Garden State Soapstone ™, Slate & Wood Countertops, is located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. We have over 20 years of countertop experience; in addition, we assist customers with tile, fireplaces, and flooring.
Our blog contains tips for homeowners, as well as architects, designers, and chefs.
We serve customers located in New Jersey, in addition to New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, and all five boroughs of New York City. Please visit our website to learn more. Customers requesting help can reach out to Jay or visit our showroom in North Brunswick by appointment.
More information on our website: www.gardenstatesoapstone.com
Tuesday June, 2019
After a long New Jersey winter, there’s nothing better than enjoying the sunlight and eating outdoors. Keep your friends and family out of your kitchen by bringing the kitchen outside! Outdoor kitchens, complete with prep countertops and sinks for washing fresh produce, help you enjoy the entire process from your patio. Why Soapstone Is Best… Continue reading Outdoor Kitchens: Making the Most of Your Backyard
Saturday August, 2017
The Best Countertops for Busy Kitchens What are the best countertops for busy kitchens? You may have had a countertop that didn’t last very long. On the other hand, you may have had a countertop that out-welcomed its stay as it collected scratches, burns, or discoloration. As you renovate your kitchen, it’s important to chose… Continue reading The Best Countertops for Busy Kitchens
Friday August, 2017
Slate Countertop Guide: Care and Maintenance As a natural stone, slate is one of the easiest countertop materials to maintain. For those of you considering slate, we’ve compiled some important information as a slate countertop guide. On the Surface Unlike marble and granite, slate does not need to be sealed. However, organic oil can polish… Continue reading Slate Countertop Guide: Care and Maintenance
Friday June, 2017
Soapstone: Versatile Home Style One thing we love about soapstone is that it has been around forever. In fact, soapstone artifacts have been found that date back tens of thousands of years. Soapstone’s impermeability and heat-resistant qualities make it a historic and a traditional tool for baking. Flash forward, soapstone is now used for all… Continue reading Soapstone: Versatile Home Style
Friday March, 2017
Choose a Local Fabricator When most people think about choosing local businesses and services, it sounds like a great idea if only to contribute to the local economy. But when it comes to home renovations, choosing local ensures that your project is tailored towards you, and installed with consideration for the unique aspects of your… Continue reading Why It’s Important to Choose a Local Fabricator
Sunday March, 2017
Considering Concrete or Granite Countertops? Garden State Soapstone ™, Slate & Wood Countertops, is an advocate for natural stones like slate and soapstone. However, we don’t carry all kinds of countertops, like granite and concrete. There are a few reasons why. The number one reason is sealing. Granite is a stone that requires periodic sealing.… Continue reading The Case Against Granite and Concrete
Sunday February, 2017
Great cooking requires the right kitchen. A lot of chefs and cooks come to us and ask what types of countertops they should consider. We always recommend soapstone countertops. Soapstone is easy to clean and maintain. Soapstone countertops are non-porous, stain resistant, heat resistant. They don’t require sealing. Some homeowners choose to wax or oil… Continue reading Why Chefs Use Soapstone
Sunday February, 2017
Soapstone Pizza Stones Rumor has it that a Chicago food writer named Pat Bruno actually “invented” the pizza stone. Bruno claims that he was with the famous cook book author Julia Child when she was making pizza. She made a comment that the crust would be so much more crisp if someone could just get… Continue reading Baking & Grilling with Soapstone
Sunday February, 2017
In The Spotlight: PA Soapstone PA Soapstone, short for Pinheiros Altos, is a harder variety of soapstone that sits at a 5.0 on the Mohs Scale. When treated, Pinheiros Altos is dark black, with off-white veins containing a slight green hue. Pinheiros Altos contains less talc than traditional varieties of soapstone, like Mariana or Churchill.… Continue reading In The Spotlight: PA Soapstone
Wednesday December, 2016
Restaurants: Choose Soapstone Soapstone is a material that’s growing in popularity. But it’s no new trend. For tens of thousands of years, soapstone has been used for cooking, baking and eating. Even right here in New Jersey, soapstone as a tool dates to 12,000 years ago, when it was once used for baking in Native… Continue reading Attention Breweries, Wineries, and Restaurants
Friday November, 2016
Soapstone Seams There’s no better way than to celebrate the holidays in style, with beautiful, sustainable soapstone countertops. And there’s never been a better time to consider remodeling with soapstone (many sources are claiming it’s the end of granite, and soapstone is taking over). With soapstone’s growing popularity, we’ve received a lot of questions about… Continue reading Thoughts on Soapstone Seams
Saturday October, 2016
Trending Renovations For Your Bathroom This fall, Forbes posted an article describing the design and nuance of a custom triple vanity sink. We all know that a new vanity can change the entire feel of your bathroom, but typically we talk about materials, style, or even the surrounding decor when it comes to your vanity.… Continue reading Trending Triple Vanities
Thursday September, 2016
Churchill Countertops: Traditional, Sustainable Soapstone Churchill Soapstone, from the Alberene quarry in Virginia, is one of our customers’ favorite soapstones. Although it’s slightly harder than other soapstones, Churchill soapstone is a traditional variety of soapstone. Instead of a 2.5, it sits at a 3.0-a 3.5 on the Mohs scale. When untreated, it has a light… Continue reading Garden State Soapstone ™’s Churchill Soapstone
Thursday August, 2016
