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Archive for natural stone – Page 2

On Trend: Pairing Natural Stone and Quartz

Originally Published By CecTops.com

When planning a new kitchen, or major kitchen remodel, pairing countertop and backsplash materials presents an age-old dilemma. Many designers swear by hard fast rules regarding how to make the perfect pairing, while others will say all the rules are meant to be broken!

It makes the most sense to start with your countertops. The countertop is the main hub of your kitchen and will most likely take up the bulk of your budget (other than cabinets!). Your desired style, budget and the way you plan to use it will go a long way in determining the best material for your countertop. Generally speaking, there are more limited color/texture options with countertops whereas backsplash options are virtually unlimited. Nail you countertops first, then you can get creative and make a statement with your backsplash.

Many homeowners desire the look of a natural stone material like marble, but either don’t have the budget or are turned off by its high maintenance nature. This is one of the main reasons many opt for engineered quartz for their countertops. Quartz is a non-porous material which makes it virtually maintenance free. No worries about staining from spilled red wine or highly acidic liquids. Based on advancements in the engineering process, quartz closely mimics the beauty of natural stone and is available in a large variety of colors. It is also more consistent in pattern than the natural stone making it versatile for both traditional and modern styles. As mentioned, this would allow you to get creative with your backsplash and have it define the ultimate style of the space.

Why can’t you have the beauty of natural stone and the ease of maintenance and versatility of quartz? You can, by pairing a natural stone backsplash with your quartz countertops. It’s all about combining different colors, textures, and patterns to project the style statement you desire. For instance, pair beautiful vein cut limestone tiles with a limited pattern quartz countertop. Or add more texture by going with a stacked stone accented backsplash with quartz. To help inspire you to create your own unique combinations, let’s take a look at some examples:

 

Black quartz countertops with white and gray marble chevron tiles for a stunning look; feasbyandbleeks.com

LG Viatera Snow Strom Quartz countertops paired with gray polished marble subway time for a timeless look; lgviaterausa.com

Vein cut limestone tile kitchen backsplash with quartz countertops; Designer, Carla Aston; Photographer, Tori Aston

A freckled charcoal gray quartz countertop paired with an opulent gray marble mosaic tile; MSI Stone

Product News: Sensa by Cosentino Introduces New Colors

Originally published on CecTops.com

Sensa by Cosentino, the highly-durable natural stone surface for both interior and exterior application, adds five new colors to its existing offering of 35 hues: White Napoli, Silver Blue, Luna Blanca, Smoky White, and White Alamo. Developed exclusively by Cosentino, a global leader in natural stone for more than 80 years, Sensa is a maintenance-free premium natural stone with a revolutionary stain protection that rivals the performance of manmade surfacing. The new colors add texture and tones to the existing offering—marrying a natural, luxurious look with a maintenance-free, high-quality natural stone.

While other natural stone on the market is porous and susceptible to stains from everyday use, Sensa by Cosentino comes equipped with Senguard®, a deep treatment applied during the manufacturing process that protects the stone helping eliminate required sealing for years to come–saving homeowners both time and money and reducing the risk of darkening that comes with repeated applications of standard sealers. True to Cosentino’s commitment to quality and durability, Sensa comes with a 15-year transferrable warranty.

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Luna Blanca evokes maroon and gray tones that fall across a moon white background to accomplish an innovative design. Luna Blanca is a polished Indian color, and an elegant option for countertops, walls and flooring.

Silver Blue subtly blends white and blue ripples on a natural silver background to create a bold tone, with a metallic finish and a high end design. Silver Blue is a polished, new to market color, from Spain.

Smoky White, found in India, swirls black, white and silver waves to create an exotic design of natural stone.

White Alamo blends cool grays and whites with hints of blacks to discover a stunning work of natural art. White Alamo is a polished, new to market color from Brazil.

White Napoli is a polished Brazilian stone with highlights of gray and black on a creamy white background.

Sensa retails from $36 to $89 per square foot, depending on color, thickness, and finish and is available in 35 hues.

For more information, visit the Sensa tab on our website or talk with a consultant at our showroom.