to the existing countertop with a powerful adhesive. The surface is remarkably strong, even stronger than traditional granite. And just like that, your countertops are completely transformed and ready to be enjoyed by you and your family. With the help of the professionals at Granite Transformations, the installation of your countertops will be quick, easy, and entirely painless!
