Fabricators and installers of high-quality granite, marble, soapstone, slate, travertine, and quartz countertops in Kansas City, Missouri. 2010-09-01T06:00:12Z WordPress http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/feed/atom/ sophisticatedstonehttp://feedburner.google.com Kali Justus http://www.design-sherpa.com http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/?p=513 2010-08-30T20:59:48Z 2010-09-01T06:00:12Z

<p>House Beautiful has some great tips for updating your kitchen without breaking the bank with its <a title="http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/easy-kitchen-updates-ideas-0810" href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/easy-kitchen-updates-ideas-0810" target="_blank">&#8220;10 Ways To Make Your Kitchen New Again.&#8221;</a> Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! These small additions or updates can breathe new life into the your kitchen:</p> <ol> <li>Table lamps&#8211;an unexpected light source.</li> <li>A fun new kitchen gadget. There are some real space-age ones out there!</li> <li>Install a pots-and-pans rack over your stove or island.</li> <li>Store pantry items in cute baskets rather than original packaging.</li> <li>Start a small culinary herb garden on your kitchen windowsill.</li> <li>Hang mirrors to create new reflections.</li> <li>Spruce up old tile with stick-on decals.</li> <li>Paint the insides of your kitchen cabinets an eye-catching color.</li> <li>Mix up dining room seating with new chairs or chair cushions.</li> <li>Replace old cabinet and appliance fixtures.</li> </ol> <p><a href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/1-kitchen-otm-main-1107-xlg-35075018.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-514" title="1-kitchen-otm-main-1107-xlg-35075018" src="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/1-kitchen-otm-main-1107-xlg-35075018.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="360" /></a></p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=OevRtgy1pps:-lNVxP6ZZ9s:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sophisticatedstone/~4/OevRtgy1pps" height="1" width="1"/> 0 http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/design-ideas/easy-kitchen-updates/ Kali Justus http://www.design-sherpa.com http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/?p=505 2010-08-30T20:09:38Z 2010-08-30T19:45:11Z

<p style="text-align: left">A couple weeks ago we posted about how you can get <a title="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/our-projects/granite-on-a-budget-bathroom-vanity/" href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/our-projects/granite-on-a-budget-bathroom-vanity/" target="_blank">granite on a budget</a> with a new bathroom vanity countertop, as they use &#8220;leftovers&#8221; from our boneyard. Here&#8217;s another recent example of a bathroom vanity we helped transform:</p> <p style="text-align: left"><strong>Before</strong><a href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/40487_1493241443807_1017166454_31420389_2329266_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-503" title="40487_1493241443807_1017166454_31420389_2329266_n" src="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/40487_1493241443807_1017166454_31420389_2329266_n.jpg" alt="" width="463" height="348" /></a><strong>After</strong><a href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/46413_1493508850492_1017166454_31421215_1413657_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-504" title="46413_1493508850492_1017166454_31421215_1413657_n" src="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/46413_1493508850492_1017166454_31421215_1413657_n.jpg" alt="" width="479" height="359" /></a>We also do kitchen tranformations as seen here:</p> <p style="text-align: left"><a href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/45420_1491031348556_1017166454_31415498_307152_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-506" title="45420_1491031348556_1017166454_31415498_307152_n" src="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/45420_1491031348556_1017166454_31415498_307152_n.jpg" alt="" width="483" height="362" /></a><a href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/45500_1490963986872_1017166454_31415292_8180862_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-507" title="45500_1490963986872_1017166454_31415292_8180862_n" src="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/45500_1490963986872_1017166454_31415292_8180862_n.jpg" alt="" width="463" height="348" /></a><a href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/46341_1493647373955_1017166454_31421524_7911650_n.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-508" title="46341_1493647373955_1017166454_31421524_7911650_n" src="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/files/2010/08/46341_1493647373955_1017166454_31421524_7911650_n.jpg" alt="" width="483" height="362" /></a>To see more before and after photos of our granite projects <a title="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/index.php?s=before+" href="http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/index.php?s=before+" target="_blank">click here</a>.</p> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=jWtFV3aBbgs:WKnDFnVFFyU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sophisticatedstone/~4/jWtFV3aBbgs" height="1" width="1"/> 0 http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/our-projects/late-summer-before-after-photos/ Kali Justus http://www.design-sherpa.com http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/?p=498 2010-08-23T19:21:31Z 2010-08-25T06:00:59Z

<p>Small bathrooms are great for efficiency, but perhaps not for space. Here are some <a title="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75444/list/Decorating-Around-a-Small-Toilet-Space-in-a-Half-Bath/" href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75444/list/Decorating-Around-a-Small-Toilet-Space-in-a-Half-Bath/" target="_blank">decorating tricks</a> you can use to create the illusion of spaciousness in the tiniest of bathrooms:</p> <ul> <li>Play up vertical space with wallpaper, paint, and other decorative elements</li> <li>Well-selected accessories add style and unity to small spaces</li> <li>Use transparent/translucent materials such as glass to create visual space</li> <li>Explore angled surfaces and corner units to decrease visual clutter.</li> <li>Stick to a single color scheme.</li> <li>Place mirrors in spots that will reflect light.</li> <li>Add interesting elements like a single painted wall or chandelier.</li> </ul> <p>For more photos and ideas for small bathroom space solutions, see <a title="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75444/list/Decorating-Around-a-Small-Toilet-Space-in-a-Half-Bath/" href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/75444/list/Decorating-Around-a-Small-Toilet-Space-in-a-Half-Bath/" target="_blank">this article on houzz.com.</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/19570_0_8-4583-modern-powder-room.jpg" border="0" alt="Hamptons Show house modern powder room" width="360" height="541" /></p> <div style="color: #444444;text-align: center"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/modern/powder-room">modern powder room design</a> by <a href="http://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect/new-york">new york architect</a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/professionals/2187/Dufner-Heighes-Inc">Dufner Heighes Inc</a></div> <div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?a=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/sophisticatedstone?i=covB54jRLeY:dg6BYOc1VL0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/sophisticatedstone/~4/covB54jRLeY" height="1" width="1"/> 0 http://blog.sophisticatedstone.com/design-ideas/small-bathroom-space-solutions/