One of the biggest factors in countertop selection is the cabinets, which we’ve discussed at length in several different blog posts. Another significant factor in redesigning your kitchen is the type of flooring you use. Kitchen walls and ceilings colors are easier to change according to taste, so they’re less of a concern – but the factor many people forget to incorporate into their choice of countertop surface is the lighting.

Kitchen lighting varies widely. Some have huge windows with lots of natural sunlight, while others have track lighting, one large overhead light, or several recessed lights. The height of the ceiling is also a major factor in how much light the room as a whole receives, since a lower ceiling doesn’t allow light to travel as far as a high one does.

When you’re considering what surface is right for your countertops, let us guide you in determining whether your favorite choice is going to shine in the lighting your kitchen has to offer.

Selecting Lighting For Rooms With High Ceilings and Lots of Natural Light

We’ll get the easy one out of the way first: if you have high ceilings with lots of natural light in the day and overhead lighting at night, you have free rein to do whatever you like. Think about how your favorite countertop style will work with your cabinets and floors – your light will take care of itself. No need to worry about a countertop being too dark for a naturally darker room!

Selecting Lighting For Rooms With High Ceilings and Very Little Natural Light

If you have high ceilings without a lot of natural light, we’d highly recommend investing in bright overhead lighting. With a high ceiling, usually just one central fixture is plenty to illuminate the whole room, though we do recommend considering under-cabinet lighting if your cabinets jut out over the countertops.

With high ceilings and little natural light, you’ll want to consider how the room will look without artificial lights on. Dark countertops can make the whole room look gloomy and intimidating, and any natural pattern in the material will be lost without direct lighting. With this type of lighting, a lighter-colored surface in white, cream, tan, or light brown would be best.

Giallo Ornamental, Andino White, Typhoon Bordeaux, Ashen White, White Spring, Venetian Gold are some of the granite colors for this situation.

Alternately, you could possibly get away with a blue or green surface with white highlights. The highlights will prevent the dark color from being lost if the lights are off, and when the lights are on the color will show beautifully. However, if you go this route, the countertops should be the darkest thing in the room – go lighter with cabinets and walls and flooring.

Selecting Lighting For Rooms With Low Ceilings and Lots of Natural Light

This is a particularly rare breed of room, but it does happen, usually in single-story homes where the kitchen is located at the corner of the house, with windows on each wall facing the outside. With this combination, the kitchen receives a ton of light during the day, but can be difficult to light at night because of the low ceiling.

Low ceilings do particularly well with recessed lighting or track lighting over the cabinets, and if you can manage it, that’s what we’d recommend here. If you have a single light fixture in the middle of the room, you may wish to invest in under-cabinet lighting as well.

Low ceilings with lots of light have two opposing options for countertops: go light everywhere except the countertops, or go light on the countertops and darker on the lower level of the room.

If you go dark on the countertops, they’ll be the anchor for the entire room, and the lighter areas above and below will seem bigger by comparison. If you go light on the countertops, continue that lightness from the countertops upward, and go a little darker on the cabinetry below the countertops. This, again, makes the lightness in the upper part of the room seem bigger and more expansive.

Selecting Lighting For Rooms With Low Ceilings and Very Little Natural Light

Never fear! While this is a tougher situation to work with, but some kitchens have low ceilings and tiny windows, and that’s just the way it is. In kitchens like these, don’t fight the room’s design – instead, make it feel cozy and well-lighted on the inside.

Lighting over and under the cabinets will make it feel as if the walls are glowing with their own golden light, and a single overhead light will make sure the middle of the room is illuminated as well. If the kitchen has an island, a line of island lighting can serve the same purpose as the overhead light.

For rooms like these, going dark on your countertops simply won’t work. Light-colored granite and marble is a nice possibility, particularly if you can light your countertops well, but you may wish to add some color to your light-starved room and go for a quartz surface in a bright color. This is one of the advantages of a room without a lot of natural light – bright colors can look odd when the sunlight hits them, but they look consistently striking in a room where you control the lighting yourself.

Need Help Deciding?

