Halloween Treats For You

Treats, Please....No Tricks!

Halloween is a holiday loved by kids AND adults.  Adults love the costume parties.  Kids love the magic of Halloween: Trick-or-treating, haunted houses, classroom parties, but especially the candy.  But for moms and dads, often there is a fine line between Halloween fun and safety concerns, especially when it comes to road and pedestrian safety.

Here are some ways to prepare for the Big Night!

●To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, remove from around the front door anything ghosts and goblins could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes or lawn decorations.

●Replace burned-out bulbs in outside lighting.

●Restrict pets so they do not jump on trick-or-treaters or escape from the house.

●Use a glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.

●A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage kids (and adults!) from filling up on Halloween treats.

●Consider purchasing non-candy treats to give out, such as pretzels, popcorn, or stickers.

●Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

●Try to ration treats for the days and weeks that follow.

●Adults should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.  If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you.

●Agree on a specific time children should return home.

●Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car.

●Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.

●Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.

●Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don't run, across the street.

●Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs.

 

●At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing.

●Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.

Consider taking your kids to a Trunk or Treat.  These are community events, usually at shopping centers or churches, where adult volunteers decorate the back of their cars for Halloween, load up on candy, and come sit in a parking lot for kids to "trick or treat" from car-to-car. Kids come in the hundreds, fully dressed in Halloween costumes and holding out bags or plastic pumpkins for treats. The adults get to socialize and be creative while seeing all the cute and scary costumes.  Many parents find this safer than going door to door.

We hope you and your family have a safe and happy Halloween!

Here's A Treat For You

Mohawk offers our clients a financing option thru Synchrony Bank.  6 month and 12 month interest free financing plans are available.  This month, when you open a new Mohawk credit account and make a purchase on the card of at least $999 at Enhance Floors & More, you'll get a $100 Visa Prepaid Card by mail.  All you have to do is fill out a quick rebate claim form online!  It's like free money!  

Ask your Enhance Floors Design Consultant about taking advantage of this great offer.  Hurry, purchase must be made by October 31.

Design Tip

October brings the crisp, autumn air. Layering with sweaters, cardigans, and scarves complete the fall aesthetic. Having warm, cozy layers are the perfect way to warm up outside and feel cool inside. Practice this same concept at home-- layering creates a sense of warmth and coziness. Lay a beautiful area rug over a wood floor, or even over a carpet for a cozy seasonal update. We have a selection of gorgeous rugs here in the store, and many more available by special order.

We Need Your Vote

Last year, thanks to your votes, we won Atlanta's Best Place to Shop for Flooring. We are nominated again this year.  We would really appreciate your vote so that we don't relinquish our "crown"!

We are nominated in two categories:  Best Carpet Company and Best Flooring Store/Company.   You can vote in as many other categories as you wish.  Here's the link:

https://atlantahomeimprovement.com/

You only need to give your email address to vote.  You can vote every 24 hours until October 25. 

Thank you for taking a quick moment out of your busy day to vote for us!

Helping You Fall For Fall

Fall is finally just around the corner! The leaves will be changing, and the weather will be cooling down (hopefully!)  Fall in our area is just beautiful! And the change of seasons is always exciting to experience.

Incorporating seasonal touches into your home throughout the year makes each season more enjoyable because you get to participate in the beauty. It doesn't take much to transition your home décor. Just a few small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few ways to get you and your home ready for the new season:

Before you get started adding fall elements to your décor, store away anything that has a distinct summer feel. If you always decorate for the seasons, then you'll already know what you added and can put away. However, if this is your first time transitioning your décor from one season to another, go around your home and look for anything that makes you think of summer, such as items in bright colors, like blue, orange, coral, and yellow. Vacuum or dust those items as needed, then store them until next summer. This is also a good time to decide that some pieces are ready to be permanently retired!

During the fall, it's all about rich, warm scents. You can start subtly with fragrances that have a musky undertone, then as we get further into the season start bringing in more traditional scents like pumpkin and cinnamon. To really create a wonderful aroma, make a simmering pot of cloves, apple, orange, cinnamon, and vanilla. This can be done in a crock pot, or on the stove. Check every once in a while to add more water as needed.