Why should you order samples? It’s more important than you think. Choosing the right material for your home can be time consuming, research heavy, and overwhelming. Sometimes a material may seem like the perfect fit, but it just doesn’t work with your home. Maybe it doesn’t fit with the cabinets. Or, it just requires too… Continue reading Ordering Samples Before Your Renovation
Saturday August, 2016
10 Facts About Soapstone Consider this Soapstone 101. There’s a lot of information around about soapstone. We want to make sure you have the most accurate details. We made a list of our “Top 10” soapstone facts! 1) Soapstone is impermeable and stain resistant. It’s easy to clean with mild soap and water, and no… Continue reading Back to Basics: Soapstone 101
Thursday August, 2016
Renovating Your Home with Soapstone: New York City Last week, we took a tour of homes throughout New Jersey. However, Garden State Soapstone ™ beautifies homes beyond the Garden State. We’ve served customers throughout the Mid-Atlantic, from Connecticut to Maryland. This week, we’ll take a tour of homes in New York City, updated with soapstone… Continue reading Home Tour: New York City Soapstone
Saturday July, 2016
Improve your Kitchen with Soapstone: New Jersey Tour Garden State Soapstone ™ has improved homes throughout New Jersey, New York City, and Pennsylvania. Those who have been following us for a while know that we’ve recreated kitchens with slate, marble, and wood, but it’s our soapstone that makes us special. This week, we’re inviting you… Continue reading Tour: New Jersey is all about Soapstone
Saturday July, 2016
Renovating your kitchen in New York City or New Jersey? A major kitchen renovation can not only beautify your home, but result in a major return on investment. So it’s important to think through the process of renovating by choosing a design that’s right for you, with materials that will last forever. You should begin… Continue reading Where to Start when Renovating Your Kitchen
Friday July, 2016
Natural Stone Tile: Soapstone and Slate Natural stone tile can be used in a bathroom floor, kitchen floor, or as a backsplash. Tile can be used in a tub or sink, or used as a mosaic to add subtle designs anywhere in your home. Despite the many uses and versatility, our customers are often faced… Continue reading Let’s Talk Tile: Natural Stone
Saturday July, 2016
All About Whiskey Rocks Now that summer is officially here, we’re ready for the outdoors. Not just hiking and outdoorsy stuff, (Though there are some great places to explore around the Garden State), but for a cold drink on the porch. Any summer whiskey cocktails may look good, but there’s no better way to enjoy… Continue reading What Are Whiskey Rocks, Anyway?
Friday June, 2016
We love soapstone for a variety of reasons. But mostly, because it’s a sustainable material. Soapstone has been used for centuries, primarily for cooking, due to its heat resistant properties. Primarily composed of talc, magnate, and chlorite, it occurs naturally. In terms of hardness, it ranges from a 2.5 to a 5.0 on the Mohs… Continue reading Is Soapstone Sustainable?
Friday June, 2016
What is the Mohs Scale? At Garden State Soapstone ™, customers frequently ask about the difference between harder soapstone and softer (traditional) soapstone. To answer this question, it’s important to first talk about the Mohs scale. The Mohs scale characterizes the range of hardness that different minerals contain. Specifically, it identifies scratch resistance of various… Continue reading Soapstone and the Mohs Scale
Thursday May, 2016
There’s more than one way to use soapstone. At Garden State Soapstone ™, we’ve discovered that there’s not just one way to use soapstone. In fact, it’s a natural, organic material with versatility that makes it perfect for just about everything. Luckily, we were able to narrow down our favorites. Here are the top 10… Continue reading Soapstone in 10 Ways
Thursday May, 2016
Soapstone Wax and Oil From the kitchen, to the bathroom, to an outdoor kitchen, soapstone counter and table tops add a flare of natural beauty to any decor style. How to finish soapstone is a personal preference, though your fabricator may have some input. Garden State Soapstone ™ recommends three ways to age your soapstone… Continue reading Should I Oil, Wax, or Leave Them Be?
Tuesday May, 2011
Homes and the Generation Gap An article written by Anita Shaw, titled Bridging the Gap, reminds kitchen and bath designers that each generation has a different personality and specific needs. Below are the highlights: Bridging the Gap By Antia Shaw May 2011 Many different issues and elements influence which trends rise and fall and which products… Continue reading Designing For A Different Generation
Friday May, 2011
Soapstone Behind the Scenes: Soapstone Fabrication Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes? Here are some photos a happy client from Long Island just send us of the on site fabrication. Additionally, Garden State Soapstone ™ templates and installs soapstone projects throughout the region. Feel free to visit our showroom by appointment. Jay will… Continue reading Soapstone Fabrication
Wednesday May, 2011
Grey Sky Films and Garden State Soapstone ™ Just wanted to thank Grey Sky Films for mentioning our company in their monthly newsletter. Check them out here! GARDEN STATE SOAPSTONE April showers bring May flowers! Right? Well, we certainly hope so. It’s been a soggy month and we’re looking forward to some sunshine and… Continue reading Monthly Newsletter: Grey Sky Films
Thursday April, 2011
Inspiring Architecture: Newest article from K+BB: Honoring the architectural legacy and inspiring architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, Reveal Designs’s Taliesin Design hardware collection offers a clean, linear look. The collection was initially embarked upon over a year ago by the students and faculty of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, founded by Wright in… Continue reading Frank Lloyd Wright – Inspiring Architecture
Thursday April, 2011
Soapstone Q&A Since I get many questions about soapstone every day, I wanted to provide you with some of the most frequently asked questions. Here’s my Soapstone Q&A. If you have any others, post below OR contact me here. QUESTION: Do I need to seal my soapstone counters like granite or marble? ANSWER: No. Soapstone… Continue reading Soapstone Q&A