If you’re not sure what type of countertop surface would be best for your kitchen’s lighting – or any of the other factors that are important to you – don’t hesitate to contact us at Arch City Granite in St. Louis. We’re always happy to answer questions and make sure you have the information you need to make the right choice for you.

The post How to Pick the Best Countertops for Your Kitchen Lighting [Updated for 2022!] appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

If you’re looking for a beautiful, versatile stone for your home, Santa Cecilia granite is a great option. This stone hails from Brazil, specifically the quarries in the Sao Paolo region. The name comes from the patron saint of music, Saint Cecilia. When it comes to granite, Santa Cecilia is regarded as one of the most interesting, beautiful stones on the market.

Let’s take a deeper look at Santa Cecilia granite to see how it might fit in your home.

Close up view of Santa Cecilia granite

Ways to Use Santa Cecilia Granite

In many homes, Santa Cecilia granite features prominently as kitchen or bathroom countertops. However, this also a good choice if you want a granite backsplash or stone tiled floors. This granite is a dense stone, which means that it can be used both inside the home and outside — particularly in places where more delicate types of stone may not stand up to the elements.

If you want a beautiful, durable fireplace surround, countertops for your outdoor kitchen or even a surround for a barbecue pit, this granite is an excellent choice. Because Santa Cecilia is so dense and hard, it will stand up well to years of use in kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor applications.

Santa Cecilia Granite Price

Even better, Santa Cecilia granite price makes it as one of the more affordable options available. To install a 3-centimeter (1 1/4-inch) thick counter, you’ll pay between $45 and $55 per square foot, depending on the size and complexity of the job.

The Many Colors of Santa Cecilia Granite

One of the reasons why Santa Cecilia is such a versatile stone is that it features a broad range of colors. Individual slabs may vary between mid-tones or lighter hues, and the patterning tends to be bold, featuring dark browns or black, sometimes with hints of reddish minerals. Some slabs feature predominately gold tones while other pieces of Santa Cecilia are a light granite, predominately gray throughout. In bright lighting, Santa Cecilia granite has a mild sparkle that adds depth to the stone.

Overall, patterning is consistent throughout the slabs — and the tightly patterned appearance adds a lot of visual interest to counters and back splashes made with Santa Cecilia. This is truly a stone that you’ll want to see in person in order to fully appreciate its beauty.

Color Matching Granite: Santa Cecilia in Your Home

If you’re wondering how to work with Santa Cecilia granite, the good news is that this is a stone that can go with a variety of interior themes. No matter which shade you choose, Santa Cecilia will pair beautifully with natural wood cabinetry. Golden slabs of Santa Cecilia work well with rich cherry and mahogany shades while the lighter, more gray-toned slabs pair well with pine and lighter shades of wood.

In more colorful kitchens, Santa Cecilia makes an excellent contrast with cabinets and appliances lacquered in cherry and wine shades. This stone also matches well to autumn-inspired rooms, creating a nice blend of colors when mixed with wall and cabinet colors in rich honey, maple or even mustard hues. And, of course, the dark browns that feature prominently in Santa Cecilia will help you match this stone to coffee and espresso colored cabinetry.

Finally, for homeowners that are using modern-inspired color palettes, Santa Cecilia slabs with a gray base pair very well in kitchens or bathrooms that have black-and-white themes, tuxedo cabinets in black, or furnishings in shades of gray. This shade of Santa Cecilia also works well in white and parchment-themed spaces.

Granite Colors with Similar Shades to Santa Cecilia

New Venetian Gold Giallo Rio Santana granite Venetian Pearl

If you love the colors of Santa Cecilia, then there are a few more types of granite colors that you should look into. New Venetian Gold granite is a golden-based stone with dark brown patterning that is very similar to gold-based Santa Cecilia.

Giallo Rio gives you the tight patterning of Santa Cecilia but in slightly lighter, creamier colors. Santana granite trends more towards tan or taupe as the base color rather than gold or gray. Venetian Pearl granite is a stone that you may be interested in if you’re looking for a tan to light golden base with gray to black patterning.