One of our favorite ways to transition décor from summer to fall is to switch out or add cozy textiles, such as accent pillows, throws, guest towels, and even window treatments. Choose warm colors and rich textures like knits, wools, and flannel. On your bed, simply changing the sheets to something heavier and adding a blanket over the foot of the bed will completely change the feel.

It's a lot of fun to update your vignettes for the seasons. During the fall, think rustic touches and accents from nature: branches, leaves, moss, and even seasonal fruits such as apples and pears look great as fall décor. Be sure to incorporate pumpkins and gourds, because these are the very essence of Autumn. Other organic components to include in your "still life" vignette are apples, pears, acorns, pinecones, and kumquats.

While summer is all about the sun shining bright, fall is about cozier, warmer lighting. If your home has a lot of natural light, you can dim it a bit with heavier curtains. Candles are a wonderful go-to for fall vibes, but there are safer alternatives. There are battery and electric candles on the market that offer the same look and feel, or warmers that melt scented wax without a flame.

Here is a fun activity:

Take 3 items, one from each list, and compose your vignette--

1. Mums, cinnamon and cloves, fall color throw pillows, gold and orange leaves, decorative branches
2. Pumpkins or gourds, apples, corn stalks, acorns, or pinecones
3. Lanterns, wheat sheaves, hay bales, copper pots, or scarecrows

Work it all together, group the smaller items in a bowl or fun jar, and instantly, it's Fall!  Now wasn't that easy?

One last thing we love about this time of year in Atlanta-- it is the perfect time of year to spend more time outside! So, dine alfresco, or just go sit and read a book, the weather is delicious!

And remember, as you are preparing your home for colder weather and sorting through the closets, to round up outgrown winter coats and shoes, and extra scarves and gloves to donate. Someone out there can use them!

What's New At Enhance?

Subway tile has been a very popular choice for years. Traditionally white and glossy in 3" x 6" rectangles, these timeless tiles go with everything, even the busiest granite countertops.  The new look in this classic tile is larger sizes like 3" x 12" and 4" x 24". Recent arrivals include new colors (lots of blue shades!), new textures, and gorgeous glass tiles. Come in today and see what's new in subway tiles.

How Much Does It Cost?

The larger format subway tiles do cost a little more than the 3" x 6" size.  We just installed a large kitchen backsplash in a 4" x 12" embossed (textured) subway tile for $1800.  This included an upgraded stain resistant grout.  

I Was Floored By Enhance

Linda in Cumming recently wrote this 5 Star Review: "My husband and I hired Enhance Floors & More to redo our entire first floor. They did an outstanding job removing all old carpeting and engineered hardwood, and installed beautiful high quality engineered hardwood throughout and tile in our mudroom entrance. They removed carpeting from our front staircase and installed beautiful oak treads, newels, railing and wrought iron balusters. We also hired them to paint the staircase, which I highly recommend; the finished product is gorgeous. They are very knowledgeable, skilled and professional and kept us informed throughout the process. We plan to hire them again next year to do our second floor and another staircase." 

 Thank you, Linda.  We really enjoyed working with you and look forward to seeing you next year for the upstairs!

What Should I Be Looking At

What's HOT Besides the Weather???

Wow, this summer has been brutal-- hot, hotter, hottest! But in spite of the weather, we have been busy, busy, busy! What have we been selling, and what are we installing? Lots:

Berber Carpet. Yep, Berber carpet is back! And we love it. This is not the Berber your parents had back in the 70's. First of all, the fibers are better. Back then it was mostly Olefin, and it was rough and scratchy. Today's Berbers are nylons, wools, and Triextas and they are soft and subtle. The loops aren't as big, making the carpet less "Playroom" and more "Living Room."  Back in the day, most of those Berbers were multicolored, adding to their casual appearance. Now they are mostly solids, and appropriate for any room in the house. Just beautiful!

What else is selling like hot cakes?  Wide plank wood and wood-look floors. By wide we mean 7, 8, and even 9-inch planks. We have beautiful wood floors that look like they could have come from a stately old castle in Europe, gorgeous colors, rich patina, and a little bit of distressing. And following that trend, we also have luxury vinyl plank (LVP), laminates, and porcelain floors that have those same features, for those who want the look but not the maintenance of wood. Some of them are amazing! We have even done combinations of these, for customers who wanted wood in the "living" areas of the home, but LVP or porcelain in the kitchen and bathrooms, for instance.

