Wednesday December, 2020
Don’t force yourself to choose between your favorite natural stone options: combine both marble and soapstone for a beautiful contrast in your kitchen. While this may seem like a modern pairing, both marble and soapstone are classic materials that stand the test of time. In black and white, they coordinate with any decorating style to… Continue reading Soapstone & Marble: Great Contrast for a Modern Kitchen
Friday April, 2019
As a natural stone, traditional soapstone ages gracefully and shows signs of wear over time – an organic and distressed look, if you desire. The aging of the soapstone or patina adds to the authenticity of your home, especially in your kitchen where most of the life action happens. This aging of soapstone is very… Continue reading All about Aging: Soapstone Patina and Care
Saturday August, 2017
Slate Countertops 101 At Garden State Soapstone ™, we love using natural stone for home renovations. One of our favorite materials is slate. Though slate has been used throughout the home for quite a while, using slate is a relatively new way to think about countertops. It’s beautiful, sustainable, and maintenance free. Most of our… Continue reading Slate Countertops 101
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
Thursday July, 2017
Houzz Trends Reports Each year, Houzz publishes a homeowner renovation report based on data for the previous year. In 2017, kitchen renovations were a top priority among homeowners, so we decided to take a look at the research of these Houzz Trends. When it came to Kitchen Renovations, 95% off the top upgraded features are… Continue reading Houzz Trends Reports
Friday June, 2017
Pair Your Countertop with a Backsplash A recent article from Restonnow offers a unique perspective on pairing countertop with backsplash. What’s a backsplash? Anna Gibson, the writer of the post, offers some thoughts: “Backsplash: The word “tile” became so broad in recent years that we no longer just talk about ceramic. Tiles for backsplash are… Continue reading Pair Your Countertop with a Backsplash
Saturday June, 2017
Benefits of a Slate Countertop Surface Slate is a Natural Stone The number one reason why slate should be on your radar is that slate is a natural stone. With that, it doesn’t take a vast amount of resources or unsustainable practices to install a beautiful slate countertop. Slate has a distinct look, feel, and… Continue reading Slate Makes a Great Countertop Surface
Friday May, 2017
New: Marble. Garden State Soapstone ™ Introduces Honed White Cherokee Marble. Cherokee Marble has light grey veining across the stone’s surface. While it complements any of our Soapstone colors, it’s great for kitchen countertops, islands, or bathrooms. It’s been said that White Cherokee Marble is characterized by a soft blend of shimmering white crystals and… Continue reading Introducing: White Cherokee Marble
Friday May, 2017
Is It Time for a Renovation? Are you looking for the right moment to renovate? If so, how do you know what that moment is? Whether your kitchen and bathroom is making your house look dated, or maybe too many things need repairs, here are some tips on the renovation you’ve dreamed of. In terms… Continue reading Time to Renovate?
Friday May, 2017
What’s Unique About Soapstone What makes soapstone unique? It’s no surprise that we, Garden State Soapstone ™, are all about unique soapstone and other natural stones for countertops. But what’s so special about soapstone? Why is it better, or even different, than other natural stones? We hear questions like these all the time. Of course,… Continue reading What’s Unique About Soapstone
Friday March, 2017
History of Soapstone Around the World Soapstone’s natural, heat-resistant qualities and impermeability set it apart from other trends. In fact soapstone has been used as a tool for baking and architecture for thousands of years. Soapstone artifacts have been found across the world, from the United States to Brazil to Norway. Here’s a little bit… Continue reading History of Soapstone Around the World
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 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
Monday January, 2017
Home Design in 2017 Natural is Back As 2017 gets into full swing, home design trends move towards functionality, minimalism, and natural materials. On Improve Net, natural stone makes the list again, along with butcher block countertops. Soapstone: Your Go-To Soapstone has repeatedly been named as a go-to material lately. We’ve mentioned the history and… Continue reading Natural Home Design in 2017
Saturday September, 2016
When it comes to soapstone and slate, we love natural stone. At Garden State Soapstone ™, we pride ourselves in our selection of beautiful soapstone and slate, custom-fabricated for your home. We recommend natural stone for a variety of reasons, from the subtle characteristics and textures that it adds to a home, to its versatility… Continue reading Advantages of Natural Stone
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 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
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
Sunday November, 2015
The Perfect Time for New Countertops It’s November 1st. Halloween is barely over. What’s the rush, right? Wrong! ‘Tis the season for new countertops. If you’re giving the gift of countertops for the holidays, act now. Here’s how: Send us your project details (Dimensions, Layout, Location) Schedule a visit to learn more Choose your material… Continue reading ‘Tis the Season (For New Countertops)
Friday May, 2011
Garden State Soapstone ™ in Baltimore! It’s always nice to see finished pictures of a beautiful project. Today, however, I’m going to show you some pictures from an onsite installation in Baltimore. These soapstone countertops were fabricated, templated, and installed by Garden State Soapstone ™. Garden State Soapstone ™ serves residents, homeowners, business owners, designers,… Continue reading Garden State Soapstone ™ in Baltimore: Photo Tour
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
Tuesday May, 2011
Dining in Style, Anywhere. Below are some pictures from Architectural Digest that show how you can dine in style, even on your yacht! Read more about dining on the sea: Click here for the full article. Dining on Your Yacht The Kathleen Anne, a 128-foot Feadship yacht owned by a Scottish couple, includes three levels… Continue reading Dining In Style…Sea Style
Thursday May, 2011
Wondering What Your Kitchen Remodel Return Is? www.Kitchen.com has a great article on how to estimate your kitchen remodel’s return on your investment. The recession may technically be over, but when it comes to housing values, the numbers still have been sliding down. As a result, so has the return in investment on remodeling projects. However,… Continue reading Wondering What Your Kitchen Remodel Return Is?
