Academy Blog

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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Glossy or Matte? How to Choose the Best Countertop Finish for Your Kitchen or Bath

| October 29, 2020

How to Choose the Best Countertop Finish There’s no doubt it can be difficult to choose the best countertop surface for your kitchen or bath. With so many beautiful natural stone options, from marble, granite, and quartzite, to engineered quartz and porcelain, you might have a hard time narrowing your options. Once you make a stone selection, however, your job isn’t done. You still have to figure out whether you want a glossy or matte finish on your countertops.

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9 Effortless Modern Fireplace Surrounds to Inspire Your Home

| October 28, 2020

Modern Fireplace Surrounds to Inspire Your Home Choosing unique design elements for your home is a personal process, as you want your space to reflect your personality and tastes. However, you also want to invest in pieces that add luxury, increase the overall appeal and improve your property value. Neutral paint and flooring are go-to foundational design choices for many homeowners who plan to add pops of color and personality through versatile accents like rugs and other accessories, but when it comes to adding natural stone, as with kitchen countertops, you have some leeway to choose bolder colors and patterns.

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How to Remove Stains from Marble Countertops without Causing Damage

| October 26, 2020

How to Remove Stains from Marble Countertops without Causing Damage Marble countertops can make for a beautiful addition to your home. Marble is particularly prized for its luxurious appeal, thanks to unique properties like a level of translucence that creates the illusion of an inner glow, as well as a crystalline structure that lends depth and dimension. Although this stone is well-known for its timeless beauty, it is one of the softer stone countertop options on the market. While certainly a hard substance, marble falls at roughly 3-5 on the Mohs hardness scale. For comparison, granite is typically 6-6.5, and quartz is 7.

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4 Stylish Kitchens with PentalQuartz Countertops

| September 16, 2020

Kitchens with PentalQuartz Countertops There’s no denying the appeal of quartz. This engineered surface not only delivers the beauty of natural stone, often mimicking the look of favorites like marble and granite, but it offers the resilience and utility of a non-porous, food-safe surface designed for strength and durability.

PentalQuartz, in particular, offers several attractive collections that feature over 100 colors and styles to choose from. Featuring abundant solids, patterns and finishes that let you customize to suit your home interior and your personal aesthetic, there is a style for every home. When you choose PentalQuartz countertops for your kitchen, bathroom or other project, you’ll not only increase the beauty, function, and value of your home, but you’ll enjoy a 15-year warranty that ensures long-term satisfaction.

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How to Measure Countertops in 4 Easy Steps

| September 10, 2020

How to Measure Countertops Whether you’re looking to undertake a complete kitchen or bathroom renovation, or you’re simply tired of cleaning the grout in your underwhelming tile countertops, you may be thinking about upgrading to beautiful, natural stone slabs like marble, granite, or quartzite. These surface materials can not only serve as the showpiece of your interior design, but they offer the durability every busy household requires, and they add a lot of value to your home.

Of course, conscientious homeowners want to know what the pricing might look like before committing to the investment, so one of the first things you need to know is your countertop dimensions, as pricing is based on the material cost per square foot. If you’re purchasing a pre-cut slab, this means taking accurate countertop measurements to get the best possible quote.

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How to Clean Granite Countertops: 5 Simple Steps to Follow

| September 2, 2020

How to Clean Granite Countertops Granite countertops make for an eye-catching addition to kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and other areas of the home. With a diverse range of colors to choose from, dynamic patterning, and depth and dimension unique to this natural stone, granite definitely makes for a statement style in any setting.

Of course, if your granite is dulled by dust or spattered grease, or worse, stained by foods and beverages, it won’t offer the same visual impact and appeal. If you want your countertops to remain polished and pristine, you’re going to have to follow a regular cleaning regimen. 

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4 Carrara Marble Countertop Design Ideas for Your Next Remodel

| August 31, 2020

4 Carrara Marble Countertop Design Ideas The bright, white foundation and subtle gray veining of classic Carrara marble have made it a go-to countertop choice among homeowners, interior designers and builders.  Beloved for its classic appeal and versatility, this marble surface can be transformed to fit your style preferences.  If you’re looking for a sophisticated way to update your kitchen, you really can’t go wrong with Carrara marble.

Of course, like any home improvement project, you need to consider how a range of design elements work together to create a harmonious and attractive space. While neutral Carrara can easily pair with lighter hues for a monochromatic look or darker shades for more dynamic appeal, there’s more than paint and woodwork to consider. 

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