Which is wood? Which is LVP?

They're both gorgeous, aren't they? The bedroom is LVP, the living room is wood!

We have some other finishes that are sizzling hot! Porcelain tiles that resemble real stone are so beautiful we are looking for reasons we need it in our own homes! Look at this one called Fitch by Happy Floors-- so dramatic, so eye-catching, yet so durable. We think it would be a perfect choice for a den, an office, or a super masculine master bath.

And here is another of our favorites-- Contessa by Interceramic.

Contessa is so regal, so classic, and sooooo easy to live with! She is beautiful with grays and beiges, and is subtle and quiet, content to let other surfaces be the star of the show.

When it comes to laminates, we are in love! Laminates are "becoming" popular again-- they never stopped being great with us. Anyone with kids, dogs, rowdy husbands, or teenage boys should consider laminates, especially now! The looks are just incredible, so realistic and current, and this stuff holds up to all that an active family can do, and more, and most of it is water resistant. Great floors!

Mohawk's Beachside Collective, color Beachwood, is one of those floors that brings back memories of summers with the sand between our toes, no cares, and a warm breeze blowing. Who doesn't want to be there again? A beautiful color, with distinctive oak graining, and a timeless worn-soft look. 

If you are looking for something a little darker and more rustic, we recommend Rustic Legacy, also by Mohawk. It is a beautiful floor. We have it installed here in the showroom in the color Earthen Chestnut if you'd like to see it in person. The lineup also includes Cedar Chestnut, Knotted Chestnut, and Sandcastle Oak. 

The new Mohawk laminate line-- referred to as Revwood, is gorgeous, with lots of new introductions-- colors and textures galore, and water resistant! We also carry other beautiful laminates-Mannington Restoration, Beau Flor's Eternity line, and The Signature Collection. They are all so good looking, you'll have a hard time deciding! Mannington even offers three Chevron patterns that are color coordinated with their regular plank floors.

And usually carpet doesn't bring the ocean to mind, but how about a color called Clamshell? Dreamweaver's Exceptional II is an update to their original style Exceptional, but with all new colors, and their best-selling color is Clamshell-- that is wishful thinking! But really, if you are looking for a GREAT price on a GREAT quality carpet, come in and see Exceptional II! Other colors include Morning Fog, Sawgrass, and Iced Coffee, so we have colors for all your beach moods. 

Design Tip

Flooring stylings are influenced by fashion-- hot colors in clothing, for example, make their way into home décor.  Colors you see on the runway will start showing up in stores like Pottery Barn and Target, in paint colors, in rugs, and yes, in flooring.  The downside of this is that older colors start feeling stale and get discontinued.  

We've told you about floors that are in vogue right now.  What isn't? Frieze and super shaggy carpet. Parquet floors.  Small bathroom floor tiles like 4" x 4" and 6" x 6". Very dark, almost black hard surface floors.  Narrow width (2 ¼") wide hardwoods. Exotic hardwoods like Brazilian cherry and bamboo. Not to say that we don't install these products anymore (hey, if you love something, it's your house, own it!) but there are fewer and fewer offerings and choices these days.  If a manufacturer does not sell much of something, it's not cost effective to keep making it.  

Every week a client calls or comes in wanting more of a product we installed 20 years ago, and the first thing we do is see if it is still available.  Sometimes it is, but not always. Your design vision may become floors that complement what you already have, particularly if you do not want to replace everything.  Luckily your Enhance Floors Design Consultant can help you find products that will be beautiful in your home, once you get past the initial shock of what you have and love no longer being made.

How Much Does It Cost?

We just worked with a client that is expecting a lot of family staying over for the holidays.  They needed to finish off some rooms in the basement to add more "hang out" areas. We installed a little over 600 sq feet of LVP, 7" wide in pretty brownish-red tones, for $4500.  The space is now warm and inviting, and very much on trend.

I Was Floored By Enhance

Mickie in Smyrna writes: "We replaced carpet in our den with new hardwoods, installed on premises. They were stained to match existing hardwoods in the adjoining room that are 22 years old. We were astonished how well the staining person matched the existing hardwoods (ask for Mike, he is a genius!). You can't even tell where the old hardwoods end and the new hardwoods begin! Friends and family told me there would be dust everywhere from the sanding and that did NOT happen at all. We also replaced 22-year-old carpet with new carpet in our very large living room. Everybody showed up when they said they would, they all were quite nice and respectful and communicated perfectly despite language differences. From start to finish I loved working with all parties involved. We have had nightmares with other companies or contractors but the experience with Enhance is the BEST experience we have ever had in 33 years of home ownership!"