If you’re interested in Santa Cecilia granite countertops — or counters in any other shade or stone — then you’ll definitely want to pay a visit to Arch City Granite & Marble’s St. Louis showroom. Here, you’ll be able to see a variety of slabs on display, which will make it easy to choose the ideal stone for your home improvement project.

The post Santa Cecilia Granite: An Affordable Brazilian Stone that Suits Any Kitchen Design appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

Now that you have your beautiful natural stone countertop installed in your kitchen, you will be spending a few moments staring into its rich surface. You will love how its smooth edges and color variations bring aesthetics and a sense of cool perfection.

You will definitely want to take steps to protect your newest investment from Arch City Granite. You already know that your countertops can take the heat. If you have wondered if you should be preparing food on your new countertops then we have the information you need to stay informed.

Cutting and preparing food on marble

Nothing transforms a kitchen like marble. The veins of color add elegance that few surfaces can compete with. If you like preparing food, and you have a marble countertop, you might want to consider investing in a few different cutting boards.

While marble can be very durable, you have to remember that Marble is highly susceptible to acids. If an acid can make its way through the sealant, it will react with your marble countertop. That being said, you should never cut things like lemons, grapefruits, oranges, and other acidic fruits or vegetables on your marble.

Most sealants can handle the acid for a bit, but if you miss a spot during cleanup, you could be dooming your marble to etching. Besides, using a cutting board will keep your marble countertops looking their best. If you want more information about marble sealants click here. Wood cutting boards are great for vegetables and bread. If you need to cut and prepare raw meats, you should use a plastic cutting board that you can throw into a dishwasher. The reason behind this is bacteria. Bacteria from raw meats can seep into wood. The high temperatures of your dishwasher is pretty effective at killing bacteria, so plastic is perfect for all your meaty desires.

Cutting and preparing food on granite

Granite is definitely harder than the edge of your knives. You will wear out your knives long before you wear out your new granite countertop. Granite can take a beating and is one of the best countertops for families with little kids. Still though, even though granite is super durable you might want to avoid preparing food right on the surface.

Your granite countertop from Arch City Granite comes equipped with a sealant layer. The sealant gives it that beautiful shine. Food preparation and the cleaning supplies used to disinfect surfaces can damage your sealant. If the sealant gets damaged, your granite can then allow substances to seep inside. This can lead to color changes and pitting. Now this doesn’t mean you can cut a quick carrot, or chop some celery. You definitely can, but it is better to be in the habit of using a cutting board whenever you cut and prepare your food.

Arch City Granite

So the big answer to the question about cutting and preparing food on granite or marble is to play it safe by using a cutting board. For more information about granite, marble, or other natural stone countertops, you need to come to Arch City Granite and check out our vast selection. We have colors, and types of stone you are looking for. When you think professional countertops, think Arch City Granite.

The post Is it Possible to Cut and Prepare Food on a Granite/Marble Kitchen Countertop? appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

For decades, the trend in counter tops has been moving in one direction: Granite. If your friends bought a new house or remodeled their kitchen you’d hear, “And it has granite countertops!” For many years that has been the ultimate upgrade.

Granite has been king in the countertop industry and while it is still the most popular choice, there is a new kid in town that is challenging granite’s place in the popularity contest. Quartz is the fastest growing segment in countertops. The hippest, trending kitchens in the last few years flaunt gorgeous quartz countertops. Also known as engineered stone, quartz can be made in nearly any color to fit your décor perfectly.

Let’s explain quartz countertops

This type of countertop might be confusing because it falls under the “stone countertop” category, but how can stone be blue or red or green? It is because quartz is man-made but uses natural materials. Quartz is made by combining 93% ground quartz crystal and binding them together with 7% poly-resin and color, it is then poured into slabs. The colors vary from the neutral greys, browns and whites to the vibrant red, yellow, blue, green, orange and other similar colors. In its early days, quartz was only available in solid colors with very little variation. In the last few years the technology has evolved to mimic the look of marble or granite with veining and natural stone patterns. So, whether you want that natural, organic style or a colorful, more modern look, it can be achieved with beautiful quartz countertops.

