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The time has come to get a fresh look in your kitchen. After scrolling through Pinterest and seeing all of the beautiful kitchen layouts there, you’re ready to make your own look the same. You’re not alone; one in 10 households renovate their kitchen each year. Most homeowners are looking to make a big change with a small budget. Here are some tips to totally revamp your kitchen on a tight budget.

1. Start with a master plan and budget

   This tip may seem obvious, but starting a big project with a specific plan and budget will help you stay on track. One of the number one ways home renovators overspend on a project is by purchasing items during the process. If you have all of the new materials, paints, and decorative items selected before you start renovating, you’ll be able to avoid over-spending and switching things up during the process.

2. Paint your cabinets

   Replacing cabinetry will not only cost you an arm and a leg to purchase, but requires serious skill or professional help to install. Save yourself time and money by giving your cabinets a fresh coat of paint. You can go with a new coat of white, or try out a two-tone look. You’ll be surprised at how much of a difference that simple change can make.

3. Replace your countertops

   This may be one of the pricier areas of your budget but will also have the greatest impact on the new look of your kitchen. The most popular types of stone to use are granite countertops, marble countertops, and quartz countertops. While new countertops may be a larger section of your budget, it doesn’t have to take the whole bank. Checkout a remnant yard for leftover materials at a discounted price, especially if you don’t have a lot of countertop space to cover. Replacing the surfaces in your kitchen will give you that extra change you need to go from “meh” to Pinterest worthy.

4. Consider the lighting

   The lighting in your kitchen can have a huge impact on the look of your kitchen. Simply changing your lightbulb from cool tones to warm tones can make a huge difference with a small price tag. You can also check out new lighting fixtures to create a focal point and provide more lighting. Try thrifting a vintage fixture at your local secondhand shop.

5. Don’t mess with the plumbing

   While adding a sink to your island may seem like a great idea, altering the plumbing in your kitchen is a quick way to make your budget skyrocket. A change that you think would be simple could end up costing thousands of dollars. Unless you have a serious concern with elements of your plumbing, keep it where it is for now.

With these tips, you’ll get a Pinterest worthy kitchen on a budget in no time. Contact Supreme Stone to talk with a professional about how you can make your kitchen goals a reality.

Marble countertops, like granite countertops and quartz countertops, are stone products. However, marble has distinct properties from quartz and granite. This makes marble countertops uniquely suited for certain functions or looks in your home. Here are five reasons to use marble countertops:

Clean, Bright Appearance

Marble is the material that Greek and Roman statues were sculpted from. It has a white, off-white, or marbled appearance — no pun intended. As a result, it can brighten up kitchens when used as a countertop. Since it was used in ancient Greece and ancient Rome, it can give a kitchen a clean, sophisticated, and classic look.

This color comes from the chemical makeup of marble. Marble is a natural stone product sourced from marble quarries. Marble’s main components are calcite and dolomite — two chemical compounds that include calcium and carbonate. After being mined from a marble quarry, the marble is cut into sheets and polished.

When it is used as a countertop material, marble is usually sealed. Sealing marble closes the natural pores in the stone so the marble is better able to resist stains.

Thermal Properties

Marble countertops have thermal properties that provide unique functionality in the kitchen. Since marble is a stone product, it has high thermal resistance. Thermal resistance is the physical property of a material to resist heat flow. This means materials like marble change temperatures very slowly. A cool marble surface resists warming and a warm marble surface resists cooling.

Because of its thermal resistance, marble is valued by pastry chefs, chocolatiers, and candy makers. Pastry chefs use marble countertops and marble rolling pins when working with buttery doughs because the marble stays cool. As a result, working the dough using marble surfaces and rolling pins will not melt the butter in the dough. This allows the butter to form a flaky pastry.

Similarly, chocolatiers and candy makers value marble work surfaces because melted chocolate or melted sugar poured onto the surface cools very slowly. That is, the heat from the melted chocolate or melted sugar remains in the candy rather than being drawn into the marble surface. This gives a cook time to work with the candy before it solidifies. Moreover, since the candy cools slowly, it can develop the crystals that give candy its distinctive texture.

Surface Properties

The surface of marble is smooth and non-stick, perfect for baking and candy making. As melted chocolate, melted sugar, or doughs are worked on marble surfaces, they will not stick to the surface. This facilitates the pastry chef or candy maker in producing their creations.