 

Thank you, Mickie, for the great review.  We are so glad that adding to your older existing wood floor turned out perfect.  Enjoy your "feels brand new again" home!

Help Kittens, Win A Roomba

We're Not Kitten You!

You're right, our fun showroom events (aka parties!) always have a flooring theme---but not this one!  Please join us next Tuesday for an adoption event for kittens!

Tuesday August 27
4 til 7 pm
Enhance Floors & More
1847 Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30062

ANGELS AMONG US PET RESCUE  is overflowing with kittens (and cats!) Come meet these fabulous felines and find your new fluffy best friend.  Join us for food, drinks, fun, and kittens! 

Want to help but not looking to adopt?  That's OK---bring a donation and you'll be entered to win a Roomba.   Suggested items to donate include wet and dry kitten food (Royal Canin Mother and Babycat), cat litter (clumping and nonclumping), postage scales, food and water bowls, breakaway kitten collars, bottles, and snuggly toys.

Be sure to ask about the Kitten Caboodle Adoption Specials.  

And while you are here, we will be happy to help you find the purrfect pet friendly floor for your home.

Fun Facts About Kittens:

~~Kittens sleep about 18 hours a day

~~Their sense of hearing is one of the best on the planet

~~Kittens are very easy to potty train

~~All kittens are born with blue eyes

~~Once grown, kittens can run at speeds up to 30 miles per hour

~~Many kittens are lactose intolerant---provide water, not milk

~~Girl kittens are usually right-pawed and boys are more likely to be left-pawed

~~Raising two kittens together is highly recommended as they will entertain one another 

~Kittens purr when they are happy and relaxed.  Purring also increases their bone density and promotes healing

~~Cat owners are healthier than those without cats.  The risk of heart attack is cut by a third among people who have a pet cat

More About The More

One thing we get a lot, when people are in our showroom for the first time, is "Oh, I didn't know you did that!"  Folks come in expecting to see floors, because, well, that's our name "Enhance Floors and More" but not much thought is given to the "More" part of that. Well, we do a lot more.

We do Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling, and all the component parts involved in these. We also do staircase makeovers,including new balusters, handrails, and newel posts. We offer design consultations, complementary in the store, for a fee in your home. We sell and install Hunter Douglas window treatments.  Countertops, yes, we do that too! We carry an extensive line of tile, for floors, walls, backsplashes, and showers. We carry an assortment of area rugs here in the store, and also offer special order from several different rug manufacturers. 

Up And Down

A common question when a client is updating their staircase is do have to have carpet?  The choice on whether to carpet your staircase or leave it with the wood exposed really depends on how the stairs have been constructed, the materials and the condition. Don't assume that you have usable wood all the way under your staircase carpet.  Many times, what is under the carpet is plywood, or pine, or some other material that is not attractive.  

Sometimes fully carpeting the stairs is the only option. Fully carpeted stairs are the default for many homeowners. They can provide a generally practical and hard wearing surface, comfort underfoot and can offer immediate impact and a visual change for those seeking an update to their interior. And often there is an option to do both---exposed wood with a decorative runner added. There are pros and cons to runners, as well as pros and cons to leaving the stairs bare.

Carpet runners leave the edges of the stairs visible. Runners are ideal when you don't want to fully cover your beautiful stairway. Runners will add some warmth without hiding the flooring. Most homeowners opt for boldly patterned runners to add detail and texture to an otherwise neutral space. Find a unique pattern that blends in with the surrounding décor but still draws the eyes towards the staircase. 

You can also opt for neutral subtly patterned carpeting if you want a plain minimalist style. This is also where you can add some interest with texture. We can create a runner for your stairs from any carpet in the store-- that's a LOT of choices!

Runners can provide safety benefits, especially for those who are more susceptible to falls, such as the elderly and small children. Large dogs, too, are more comfortable on a staircase with a runner. Wood stairs can be more slippery underfoot and the hard surface is likely to cause injury in the event of a fall, making it less desirable for those who are not as steady on their feet. Runners also offer soundproofing advantages, which can be particularly useful for a large household where children and dogs are galloping up and down the stairs. Bare stairs are beautiful, however, and super easy to clean.