Durability unmatched from any other stone

One of quartz’s finest qualities is its durability. Quartz countertops are scratch resistant and very low maintenance. Quartz can have the look of marble but won’t etch, scratch or stain like marble can. It can also be made to appear like granite, yet it does not need to be sealed like granite and marble do because quartz is non-porous.

One of the qualities of a natural stone is that it has small pores. It is possible to stain natural stones if they are not properly sealed or treated. Quartz countertops will never need this type of care. This is a very attractive feature to homeowners. Remembering to seal your countertops every few years can be quite a pain. Forgetting to seal them altogether could lead to disaster. Quartz countertops are less stress, less hassle and will continue to look gorgeous for years to come with little or no maintenance.

Created in all textures to match your style

Quartz does not just come in one finish. Quartz has flexible finish choices. If you like soapstone with its soft, silky finish, you can get that with quartz as well. It can be polished or be made with a smooth, matte finish. The reason quartz is gaining acclaim and popularity is because of its flexibility of style and color and its superior durability.

Arch City Granite for the best quartz selection

At Arch City Granite, we are excited to help you with all your stone countertop needs. Our expertise in all things stone will help you in selecting the perfect countertop for your home or business. For the latest selections, please stop by our store where we have a fantastic selection of both natural stone and quartz. Our counter top experts look forward to assisting you with your selections and helping your dream kitchen become a reality.

The post Move Over Granite, Quartz is in Town! appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

When people think of an elegant, cool, and stunning countertop they usually think of marble. One of our biggest attractions to marble is those veins of color. When marble is formed under the earth, different minerals are exposed to heat and the veins of color are created. No two slabs of marble look the same. Your kitchen countertop will always be unique. Unfortunately, marble comes with its own issues.

At Arch City Granite, we specialize in the fabrication and installation of countertops. We understand that even though marble has its undeniable charm, it comes with higher demand for maintenance. If you are looking for that marble look, but without the maintenance, we have a solution.

Meet Marble

Marble is resistant to heat, and since it doesn’t absorb heat well, many bakers love its cool properties. You can set a hot pan, or pot down on the surface of your marble countertop and not worry about the heat doing any damage. Marble has been used for fireplace surrounds because it can handle a few sparks and won’t yellow from the heat.

Marble has a lot of qualities, but it is also a soft, porous rock. Because it is soft, you might never set a pot down on the surface, because you will be terrified of scratching it. Marble countertops will scratch very easy. You will want to have a cutting board whenever you are preparing a meal, because a knife blade can mar the surface. Because it scratches easily, most people will even put a soft cloth under their cutting boards. If you decide to use a scrubbing pad to clean the surface of you marble, you can damage the entire surface. It is that soft.

Marble is very susceptible to acids as well. If you spill some orange juice, wine, or any liquid that has acidic properties, the acid will etch the surface. Spills have to be cleanup up immediately. For this reason, people with young children often avoid getting marble countertops. Kids just make it difficult to have nice things.

Remember how marble is porous? That means that things can seep into the marble. Oils, coffee, and other drinks can seep into the porous rock and stain it. Since marble is so porous, you can get a surface sealer and a deep soaking sealant. Both will help protect you marble and give you precious minutes to clean up a spill before it can stain your beautiful countertops. Both types of sealant degrade over time, so you will need to have your countertops resealed.

The time frame is different, depending on the amount of use, but it can range anywhere from a few times a year, to once every one to two years. This is where the maintenance comes in with marble. If you forget to reseal, you will be faced with impossible stains that you can use elbow grease to remove, because scrubbing will scratch your marble.

Meet Granite that Looks like Marble

You have heard that granite is hard. That hardness gives it the durability people expect with a granite countertop. Geologists created a ranking system that measures the hardness of rock and they call it the Mohs hardness scale. Marble comes in at a 3 to 5, while granite comes in at a 7. Diamonds are a 10. Granite is non-porous and very, very hard. You can set hot pots down on the surface; some people even prepare their meal right on the surface.

