by aeb52298_admin | Oct 21, 2015 | Uncategorized
We recently hosted an event in which we brought in some new materials from one of our suppliers in Toronto. One of the main features of the event were the slabs of porcelain from Ciot.
Many people are unfamiliar with this man-made stone as a countertop surface, but porcelain is actually a great choice for vanities, shower walls, and even kitchen countertops.
The slabs come in a reduced thickness (6 mm) and are fully polished. Porcelain is heat resistant since the countertops are made while going through temperatures upwards of 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, according to countertopguides.com. These countertops also resist scratches, chipping, cracks, and every day wear and tear.
In conclusion, if you love the look of marble but are wary of the downsides marble possesses (being a softer stone) then porcelain would be a great alternative for your project.
(Photo from www.ciot.com)
by aeb52298_admin | Oct 19, 2015 | Uncategorized
Practicality has become a theme in bathroom and kitchen design. Give this article a read for further insight on this developing trend in the industry.
Link Below:
Practicality In Kitchen & Bath Design
by aeb52298_admin | Jan 17, 2013 | Trends/ Opinions, Uncategorized
Kitchens are always changing, new trends pop up and some stay for a year or multiple years. Below is a list of some of the latest trends I have researched and noticed in multiple homes.
Integration
Homeowners do not want to always see their appliances, they like to integrate them into their cabinets. Below is an example of a dishwasher that has been integrated into the cabinetry.
Warming Drawers
Warming drawers are a huge convenience. You can set food aside for dinner guests that arrive late, and their food will remain warm. Also, when you are cooking a big meal, like Thanksgiving, you can cook food throughout the day and set it in the drawer so it remains warm.
Handmade Custom Ranges
Want a wow factor in your kitchen? Try the la Cornue custom ranges. These ranges are custom ordered and handmade. La Cornue ranges bring a sense of Old World Charm to the kitchen, but with a hefty price.
Built In, One Button Coffee Makers
Waking up in the morning and making a cup of coffee can sometimes be a hassle. Then you have the coffee maker sitting on your counter all day. So what about building it into the wall? That is what many people are beginning to do. Building a coffee maker into the wall incorporates the other trend of integrating the coffee maker into the cabinetry. Also, these coffee makers tend to be a “one button coffee maker.” So all you have to do, is wake up and press a button, then you have your cup of coffee. Below is a picture of a Miele coffee maker.
by aeb52298_admin | Nov 25, 2012 | Engineered Stones, Uncategorized
Caesarstone a provider of quartz surfaces also offers a line called the Concetto line. The concetto line is a hand-made stone that is made from semi-precious stones. The concetto stones can be translucent and therefore lit up. Like many of the other of surfaces made by Caesarstone the surface is heat, scratch, and stain resistant. The concetto line can be used in many different situations and can be great accent pieces. The surfaces can be used in the traditional context such as kitchen counter tops and vanities. But, it is beautiful when it is used as walls, floors, or custom furniture. The pictures below are not picture from Italian Marble & Granite, but from the Caesarstone website. “Photos provided by Concetto by CaesarStone – 877.9QUARTZ – www.concettoUS.com.”
http://www.concettous.com/about_concetto.aspx
by aeb52298_admin | Nov 14, 2012 | Trends/ Opinions, Uncategorized
A lot of what is discussed on this blog has been about kitchens. Although we do a lot of kitchens, we do just as many bathrooms. Bathrooms are slowly changing to a place to relax after a long day, so why not indulge a little? So what have we seen lately?
- Vessel sinks– Undermount sinks may be a thing of the past. Vessel sinks are starting to become very popular in many bathrooms
- Granite– Many people are moving more towards granite rather marble because of its low maintenance characteristics
- Dual Vanities– Homeowners like the idea of his and her sinks, but having dual vanities gives homeowners their own space
- Heated Floors– No one likes getting out of the shower or bath and stepping on a cold floor, so why not heat it?
- Separate room for the toilet- Homeowners are starting to have a separate room within the bathroom for the toilet.
- Entertainment area– Many bathrooms have televisions mounted on the walls
by aeb52298_admin | Oct 26, 2012 | Miscellaneous, Uncategorized
There is no doubt that everyone remembers the horrific events of 9/11. Like many Americans, the Italian Marble & Granite’s staff knew some of the employees in the towers. Many years ago we were given the opportunity to do work in the towers which we were very excited about.
Now 11 years later we are going back to the Trade Towers to help many people remember. Italian Marble & Granite is involved in fabricating a part of the 9/11 memorial. We are creating a circular table that is two slabs thick that will be placed in the memorial. A structural object from the original tower will then be placed on the table. Although this is not a lot of work, we could not be happier to be involved in this project.