Splish Splash

Another one of our favorite "creations" is helping a customer get rid of their old outdated and sometimes impractical shower, and create a beautiful new space. Showers should be beautiful-- that's where most of us start our day! It is part body and hair cleansing, part therapy!  It should be a place that makes you feel happy and grounded, ready to face the world. We have created some really gorgeous showers and bathrooms.  

While the tile is the star of the show in the shower, there's another component that is vitally important, that gets very little attention, because it just stands there and does its job: the shower glass!  The glass is such an integral part of a beautiful shower, but something to which we give very little thought. 

We do offer some alternatives when you are composing your new shower space. You can choose from clear glass, rain glass, or frosted glass, as well as several finishes for your hardware. Lately, almost everyone chooses a silver tone finish, whether it is polished or shiny, nickel, stainless, or chrome.

Replacing your shower curtain with a wall of glass is going to visually enlarge your bathroom, as well as show off your beautiful new tile design inside the shower. It will provide less opportunities for mold and mildew to accumulate. When we finish off your shower with beautiful new frameless glass, it will be perfectly fitted to your space, and the door will meet usually within a sixteenth of an inch. Perfect shower glass cannot be prefabricated, because walls are never exactly square. 

You would be amazed at the difference a new frameless glass shower makes to the look of your bathroom! Come in and let us show you how great your new bathroom can be!

How Much Does It Cost? Part 1

A typical staircase has 13 steps.  The price range for staircase carpet is wide, based primarily on the style and fiber selected.  A "good" quality cut pile carpet, nothing fancy, installs between $600 and $900. Patterned carpets (cut and loop, Berbers) typically install between $1000 and $1400.  A print carpet (think of a Persian rug), usually wool, will install starting around $2000 and go up from there.

How Much Does It Cost? Part 2

Since every shower size is different, and frameless glass shower doors are not prefabricated, there aren't set linear prices for the doors.  Each door is custom made for your shower. Most range between $1600 and $2200 installed.

Design Tip

You keep hearing about bohemian (boho) design.  How to define it--it's artsy, random, eclectic, devoid of structure and order, rooms that are bright, colorful, and patterned. The boho color palette leans heavily on earthy tones: think browns and greens, jewel tones, and metallics. Pattern is also key, as many bohemian textiles come from exotic places around the world, like Persian rugs and Ikat from Southeast Asia.

But bohemian design isn't just about incorporating these elements--it's about not being afraid to mix and layer them. Colors and patterns don't necessarily have to "go" together; what makes it unique is how they are combined and unconventional ways they are used, such as hanging a rug in addition to using one on the floor.  Boho style features textiles that are slightly worn, vintage furniture, items that are natural or handmade, all with a no rules, anything goes attitude.  

I Was Floored By Enhance

Allison in Acworth writes: "We were more than happy! It was excellent work, no complaints, and I'm absolutely 100% likely to recommend them to someone. Enhance did the hardwoods for the whole downstairs, up the stairs, and down the hall.  It was asizable job and they did it quick and clean."

Thank you, Allison.  You have done a lot of work at your home over the past few years, and we are proud to have been a part of the transformation.