Although, we recommend that you still use a cutting board, you will find that granite can withstand scratches from knife blades quite well. Since Granite is non-porous, you can spill things on the surface and never worry about stains occurring. Granite has a lot less maintenance. Like marble, granite does require a sealant, but many homeowners find that they can go a few years with heavy use before they ever have to add a new seal coat.

Your Marble-like, Granite Solution

If you love the look of marble, but you want the durability and the low maintenance associated with granite, then you are in for a wonderful surprise. There is a form of granite that has veins of color and looks like marble. That’s right, you can get granite that looks like marble. You can have your beautiful flowing marble look without all the work that goes into maintaining a marble countertop.

Bianco Romano granite looks a lot like Carrara marble. You will notice the white color with the greyish veins flowing through the surface. Your kitchen will come to life and you won’t have to worry about your children destroying your countertop.

Here at Arch City Granite, we can help you find a beautiful slab of granite that will give you the look of marble that you want. When you want the most out of your kitchen, you need to come and see us at Arch City Granite. We can help you pick the right countertop for your home. You can even watch the fabrication process, where we take large slabs of stone and transform them into beautiful countertops for kitchens, bathroom, and laundry rooms.

At Arch City Granite, we work to beauty homes, one kitchen at a time. Why not make your kitchen, the next one we transform?

The post Marble the Granite Way at St. Louis Stone Countertops Company appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

First things first: most kitchen designers recommend that you pick your granite counters before the cabinets. While there are many subtle shades of stains and paints for cabinets that can be mixed and matched with door styles, each block of granite is a unique natural creation. If you choose a cabinet first, you are going to be limited in finding granite that really pairs well with your cabinet.

Of course, if you already have existing cabinets, you have to start with what you have. In that case, when you are shopping for granite, bring along a door or drawer from your kitchen. This will help you visualize what the granite will look like in your home.

There are two main groups of pairings between granite and cabinets: contrasting and complementary.

A familiar contrasting combination is the classic white and black kitchen, but this category can also include such sets as espresso cabinets with a Giallo Ornamental Granite or light-to-medium wood cabinets with an Absolute Black Granite.

Complementary pairings don’t have to be monotone or flat. They can be crisp and bright like a white quartz counter on a white cabinet or warmer like a Hawaiian Bordeaux Granite on a maple cabinet.

Here are a few tips on picking the right cabinets for light, medium, and dark granite:

Finding the Right Cabinets for White and Tan Granite

Light Granite

Source: Houzz

It sounds like it would be easy to find something to match white and tan, but since most granite is not a true white, but has an off-white color and/or has other colors mixed into the pattern, you have to be a bit more strategic.

Of course, black or espresso cabinets usually form a great contrast, but if you want to have contrast with a more traditional stained cabinet, try to find those accents of color in the granite that tie into the cabinet. For example, a Typhoon Bordeaux Granite has cherry accents that will tie in well with cherry or any dark wood cabinets, particularly those with a warmer hue.

One easy way to tie in a light granite with darker accents and an off-white or cream cabinet is to choose a cabinet glazing that matches the colors in the granite. For example, if you have a granite like Giallo Ornamental Granite or Juperana Delicatus Granite, choose a chocolate or espresso glazing.

Finding the Right Cabinets for Medium-Dark Granite

Medium Granite

Source: Houzz

Most granites you will see in this category are in the earth-tone family: Tan Brown Granite, Hawaiian Bordeaux Granite, Golden Sparkle Granite, and so on. These are particularly easy to match with cabinets because, more often than not, they have at least a few minerals that are wood-colored.

This category of stones goes particularly well with the familiar oak cabinets you see in older homes. If your existing cabinets are oak, you can either pick a complementary pairing by picking a more consistently medium-brown granite that has a gold or caramel hue or you can add contrast by picking a medium-dark granite that has large very light or dark elements mixed into the brown background. These stones also tend to match any natural-finished wood such as oak, hickory, or maple.