Tuesday May, 2011
Care & Maintenance for your Wood Countertops Straight from the experts! Here are some tips on daily maintenance, scratch removal, and how to apply a top coat to your wood countertops: Daily Maintenance for Wood Countertops Use a 20%-80% vinegar/water solution to clean your top. Do NOT use ammonia-based cleaners; over time they will soften… Continue reading Keep Your Wood Countertops Looking Brand New!
Tuesday May, 2011
The options are endless! Here is some more inspiration from K+BB on how you can completely transform your countertops: Countertops: Surface Expression Yes, white kitchens are still very much in fashion and thus the interest in white countertops continues. But if you feel a groan coming on with this bit of non-news, you may want… Continue reading Personalize your Countertops!
Wednesday April, 2011
Dr. Bubbles and Your Soapstone As I have discussed before, the care & maintenance for soapstone is minimal and very simple. The most common way to keep your soapstone looking beautiful was by using mineral oil, until a better solution came about – Dry Wax. There are many benefits to the wax such as: Eliminates the… Continue reading Dr. Bubbles to the rescue!
Friday April, 2011
Kitchen Inspiration We’re ending the day with some kitchen inspiration! When designing/remodeling a kitchen, it can often be very overwhelming with all the different appliances, materials, and finishes. I came across a great article from KOHLER on how to bring your own inspiration into kitchen design. If you want to transform your kitchen into a… Continue reading Be Inspired By Kitchens!
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
Monday April, 2011
Architectural Digest: Words of Wisdom from the Experts If you are having a hard time designing your kitchen, check out this interesting article I found from Architectural Digest. Read more on Architectural Digest: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/ Designers Tell All When designing a kitchen, what are the key considerations? What are your favorite materials to use? What are… Continue reading Architectural Digest: Words of Wisdom from the Experts
Thursday April, 2011
Soapstone: Outdoor Kitchen & Grill Now that the weather is warming up, I want to share with you how soapstone can be used as the perfect material for your outdoor kitchen & grill. Soapstone is ideally suited for outdoor use because it is heat and stain resistant. Some other stone countertop surfaces hold heat, creating a… Continue reading Spring is Here: Outdoor Kitchen
Wednesday April, 2011
Thinking of going with granite countertops? Think again! There are more options today than ever before and soapstone is the best! Check out the list below for soapstone advantages over granite countertops and other natural stone countertops. Quarried Naturally Heat Safe Will Not Harbor Bacteria Non Porous Will Not Stain No Radon Emissions Will Not… Continue reading Thinking of going with Granite Countertops?
Tuesday April, 2011
Granite Gurus: Remodeling Your Kitchen Wondering if it’s worth it to remodel your kitchen?? Check out this interesting fact from the article “Did you know…“ from Granite Gurus. The article discusses a return on investment when it comes to renovating your home. The article says that “For every dollar you spend this year remodeling your… Continue reading From Granite Gurus: Check this out
Wednesday March, 2011
How should I treat my Soapstone? Care and Maintenance for your Soapstone How should I treat my soapstone? We’ve got the answer! Here are 3 maintenance free ways of treating your soapstone. Absolutely no oiling required. • 95% of our clients no longer use Mineral Oil. Traditionally most soapstone customers used a mineral oil to… Continue reading How Should I Treat My Soapstone?
Wednesday March, 2011
What if Soapstone Scratches? Are you afraid of ruining your beautiful new soapstone countertops? Don’t be! So, what if your soapstone scratches? You as a consumer can fix it! If your soapstone countertop becomes scratched, follow these easy restoration steps: Most scratches will disappear with a dab of mineral oil. To permanently remove a deep… Continue reading Go Ahead, Scratch your Soapstone!
Thursday March, 2011
Before After Our Soapstone, Your Kitchen Check out these Before and After photos of our soapstone! Brooklyn, NY Turn your Brooklyn condo around for less than $2000! In these before and after pictures you can see how our Minas Soapstone updates this kitchen adding a high end, modern design for a fantastic price. Don’t forget… Continue reading What Our Soapstone Can Add to Your Kitchen!
