One of the most crucial aspects of choosing exclusive home decor elements is to blend them well with the finer nuances of other furnishings, fixtures and decoration facets. The idea is to play with elements and mix and match them to create a visually stunning look that is elegant and understated yet striking. Basic aesthetic discretionary skills are vital and so is the ability to be creative and opt for looks that are out of the box and eye-catching.
Granite as an element lends extreme sophistication, warmth and an unparalleled luxury to your decor. It has myriad virtues that make it one the most sought after material at high-end homes. Apart from a rich feel, granite surfaces are easy to maintain and immensely durable owing to the resilient and non-corrosive nature of the stone. One of the most imperative aspects of upgrading to granite surfaces in your home is to pick the right hues for creating a magical and picturesque look for your dream abode. Here are some super tips to help you choose the right granite color.
The color of your granite should artistically harmonize with all other features of the decor. Hence you will have to decide at the onset if you want a dark or light granite look to complement the other aspects. If you have a predominantly dark shade adorning the room, opt for lighter hues to achieve a fantastic blend. On the other hand if you have enough light shades, go for a rich dark shade to strike a stunning balance. It is also important to gauge the granite design that you want to opt for in accordance with other elements of the decor. If you have wall and floor tiles that have lively and brisk patterns, you wouldn’t want to spoil the show by incorporating active patterns again. In such a scenario choose to go plain with your granite design. Again the thumb rule works for the reverse as well. If the tiles are plain you can select a granite design that has mishmash of vibrant patterns to complete the look.
Selection of the granite color also depends on the space that is available to you. Busy patterns and bright colors will look good only if you have an expansive countertop space. Otherwise they will not give the required effect and will make your limited space look even more truncated. For space constraints it is best to choose lighter shades that will give an illusion of volume and make your space look larger than it is.
You may not like some colors on their own but if you see them in conjunction with the entire look of your kitchen or any other room, they may seem perfect. Hence when you go to pick the right shade of granite, take along some elements that can help you compare and contrast the colors. If you have a dominating cabinet color, take a sample of it and opt for hues that complement it. This will help to keep your exquisite granite countertop as the center of attention.
Showing posts with label marble kitchen tops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marble kitchen tops. Show all posts
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
How to Buy the Best Granite Countertops?
If you are planning to enhance the ambience of your house then granite countertops can be an obvious choice. In fact, these colorful countertops can add a new flavor to your home décor. However like every other product, the granite countertops too need to be carefully examined for certain parameters before you purchase them. You need to think about the color, thickness, edges, finish and consider a few other factors to ensure that they match the décor of your house.
Color is a prime factor to consider when choosing the granite countertops. Always pick up a color that suits the overall design of the room. With granite, you can expect thousands of colors. So make sure that you select the apt color that blends best with the décor of the room. However, keep in mind that the granite is a natural stone and hence there are certain natural imperfections that add to the beauty of the stone. So, ignore certain factors like hairline cracks as they can actually add to the beauty of the countertops.
The next factor which you need to consider while selecting a granite countertop is its thickness. There are two choices as far as thickness of the granite countertop is concerned ― 2 cm and 3 cm. Although the 2 cm granite tops are cheaper yet it is better not to buy them as these countertops in most cases require to be supported by plywood. Further its edges also need to be laminated. The 3 cm granites, on the other hand, are more durable and attractive. So it is better to opt for granite countertops that have a thickness of 3 cm.
Once you have decided on the width of the granite, you need to consider other factors like the edge of the stone. Most people prefer standard options like bevel. Nonetheless if you are looking for something different ask your fabricator to craft it for you. A seamless countertop can be a good choice and you can ask your fabricator to install it for you. However, this will require extra money. Sometimes, the fabricators install seams near the sink to minimize its visibility. But, that might be damaged at a later stage because of its exposure to the water and hence it is better not to go for that option.
It is always wise to keep an eye on your pocket while purchasing the granite countertop. There are different installation companies that offer free estimates. So, it is always a good option to check out the price they offer. The idea is to get the best quality at the lowest price. Therefore, ask them to provide you with sample tiles and compare the price before making the deal.
Now, that you have decided on the kind of granite which you want to buy it is essential that you test its quality before you make a purchase decision. The best idea is to apply a few drops of nail varnish remover to the granite countertop using a white cotton swab. Then wait for a while. Reject the stone if the white cotton swab displays a black color as it would mean that the stone has been dyed.
It is a great idea to install a granite countertop in your house; nonetheless make sure that you make a wise purchase decision.
Color is a prime factor to consider when choosing the granite countertops. Always pick up a color that suits the overall design of the room. With granite, you can expect thousands of colors. So make sure that you select the apt color that blends best with the décor of the room. However, keep in mind that the granite is a natural stone and hence there are certain natural imperfections that add to the beauty of the stone. So, ignore certain factors like hairline cracks as they can actually add to the beauty of the countertops.
The next factor which you need to consider while selecting a granite countertop is its thickness. There are two choices as far as thickness of the granite countertop is concerned ― 2 cm and 3 cm. Although the 2 cm granite tops are cheaper yet it is better not to buy them as these countertops in most cases require to be supported by plywood. Further its edges also need to be laminated. The 3 cm granites, on the other hand, are more durable and attractive. So it is better to opt for granite countertops that have a thickness of 3 cm.
Once you have decided on the width of the granite, you need to consider other factors like the edge of the stone. Most people prefer standard options like bevel. Nonetheless if you are looking for something different ask your fabricator to craft it for you. A seamless countertop can be a good choice and you can ask your fabricator to install it for you. However, this will require extra money. Sometimes, the fabricators install seams near the sink to minimize its visibility. But, that might be damaged at a later stage because of its exposure to the water and hence it is better not to go for that option.