More importantly, marble provides a flat, uniform surface. It does not have joints like a wooden surface or a laminate surface. Like other stone products, marble allows a cook to work on a smooth clean surface that will not mar the end product.

Microbe Resistant

Marble is a stone product unlike wood or bamboo. As a result, it does not provide an organic surface for bacteria and viruses to grow and multiply. Moreover, when it has been sealed, the pores in the marble are closed off. This means that microbes cannot hide inside them.

Marble’s smooth surface allows it to be sanitized against microbes that can cause foodborne illnesses and other infections. While microbes can gather in cut marks or even in joints and between grains of wooden surfaces, they have nowhere to hide on a marble countertop.

Environmentally Friendly

Marble is very durable. If you have visited or seen pictures of Athens or Rome, you know that marble can last thousands of years. While your countertops do not need to last for millennia, no homeowner would object to countertops that last as long as the home remains standing. Properly sealed and properly cared for, a marble countertop might never need to be replaced.

Consequently, marble, like granite and quartz, is viewed as an environmentally friendly building material. Although energy is used to extract marble from the quarry, it lasts so long that the actual environmental impact is fairly low. Moreover, since it never needs to be replaced, the marble will never end up in a landfill. More than 10 million kitchens are remodeled every year but those that use marble countertops may never need to dispose of them.

Marble countertops provide substantial functional, aesthetic, and environmental benefits.

An updated kitchen can make or break a sale when you put your property up on the market. In fact, 58% of homebuyers say that the kitchen’s style is very important to them. The easiest route you can take to making your kitchen more modern is to remodel your countertops. Check out these four things to keep in mind when choosing a granite countertop.

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Why Granite?

These countertops are cost-efficient, durable, and naturally heat resistant. It is the perfect stone if you enjoy baking because you can place hot pots and pans directly on the countertop straight out of the oven. It is also naturally resistant to bacteria, so you will not have to worry about bacterial contamination in your kitchen. Many homeowners also enjoy the fact that granite does not depreciate in value. This means that even if you sell your home 10 years after redoing your countertops, the added value of your countertops will be reflected in the price of your home.

How to Choose a Granite Style

This stone comes in a variety of colors and can be paired with just about any kitchen aesthetic. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose which one will best match your kitchen. Here are the three most popular styles for kitchen countertops:

Ubatuba:
This darker style is perfect in kitchens that have white cabinets or deep wood-style flooring. Ubatuba comes in a variety of stones, but the contrast it can give your kitchen will make your countertop pop. It can also be used to give your kitchen an earthy or sleek appearance, depending on the shade you choose.

Giallo Ornamental:
This creamy stone can be used to make your kitchen appear bigger and clean. The subtle veining throughout the stone also gives the space a warm ambience.

Kashmir White:
This salt and pepper colored stone will instantly upgrade your kitchen’s style. It is also a versatile stone, so it pairs well with most colors.

Countertop Edge

In addition to color, there are a variety of edge styles you can choose from. These include:

Ogee:
This is the most traditional countertop edge style, and is cut in the shape of a “S.”

Waterfall:
A waterfall edge is a three layer cut that looks similar to steps entering a pool.

Chiseled:
This seemingly imperfect cut is designed to look rustic, and to give the impression that the stone was taken straight out of the earth and put directly in your kitchen.

Bullnose:
This rounded edge looks smooth and polished, and can be more comfortable to touch or lean on.

Countertop Maintenance

Just like everything else in your kitchen, you will need to clean and maintain your countertops. As previously mentioned, this type of stone is extremely easy to clean and keep free of bacteria. In most cases, you will not need anything more than a warm rag a mild soap. You should never use cleaning solutions with a high alcohol content, as this can dull the finish. It is also recommended that you reseal the slab about every five years.

Final Thoughts

Granite countertops provide a versatile option to elevate your kitchen, and will ultimately improve the value of your home. The stone comes in a variety of colors and designs, is easy to clean and maintain, and can even be cut in a variety of styles to give your kitchen a unique look. Contact a kitchen design store today to pick out a slab that fits with your current kitchen aesthetic.