For a dark, sophisticated look, trying pairing a stone like Hawaiian Bordeaux Granite or Golden Sparkle Granite with black cabinets. The black cabinets will help the beautiful granite patterns to pop. To make sure the room doesn’t get to dark, add extra pendant or under-cabinet lighting.

Finding the Right Cabinets for Black and Other Dark Granites

Dark Granite

Source: Houzz

A patterned black, solid black, or generally dark granite is a bold statement piece in your kitchen. In this category are stones like Absolute Black Granite, Titanium Granite, Cosmos Granite, and Coffee Brown Granite. When choosing a cabinet, look for a style and color that will complement your granite without competing for attention.

If you want to go the dark-on-dark direction, see what your granite looks like with cherry cabinets in a dark finish like Bordeaux or chocolate. Another popular options is an espresso finish, which gives the depth of a black cabinet without being too similar to the countertop color.

Dark granite is a great opportunity to experiment with different painted cabinets besides the common black and white. We’ve seen more and more homeowners using gray cabinets with dark granite to achieve a clean, contemporary look. You can also go a more colorful route with blue, green, or buttercup yellow cabinets. These colors all look especially good with a dark leathered granite or any soapstone.

One Last Tip

Whether you are replacing both your counters and cabinets or just choosing new counters, finding the right stone and wood finish combination can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many great choices out there! The best way to make sure you know your options is to choose high-quality granite and cabinet companies. They will be able to offer you personalized service and take the time to help you carefully consider the options that are best for your home and tastes.

The post How to Match Granite and Cabinets appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

The bathroom is one of the most practical and necessary rooms in the house. But sometimes it ends up being the last room to be decorated and updated. Think of how often you are in the powder room or master bathroom? Invest a little money and time in this space, and you have the chance to start and end your day in with colors and styles that make you smile.

Except for the unusually large and luxurious bathroom, most vanity counters can be fabricated from remnants, the large pieces of granite or other stones leftover from bigger projects.

Particularly when it comes to higher-end granites with more unique patterns, remnants rarely match new slabs, meaning that fabricators will usually sell the remnants at a considerably discounted rate. These beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces are the best way to get a great, affordable vanity top.

Granite for Bathrooms

Like in the kitchen, granite is the most versatile and durable countertop you could choose. Granite will easily hold up against the normal wear and tear of a bathroom. We still recommend sealing your vanity top once a year. Most fabricators will likely have a larger amount of granite remnants compared to other countertop types.

Quartz Surfaces for Bathrooms

Quartz counters are the next most popular choice for vanity counters. They will have the same durability level as granite when installed in bathrooms. However, your fabricator may not have as many remnants of quartz. The consistency of pattern and color across different quartz styles means that any remaining pieces can be used for future kitchen projects. If you visit a fabricator who stocks quartz, they can sell you a smaller piece at the normal price rate.

Marble for Vanity tops

White marble and white quartzite are two more popular and dependable choices for bathroom vanities. For those who would prefer marble in the kitchen, but are wary of the risks, the bathroom is a great place to enjoy a classic like White Carrara Marble.

In the bathroom, there are far less risks that an acidic substance or stray knife or heavy pot will be able to damage your marble. Properly sealed, there’s no reason a white marble can’t stay looking fresh and clean in the average bathroom.

Quartzite Stones for Bathrooms

If you are still not ready to put marble in your bathroom but love the look, consider quartzite. This natural, quarried stone can have a similar appearance to marble, but is harder and more resistant to etching and stains. Super White Quartzite and White Macaubas Quartzite are two popular choices for that classic marble top look without the risks of marble.

For a large selection of remnants and other bathroom vanity counter options in the greater St. Louis area, visit one of Arch City Granite and Marble’s two fully-stocked showrooms.

The post How to Choose the Best Type of Countertop for Your Bathroom appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

Summer is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the soft colors and bright, airy feel of a beach house all year long. With the right mix of colors and natural materials, you can create a fresh and relaxing kitchen that looks classy in any season.