It is always wise to keep an eye on your pocket while purchasing the granite countertop. There are different installation companies that offer free estimates. So, it is always a good option to check out the price they offer. The idea is to get the best quality at the lowest price. Therefore, ask them to provide you with sample tiles and compare the price before making the deal.
Now, that you have decided on the kind of granite which you want to buy it is essential that you test its quality before you make a purchase decision. The best idea is to apply a few drops of nail varnish remover to the granite countertop using a white cotton swab. Then wait for a while. Reject the stone if the white cotton swab displays a black color as it would mean that the stone has been dyed.
It is a great idea to install a granite countertop in your house; nonetheless make sure that you make a wise purchase decision.
Granite Fabrication
Granite is widely used in homes and offices and for building monuments. It is the stone used to make countertops, flooring, and decorative paneling. Granite is extracted from quarries and is in a rough form. Granite fabrication is the process of converting this rough stone into a smooth finished product in the required sizes.
Granite rock is a light colored, coarse-grained igneous rock. It is one of the hardest rocks and can withstand the vagaries of nature to a very good extent. The stone itself consists of quartz, feldspar, mica and traces of a wide variety of minerals. When the igneous rock cools it form crystals. Slower the rate of cooling bigger will be the size of the crystals. These crystals give the granite rock its wide varieties of designs.
Before the granite fabrication process starts the rock has to be extracted from the quarries. Some of the countries renowned for their granite quarries are Italy, United States of America, France, China, Brazil and Spain. The type of granite will depend upon the place from where it is extracted. Quarries are on the outskirts of major cities or are positioned in high mountains. Granite is quarried and cut into blocks of sizes ranging from 5 x 5 feet onwards. These blocks are then taken to fabrication plants.
Granite fabrication starts once the raw blocks arrive at the plants. Special tools and machinery is needed for granite fabrication and has to be carried out by very skilled professionals. The blocks are cut into slabs or tiles. Usually the tiles are cut into standard sizes of 12''x12'', 16''x16'', 18’’x18’’ or 24''x24''. The thickness of the tile will vary from 3/8'' to ¾''. For a slab the size is usually 9'x5' and the thickness is ¾'' or more. The cutting machines have a special type of fast rotating saw, which cuts into the granite. The saw has to be constantly cooled, by spraying special coolant liquids.
The Block saw, Gang saw or the Diamond wire saw is used to cut the blocks into slabs. Then the Bridge saw is used to cut the slab into the shape, which is desired. Now a new type of machine is available which uses water jets combined with an abrasive material, to cut edges and holes smoothly and quickly.
Once the cutting is over, the polishing starts in the process of granite fabrication. The slabs or tiles are put through huge polishing machines with multiple heads that rotate at high speeds. These heads are pads covered with special abrasive compound bricks or discs. This polishing process will smooth out any roughness and will add a natural shine on the surface of the granite. These machines can produce different types of finishes. From a mirror shine finish to a flamed, tumbled or hammer finish is possible.
After the polishing, there is the routing process in granite fabrication. Routers are machines used to create the required edge profiles on the slab. These machines can also cut designs for larger slabs used in fireplace mantles. For countertops the machine can provide a standard or a highly decorative edge.
Granite rock is a light colored, coarse-grained igneous rock. It is one of the hardest rocks and can withstand the vagaries of nature to a very good extent. The stone itself consists of quartz, feldspar, mica and traces of a wide variety of minerals. When the igneous rock cools it form crystals. Slower the rate of cooling bigger will be the size of the crystals. These crystals give the granite rock its wide varieties of designs.
Before the granite fabrication process starts the rock has to be extracted from the quarries. Some of the countries renowned for their granite quarries are Italy, United States of America, France, China, Brazil and Spain. The type of granite will depend upon the place from where it is extracted. Quarries are on the outskirts of major cities or are positioned in high mountains. Granite is quarried and cut into blocks of sizes ranging from 5 x 5 feet onwards. These blocks are then taken to fabrication plants.
Granite fabrication starts once the raw blocks arrive at the plants. Special tools and machinery is needed for granite fabrication and has to be carried out by very skilled professionals. The blocks are cut into slabs or tiles. Usually the tiles are cut into standard sizes of 12''x12'', 16''x16'', 18’’x18’’ or 24''x24''. The thickness of the tile will vary from 3/8'' to ¾''. For a slab the size is usually 9'x5' and the thickness is ¾'' or more. The cutting machines have a special type of fast rotating saw, which cuts into the granite. The saw has to be constantly cooled, by spraying special coolant liquids.
The Block saw, Gang saw or the Diamond wire saw is used to cut the blocks into slabs. Then the Bridge saw is used to cut the slab into the shape, which is desired. Now a new type of machine is available which uses water jets combined with an abrasive material, to cut edges and holes smoothly and quickly.
Once the cutting is over, the polishing starts in the process of granite fabrication. The slabs or tiles are put through huge polishing machines with multiple heads that rotate at high speeds. These heads are pads covered with special abrasive compound bricks or discs. This polishing process will smooth out any roughness and will add a natural shine on the surface of the granite. These machines can produce different types of finishes. From a mirror shine finish to a flamed, tumbled or hammer finish is possible.
After the polishing, there is the routing process in granite fabrication. Routers are machines used to create the required edge profiles on the slab. These machines can also cut designs for larger slabs used in fireplace mantles. For countertops the machine can provide a standard or a highly decorative edge.
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