With the help of kitchen design stores, remodeling your kitchen has never been easier. Many homeowners may choose to renovate their kitchen for a variety of reasons, including to raise the value of their home. In fact, a minor kitchen remodel has a return on investment of 81%. This can make huge difference for someone looking to sell or rent their property. If you have been considering remodeling your kitchen, but you aren’t sure where to start, check out these tips.

Countertops

The easiest way to upgrade your kitchen is to replace your countertops. Using a stone countertop can give your space an elevated, more elegant look that makes your home more desirable. Kitchen design stores will have a variety of options to choose from, but the most popular countertops come in the following three types of stone:

Granite Countertops

Granite is a popular stone used in the kitchen because of its high heat-resistance. This means that you can place hot pots and pans directly on the countertop, which makes granite the perfect option in a kitchen for someone who loves to bake. An additional benefit of granite is that it is extremely easy to clean, and it is resistant to bacteria.

Marble Countertops

Marble is an elegant stone that is versatile enough to go with a variety of kitchen styles and aesthetics. Marble is also extremely durable, which is why it was used to make buildings in ancient Rome. Many homeowners also enjoy marble’s unique appearance. In other words, no one in the world will have the exact same marble countertop as you.

Quartz Countertops

Unlike marble and granite, a quartz countertop is not completely natural. It is often made from recycled materials from other countertop projects, so it includes a combination of marble, granite, and other stones. The major benefits of quartz are that it is stain resistant and more flexible than granite and marble countertops.

Kitchen Cabinets

Another easy way to upgrade your kitchen is to redo your cabinets and storage space. For example, simply adding a window in your current cabinets can give the space a more elegant appearance. A fresh paint job can also have the same effect, especially if the new color matches your countertops or backslash.

Kitchen Appliances

Depending on how new your cabinets and countertops are, you may decide the best route to take is to purchase new appliances. Many new options are more environmentally-friendly and use less energy than older models.

The great thing about choosing this renovation option is that you don’t need to buy brand new appliances, or even replace all of your appliances. You can save money by visiting second-hand stores to see if there any good deals, and keep newer appliances in your kitchen that you have already purchased. The main caveat, however, is that you need to sell these new appliances with the home in order for them to increase the value of your property.

Final Thoughts

Although remodeling your kitchen can seem like a daunting project to take on, it doesn’t need to be. Even a minor kitchen renovation project like replacing your countertops or buying new appliances can significantly increase the value of your home. If you aren’t sure which renovation option is the best for your kitchen, check out your local kitchen design stores and speak with a representative. They would be more than happy to assist you in making the best choice.

A kitchen design store can be a homeowner’s best friend. With one in 10 households performing a kitchen remodel every year, it’s clear that having an updated space is important. A remodeled kitchen can increase the value of your property, and make you feel more confident while entertaining guests. If you’re thinking about upgrading your kitchen, but aren’t sure where to start, check out this guide on choosing between fabrication countertops.

Granite Countertops

Granite is perhaps the most common type of stone people think of when talking about fabrication countertops. If you’re someone who loves cooking and baking, granite is your best option as it has a strong enough resistance to heat that you can place a pan on it straight out of the oven. You will also enjoy the fact that this countertop is easy to clean, is resistant to bacteria, and is extremely durable.

Marble Countertops

Marble can make any kitchen look sleek and gorgeous. It’s a versatile stone, meaning it can be coupled with a wide variety of kitchen styles. It can also be a cheaper countertop stone depending on the type of marble you purchase. While it’s no secret that marble can be extremely expensive, many homeowners may be surprised to learn that Carrara marble is very cost-efficient. This blue-grey marble comes from the city of Carrara in Italy and is a popular stone used in sculptures.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is unique from other fabrication countertops in the sense that it is not completely natural. Quartz stone is made up of various types of stone including quartz, marble, granite, and other natural stones or recycled industry materials. It is important to note that a quartz countertop is not solid quartz but still comes with many benefits. Quartz is stain-resistant and easy to clean. It is also as durable as granite, but more flexible than both granite and marble. This makes the countertop less likely to break or crack.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading your kitchen is a convenient way to improve the value of your home and the functionality of your space. Starting with your countertops can give your renovation project a direction to go in. With a variety of stones choose from, this can also give you inspiration on how to enhance the other aspects of your kitchen.