Let’s start with the colors:

Now, if you are thinking summer, your first instinct may be to choose warmer colors for the walls, but in this scenario, we are trying to capture the refreshing atmosphere of a seaside vacation home. That means you are going to want to stick to pale, cool tones–such as seafoam green and powder blue– in combination with white or off-white (whichever you prefer). Once you have the paint colors established, you can add some contrast to the room with brighter colored throw pillows, wall art, or other smaller decorative features.

Then add the cabinets:

To keep the whole room soft and light, stick to either white, off-white, or a pale wood cabinet. You can give the kitchen a casual weathered effect by choosing a natural or unfinished wood like hickory or oak. As for the cabinet style, simple is better here.

The floor comes next:

If you were actually in a beach house, you would have to worry about sand, which damages wood floors, but in this case you can choose a light-to-medium wood floor without a second thought. If you prefer tile, a large-scale (12″x12″) cream or tan travertine tile will give you a similarly open, natural feel.

Last your counters, the crown jewel of the kitchen:

As the most significant natural element in the kitchen, your countertops will be the visual center of the room. You don’t have to break the bank to get just the right look; several low-to-mid range granite colors like Kashmir White Granite, Colonial Gold Granite, and Hawaii Granite all have interesting patterns and creamy neutral base colors that will tie in the cabinets, floor, and paint colors.

In a slightly higher-priced category of stones are those granite patterns with a bit more motion and color. Typhoon Bordeaux Granite and Typhoon Green Granite have exciting diagonal waves with a splash of color to increase contrast and energy. For a glossier surface, take a look at Sea Pearl Quartzite and White Macaubas Quartzite, which both have long, meandering lines that closely resemble sea foam or gentle waves.

If you are ready to look in the exotic granite category, you can bring the ocean right into the kitchen with stunning stones like Blue Bahia Granite.

Don’t forget backsplash!

Light, simple, medium-sized tiles will help set the stage for your countertops. If your granite has a cooler background, white marble subway tiles pair well. To match with a warmer granite, neutral travertine, porcelain, or ceramic tile is best.

The post Beach Vibes: How to Design a Kitchen that Looks Like a Vacation All Year Long appeared first on Arch City Granite & Marble.

There is nothing more inherently inspiring than looking at beautiful natural landscapes in person. The next best thing is to see echoes of these vistas captured in the unique patterns and colors of natural stone.

When walking through a countertop fabricator’s warehouse or granite slab-yard, many are struck by how many types of granite, marble, and quartzite resemble aerial views of the earth or the night sky. In this post, we’ll feature a few of these breathtaking patterns that are available right here in the greater St. Louis area.

The Lava Rocks

Now, it’s not hard to guess why so many types of granite resemble cooled or flowing lava. Granite is an igneous rock, which means at one time it was indeed molten lava deep below the earth’s surface.

Desert Dream Granite is one of the most striking in this category, with copper, burnt orange, and ash gray swirling into a jet black background. This granite looks different from each set of slab to the other, making each a unique snapshot of the intensity of the earth’s inner layers.

Desert Dream granite (also known as Magma Gold or Sedna)

While Titanium Granite does sometimes have traces of gold or copper in it, it is primarily black and white. Its swirls have that same distinct look of molten rock, but in this case the colors are those of cooled lava: off-white and jet black.

Titanium Granite Slab

The Arctic Rocks

Though quarried in the warmer climate of Brazil, Alaska White Granite’s crisp white and black colors look distinctly like ice floes breaking off from a glacier and drifting out into a dark artic sea. Cool and soothing, this popular granite provides an extra bit of natural inspiration in classic bright white or black and white kitchen.

Alaska White granite slab

Sea Pearl Quartzite is a translucent, off-white stone with long diagonal lines and a pearly sheen. It has a faint undertone of pale green, which give its pattern the appearance of sea foam cresting on cool waves.

