Academy Blog

Trending Quartzite Colors to Consider for Your Kitchen and Bath

| January 15, 2021

trending quartzite colorsIt’s hard to resist the calm beauty of quartzite, an extremely durable metamorphic rock that offers an alternative to marble or granite countertops. Given its name, quartzite is often confused with quartz, but they are completely different. Quartz is an engineered stone made from crushed quartz bonded by resins and polymers while quartzite is a natural stone that is quarried and slabbed, like marble or granite. Quartzite ranks at 7 on the Moh’s hardness scale, making it an incredibly resilient kitchen or bathroom countertop surface.

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Black Quartz Countertop Options That are Trending

| January 10, 2021

Black Quartz Countertop Options That are TrendingThe classic white kitchen infuses any home with a bright, open, airy appeal. However, if you’re searching for a bolder look, you can easily complement white cabinetry with a dark countertop option, one alternative is black quartz countertops, which have become a popular choice for kitchens, bathrooms and other areas of the home. In addition to the many benefits quartz can offer – strength, resilience, longevity, and resistance to staining, microbes, damage, and more – you’re sure to appreciate the fact that there are so many colors to choose from.

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6 Alaska White Granite Countertops We Can’t Get Enough Of

| January 2, 2021

Alaska White Granite CountertopsIf you love the look of white countertops, but you’re seeking something a little more durable and dynamic than popular marble varieties, there’s no denying the beauty, personality, and longevity of granite, particularly Alaska White granite. While this dazzling, dimensional variety largely embodies the wintry quality of the U.S. state for which it is named, with a silvery-white background punctuated by coarse graining of gray and black, on closer inspection you’ll find that there are also shades of beiges and browns throughout, lending an element of warmth to an otherwise snowy slab.

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Do Quartz Countertops Stain? and More Answers to Your Top Quartz Maintenance Questions

| December 27, 2020

Do quartz countertops stain?When it’s time to upgrading your home’s interior, a single change can lead to a big improvement. For many homeowners, the process begins with picking just the right stone countertops to match your aesthetic goals and lifestyle.

Having beautiful countertops installed is a good way to enhance the elegance factor in the kitchen or bathroom while still putting a firm focus on durability and functionality. This is one reason why many homeowners and professionals turn to quartz; not only does it deliver a desirable aesthetic, but it is also highly durable and able to stand the test of time without sealing.

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4 Countertop Options for Designing a Modern French Country Kitchen

| December 17, 2020

Designing a Modern French Country KitchenWhen you think of the French country style, you probably envision a lot of wood and rustic appeal, along with some chic, yellowed whitewashing to brighten the mood.  However, the French country style is more versatile than you might imagine, and there are plenty of ways to modernize it without losing the homey appeal it evokes.  Here are just a few ways to incorporate modern natural stone countertops into your French country design.

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How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Granite in 7 Steps

| December 11, 2020

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Granite-AcademyJust when you think you think you’ve successfully cleaned your granite countertops, you notice the filmy buildup of hard water around your faucet. And after you’ve spent money on new countertops, it can be disheartening to see them lose the attractiveness of their original appearance, especially if you enjoy the reflectiveness of a polished finish.

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Have a Blue Christmas with White Kitchens Featuring Blue Accents

| December 4, 2020

White Kitchens Featuring Blue AccentsBlue and white is a classic color combo in design, prominently featured in a diverse range of styles throughout history, from Chinese porcelain to Dutch decorative tiles, to the picturesque white buildings and blue roofs of Santorini, Greece. If you’re looking to integrate this eye-catching aesthetic to your kitchen, here are a few ways to update your kitchen, potentially in time for the holiday season!

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The All-Time Most Popular Quartz Countertop Colors

| November 20, 2020

Most Popular Quartz Countertop ColorsQuartz is a beautiful alternative to other natural stone options like marble and granite, especially considering that it can be made to look like other types of stone, while delivering an incredible array of benefits. You’ll not only love the look of engineered quartz countertops, but also the fact that they’re durable, resilient, non-porous, anti-microbial, and resistant to staining. Plus, quartz is easy to clean and maintain.

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Which White Quartz Countertops Should I Buy for My Home?

| November 10, 2020

White quartz countertopsThere’s nothing quite like the pristine brilliance of an all-white kitchen, which is why it remains such a classic and enduring style. Then again, a black and white kitchen motif is also a popular choice. The timeless visual appeal of contrasting white countertops against black cabinetry and other design elements cannot be denied  Of course, a warmer and more welcoming atmosphere with wood cabinetry and flooring can be elevated by a stunning, white countertop surface, as well.

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Is Fantasy Brown Granite, Quartzite, or Marble?

| November 4, 2020

Is Fantasy Brown Granite, Quartzite, or Marble?In the entire fantastical world of natural stone countertops, it’s hard to come by an option more unique than Fantasy Brown.  A truly out-of-this-world example of the majesty of mother nature, Fantasy Brown is characterized by dramatic striations in tones of whispery white and gray, warm beige and gold, and of course, rich, earthy brown. The interplay of light and dark strata results in a dynamically organic appearance, like a river running down your waterfall island or fissured tree bark growing across your fireplace surround.

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