In & Out

What's In What's Out The kitchen is the heart of the home, and there has been a lot of heart surgery going on lately. Some of the features that we have loved, and some we have not loved, are going away. Other new trends are moving in. Joy or sorrow? You decide: Pot Racks are over. This was a trend you either loved or hated. And if you loved it, you will probably keep yours, and that is fine. Some kitchens really benefit from having the extra space they provide by freeing up under-cabinet space. To some they say "A serious cook lives here" and other folks feel they make an area look messy.  Tiled countertops are out. Honestly, have they ever been in? Sure they existed, but mostly as a budgetary issue. Countertops take too much of a beating for tile to really work. And the grout? Ugh. There are so many other choices that tile on the countertop, while it may look great with some really special tile (think Mexican Azulejos) it's just not practical in the long term. Regarding the next two trends, one surprises us, and one doesn't--- The over the stove microwave is, well, over. Still seems like a practical place to put it to us, but maybe it is just not pretty enough. As kitchens become really recognized as "the new Family Room" maybe there is not a place for something that is just basically utilitarian. It is not attractive, you don't stand there and watch things become beautiful brown and toasty, or get lulled into a trance from the incredible smells emanating from it. It just does it's job, fast, and it's over. Here's one that surprises no one: the kitchen desk is out. Well known as the place that everything gets put down on and never touched again, the kitchen desk has almost never been used as a de facto desk, just an area that must be cleared up and cleaned up before company comes over. Is ANYONE sorry to see the end of the kitchen desk? We think not. With all of the looks and trends that are on the way out, you may ask, "What is coming in?" Well, there are some fun ones. Let's look- In general, anything "organic" is in, and by this we don't mean grown without chemicals, but organic in form or nature. Shape as well as composition-- cotton and linen, for instance, instead of nylon and rayon. This applies to everything, from sofa cushions and dinnerware to swimming pools. Real plants in the home, carpet fibers that are nubby, lines that are softer, wood floors that are more matte and natural looking versus highly shiny. Handmade pottery and ceramics are SO in.  Wallpaper is back! It is new and improved, and often available in a removable, and even reusable, form. And there are some gorgeous prints and patterns! What could be better? Well, maybe our wall product Vercade, which is a wood or stone look product made specifically for wall applications. Super easy and very attractive. We have a wall of it in the store-- come and see it! But, wallpaper! Mostly available on the internet, and we are happy to see it back on the market! Lastly, arches and other architecturally interesting shapes are BIG! Arches, lanterns, raindrops, hexagons, rhombus, these are all shapes that we are seeing in carpets, and especially in tile. We are swooning over these! Floor, backsplash, accent wall-- wherever you want to put something beautiful and unique, we've got youcovered. Come and see!            What's New In The Design Center We've been busy receiving new products and updating the showroom with new displays.  It's truly "out with the old and in with the new!" If you have not been in lately, you will want to be sure to see beautiful new carpets from Karastan, Tuftex, Mohawk, and DreamWeaver.  The patterned designs are gorgeous! We have a new laminate area featuring the new Mohawk RevWood Plus and RevWood Select waterproof styles. We also have new porcelain and ceramic tiles from Mohawk.  Come in today and replace your outdated floors with these very in floors! I Was Floored By Enhance Samantha in Sandy Springs writes: "Enhance Floors put down some vinyl plank flooring in my kitchen and laundry room. They were very professional. They answered all our questions whenever we had anything. They went the extra mile to make sure we were happy with the job, and we were. They're A+." Thank you for the nice review, Samantha.  And we appreciate the recent referral of your neighbor.  Enjoy your floors and spending your Decorating Dollars! Don't know what Decorating Dollars are? This is a great program where we reward you for referring your friends, family, and neighbors to us, and you get a certificate for 5% of their total purchase.  It could not be any easier to get in on this---no coupons to clip, no loyalty cards to sign up for, just refer Enhance Floors to people you know that are beginning home improvement projects!  And there is no limit to how many Decorating Dollars you can receive. Keep referring us until YOUR next purchase is free!

Countertops Have Come a Long Way Baby!

One of the subjects that we get a lot of questions about is countertops, what kinds there are, how they are different, and what we recommend. Here's the 411:

When kitchens first took the leap of being an actual room as opposed to being the area around a fireplace hearth, countertops were made from either wood or stone, because that was what was available. 

In the earliest days of kitchens, the pantry was in a separate location-- the kitchen was the room where the work was done only, and it was not intended for any other purpose.  There may or may not have been running water, and the heating for cooking was primitive.

This kitchen shows a worktable and the piece that today we call a Hoosier cabinet. The Hoosier cabinet was used for baking preparation, and stored flour in a bin that dispensed it directly into a bowl, and usually had an enameled pullout countertop. These were all the countertop cooks had-- imagine having to make do with that now! 

Fortunately, things have improved a great deal! After the wood and enameled countertops, there was Formica, which was commonly being used in kitchens by 1920. Also, in this same era, kitchen storage had moved more into the kitchen itself, along with cabinets. Kitchens became more a part of the design of a home, evolving into more of a family space, versus a room that was strictly utilitarian. From both of the older pictures featured here, it appears that white has always been a popular cabinet color, and it still is today!