Sea Pearl Quartzite (natural stone) slab

The Riverbed Stone

Black Marinace Granite (Nero Marinache) is a spectacularly unique natural stone. Geologically speaking, it is a polymict pebble conglomerate. Each of the round stones in its pattern was likely rolled smooth over a long period of time as a glacier moved over them. Then, a silt or sediment washed over them and hardened as it was covered with more and more layers of new rocks and silt. If you look closely, you can see a “weather rime” or faint change of color around the edge of some of the individual rocks where each pebble came into contact with the elements.

Black Marinace granite (Also known as Nero Marinache, Marinache Gold)

The Milky Way Stone

Cosmos Wave Granite has an unusually high amount of mica and large pieces of quartz, minerals that give this granite its signature shimmer. Swirls of silver, gold, and copper give make slabs appear as if they were photos taken from the telescopes that can zoom in on the Milky Way.

Cosmos Wave granite (Also known as Stormy Night granite)

Beauty of these stunning granites is not easy to capture in photographs.  If you are in St. Louis, Missouri area, you are most welcome to visit these granites in person.

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Kitchen Countertops with Calcatta Classique Q-Quartz, White and Espresso cabinets’ combination

Calcatta marble has always fascinated common man to artisans across the world.  It is a premium marble quarried in the Carrara region of Italy, which is the same area of Italy where Carrara marble  originates.   But the white background with very subtle light gold and faint gray veining makes it as an exclusive choice of stone for palaces and luxury homes around the world.

Calcatta Marble is available in very limited quantities.  Many stone traders visit the quarries to pick the most desirable slabs. Palaces built for Middle East rulers and the new millionaires in the emerging economies like India and China are chasing the Calcatta marble, driving the cost of Calcatta marble prohibitively high.  It costs around $250 per Square feet (Sq. Ft.) installed across the United States.

White marble looks for kitchen countertops is a very popular trend in American homes.  Apart from being very expensive, Calcatta marble has problems of etching, chipping and staining when used in a functioning and working kitchen used on a daily basis.

The manufacturing of quartz surfaces that look like natural Calcatta marble has changed the countertops scenario.  Now you have the options of having a surface that looks like marble but behaves like granite or even better.

Calcatta Classique Quartz  from Q-Quartz (MS International) is one of the best looking in its class.  It is a show-stopper with a clean marble look and subtle veining of golden-gray tones.  This engineered surface offers all the beauty of the original Calcatta marble without the headaches of its high maintenance.

It is also much less expensive than Calcatta marble.  Installed cost per square feet ranges from $78 to $89 across the United States.  The compared price of $200 to $250 per sq ft. for real Calcatta marble makes the Q-Quartz an affordable option.

Calcatta Classique looks beautiful with white cabinets or off white cabinets.  It goes very well with black cabinets as well with espresso cabinets.  The beige to brown tones in the veining of this quartz also makes it suitable for any brown tone cabinets.

Veining that goes through the entire depth of the slab offers real marble like appearance

It is such a durable material that any upgraded edges like ogee; triple step edges can be done to suit the decor of the kitchen.

3” Mitered Apron built up edge on Calcatta Classique Quartz Island

Mitered Apron built up edge has become a fashionable trend of European kitchens.  It is slowly catching up in American homes.  A mitered edge can be constructed up to a 2″ to 3″ side profile by cutting the stone at a 45-degree miters angle and gluing edges together to give an appearance of a thick countertop.

The veins flowing through the depth of the slab in the Calcatta Classique offers an appearance of real marble look when we fabricate mitered edge profiles.  Waterfall edge is another trending addition to the islands of modern kitchens.

The subtle golden and grey veining on the Calcatta Classique offers real marble appearance

Great looks, ease of maintenance, and affordability has made this quartz surface a popular choice for the home owners looking for clean white countertops that look like marble.

Arch Granite & Marble, Inc. has introduced Calcatta Classique Quartz to St Louis metro area.  We stock the full slabs of this quartz so that you can see the full slabs before finalizing your selection.

Now homeowners in St. Louis area can have the luxury of having Calcatta marble kitchens that fit into their budget without worrying about the marble maintenance.  We know you’ll agree with us if you see the full slabs!  Visit our showroom in St. Louis or O’Fallon, Missouri, no appointment required.

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