Surface Center

3 Tips from the NTKB 2012 Design Competition

2012-05-31T19:42:32Z

One of the advantages of paying attention to things like the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2012 Design Competition is that you can normally be ahead of the curve on what is and is going to be popular in design for the upcoming years. Here are just a few of the trends that you’ll find helpful when you come into Surface Center to choose a new countertop for your kitchen or bath renovation:

Glossy finishes and fixtures are a big presence at the competition. When it comes time to choose what finish you want after you have your chosen slab picked out, we highly recommend going glossy!
If you aren’t sure about a color to use, try picking white. White counter space, especially when you use quartz, can stand the test of time and will also be easily played around with. You never have to worry about colors clashing when you get ready to change things up.
Tiles don’t have to be basic. If you’re going to incorporate them into your home, you can be as bold and inventive as you wish with them and still not push the boundaries too far.

Have you noticed any other trends that you like for incorporating natural stone in your home? Share them in the comment section below!

Source: The National Kitchen & Bath Association Reveals Top Trends from 2012 NKBA Design Competition
Photo Credit: Jesse Brennemann via NKBA.com

iStone Makes Renovation a Cinch when Choosing Stone

2012-05-29T09:54:26Z

When you are working on a kitchen renovation, it can be difficult to choose and remember exactly the type of stone you want to use. Even if you have a broad idea, such as using granite or quartz, then you still have so many options left to choose from with color and pattern. Designers and architects alike will love the new iStone app that the Marble Institute of America has designed to be used with the iPad.

You’ll have access to more than 1,000 different stones at the tap of a finger! The Marble Institute of America also has another app called Stones of North America. To access either of these, go to the Apple App Store and download them today. If you find one you like, come in to Surface Center and look through slabs of the real thing. While the applications can be a lot of help, every slab of granite has its own things that make it a unique piece.

Source: MIA Releases iStone—A Natural Stone Swatch for the iPad
Photo Credit: Yutaka Tsutano on flickr.com

3 Reasons to Choose Solid Surfaces in Your Renovation

2012-05-23T04:53:20Z

There are so many types of materials you can use when you’re looking for counters in your kitchen. If granite countertops seem like too much of a luxury for your project (especially your budget) or if you’ve heard that they require too much upkeep (which isn’t always the case, actually), then you should come by Surface Center to look at our alternatives to granite. Solid surfaces are highly durable and quartz has many advantages, including but not limited to:

A wide variety of colors that don’t always exist in granite.
Resistant to mold, mildew, and heat.
Highly durable and will not easily stain.

On top of that, out quartz counters are also a very Green product and are even more sustainable than our granite slabs. Come into our showroom to see examples of these types of counters and gain a better insight into what would look good in your kitchen and work best for your family.

Source: COUNTER INTELLIGENCE: Surfaces That Work Best In Your New Kitchen
Photo Credit: Rina Magen via Houzz.com