Through the years, we have seen the arrival (and sometimes the departure) of lots of countertop materials. There has been butcher block (still around but less common) and tile, which we see used occasionally, but usually as a budget-saving attempt. Formica laminates are also still available, and are a less expensive choice, but with some definite drawbacks. It does not tolerate liquids well at the seams, and also can be chipped or cut pretty easily. Formica might be a good choice for a couple just starting out in their first home, and can be upgraded fairly easily in a few years. Corian came along in the 80's and is still available, but again, not used very often, as there are much more practical materials at the same price.

We offer Granite, Quartz, Marble, and Quartzite countertops.  Let's look at what these are, and how they differ:

Granite

Granite is a natural stone. It is mined and cut from the earth in huge blocks. Granite is an igneous rock. This means that it is volcanic in origin. Rather than flowing out of a volcano, granite forms underground when magma solidifies gradually without reaching the surface. Because it cools more slowly than erupted magma, it contains distinct and visible crystal patterns. Varied crystal sizes occur when the rock cools at different rates; faster cooling yields smaller crystal sizes.  The various colors of granite are due to the differing proportions of minerals contained in the stone. 

Once mined, large blocks of granite are then further cut down into slabs, usually at the quarry, by giant saws, which have dozens of equally spaced parallel blades. The blocks are loaded into the saw and the entire block is cut into multiple slabs simultaneously-a process that may require 40 to 50 hours.  Slabs are either 3/4 or 1 1/4 inches thick (2 or 3 cm). The slabs are bundled together to ensure that buyers can choose multiple slabs that are similar, because even within one type of granite there can be huge variations. There is a wide range of granite pricing, generally based upon availability/scarcity of the stone and the country of origin.  Where the stone is quarried also affects the pricing. For example, blue-toned granite is said to come from deeper beneath the earth's surface, making it rarer and more costly. Granite countertops need to be sealed regularly, and are susceptible to stains.  

Quartz

One of the reasons that Quartz is popular is that, being man made, it can be counted on to be more consistent in color and pattern from one piece to the next. Quartz countertops are formed by combining 90% ground quartz (a natural hard mineral) with 8-10% resins, polymers, and pigments. This forms a very hard granite-like surface. The appearance depends on how the quartz is ground: coarsely ground quartz produces a flecked appearance, while finely ground quartz produces a smooth look.

 

Quartz is very easy to live with, as it never needs sealing, is difficult to stain, and is very scratch resistant.   You do need to be careful about placing hot pots and pans directly on quartz, as the resins cannot handle high temperatures; always use a trivet or hot pad.  Quartz is slightly more expensive than granite.

Marble

Marble has long been considered the top-of-the-line of countertops. It is beautiful, and more expensive than most granite. And it is also softer and more porous than granite & quartz. It stains and etches easily, and is best for two types of people: who barely cook or are totally manic about cleaning in the kitchen, or those who are relaxed and easygoing and see a stain or a mark as a memory, like that time Uncle Ernie spilled the bottle of red wine-- oh what fun!

If any of these describe you- go for Marble- it gives the kitchen a look you just can't get anywhere else!

Quartzite

The last type of countertop we sell is Quartzite. Quartzite is a very hard metamorphic rock that originated as sandstone. Through a process of high heating and pressurization sandstone is transformed into Quartzite, an extremely strong and durable natural stone. When heated, individual quartz pieces recrystallize giving it a beautiful and decorative sparkling pattern. Quartzite is harder than granite and marble, but is still a natural stone that must be sealed. It is expensive, but gorgeous! It has some of the prettiest features of both granite and marble:  the crystal-like, dimensional look of granites, and the colors and movement of marble. It really must be seen in person to appreciate its beauty!

It is impossible to say that one type of countertop is better than another. There are so many factors to consider- and we ask questions to try to help you decide which works best for you.

Come in and let us show you our gorgeous countertops!

And remember- if you are hoping to have a beautiful new kitchen to show off during the holidays, NOW is when you should do something about it! Nothing happens overnight, regardless of how it appears on HGTV. So, come on in and let's get started!

How Much Does It Cost?

Ball park price ranges for a medium sized kitchen, not including plumbing are:

Granite $3000 to $4000 installed

Quartz $4500 to $5000

Marble $4000 to $5500 installed

Quartzite $7000 to $8000 installed