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
Tuesday April, 2020
If you’re considering a farmhouse style kitchen in your home, soapstone creates the perfect rustic texture you’re looking for. In fact, when you scroll through images of “farmhouse kitchens,” you’ll see several soapstone counters and sinks throughout. What elements of the farmhouse style makes it a perfect match for soapstone? Large, Apron-Front Sink When you… Continue reading Get Your Dream Farmhouse Kitchen with Soapstone
Thursday October, 2019
We love soapstone not only for its sustainable and natural properties, but also its unique history of durability around the world. With a large quarry in Virginia, some styles of this metamorphic rock are easy to find close to home. This lower-emission option is another reason we love it. Historic Stone with a Modern Vein… Continue reading Soapstone Stands the Test of Time
Wednesday July, 2019
Choosing tile for your kitchen or bathroom renovation can be a daunting task with every color and pattern available. But have you considered soapstone tile for your new space? The dark color grounds the kitchen or bathroom, creating a sophisticated base for your cabinets and appliances. Benefits of Soapstone Tile If you’ve researched soapstone at… Continue reading Not Just Countertops: Soapstone Tile Flooring
Monday May, 2019
When you picture the perfect summer evening, do you envision friends on your patio while you’re grilling? Instead of the typical hot dogs and hamburgers, consider adding pizza to the menu and throw it on the grill with our custom soapstone pizza stones. Or if you’re a true pizza lover, learn how our quarried natural… Continue reading Dreaming of Summer: Try a Soapstone Pizza Stone
Tuesday March, 2019
It’s the beginning of a brand-new year, and with that comes exciting kitchen trends and products. Because the kitchen is one of the most-used rooms in the home, the space should have elements that excite you, but also simplify the necessary work. How do the 2019 trends meet these goals? Let’s find out! Color of… Continue reading 2019 Top Kitchen Trends
Friday January, 2019
How to Choose the Best Soapstone for Your Project One of the reasons homeowners love soapstone is its soft and soap-y feel (where it gets its name!). The traditional stone has a higher Talc content giving it that feeling, while a harder stone will have less talc content. The softer stone will age organically over… Continue reading How to Choose the Best Soapstone Hardness for Your NJ Home Project
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
Tuesday July, 2017
A New Design for Soapstone Products Soapstone Products (www.soapstoneproducts.com), the sister page to Garden State Soapstone ™, has recently undergone a major transformation. On this page, you’ll find our usual products, like pizza stones and pizza peels. But you’ll also find multiple viewpoints of images, interactive zooms, and expanded descriptions of what our pizza stones… Continue reading Welcome to Our New Soapstone Products Website
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
Friday June, 2017
Ready for Summer – Outdoor Soapstone You don’t have to have an outdoor kitchen to enjoy the benefits of soapstone in the great outdoors. There are multiple ways to enjoy soapstone during the warm weather, in ways that are small and big. Whiskey Rocks If you’re not used to soapstone, one way to enjoy soapstone… Continue reading Ready for Summer – Outdoor Soapstone
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 April, 2017
Organic Wax and Oil Garden State Soapstone ™ developed and makes our very own organic wax and oil for your soapstone countertops. While very few customers prefer leaving their soapstone untreated, we highly recommend treating your soapstone to increase the aging process, and beautify and enhance your soapstone as well. Here’s why. Soapstone comes from… Continue reading Organic Wax and Oil
Friday April, 2017
Updating Your Bathroom? Don’t know where to begin? There’s a lot involved in a bathroom renovation, but once you pick a starting point, the rest falls into place. What’s Your Material? The material, or materials, you choose suggest an overall style. If you’re looking for contemporary, you might pick soapstone. If you’re looking for elegant,… Continue reading Updating Your Bathroom?
Friday March, 2017
Countertop Edge Detail: What’s the Difference? Before choosing a countertop, there are a few questions you’ll need to ask. The first is a big one: material. What type of countertop works best for your home? The next question is finish. Our soapstone and slate come in a natural, honed finish. Our wood countertops are protected… Continue reading Edge Detail: What’s the Difference?
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
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
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
Sunday January, 2017
Happy 2017 from Garden State Soapstone ™!
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
Soapstone is a Hot Newcomer for Countertops. This year, soapstone is in. You’ll see a lot of places referring to soapstone as “the material used in your high school chemistry lab”. While it is true, because soapstone is both heat resistant and impermeable, soapstone has gotten a little more fashionable, to say the least. Soapstone… Continue reading Soapstone: Not Your High School Chemistry Lab
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
Saturday September, 2016
We can’t stop talking about these 5 soapstone countertops. 1. Old Dominion Soapstone Island + Perimeter located in SoHo | Manhattan. Placed in a beautiful NYC home, this soapstone island provides the perfect centerpiece for an already-amazing kitchen, standing out against the yellow decor and marble backsplash. It’s sleek and smooth, and ready for company… Continue reading 5 Soapstone Countertops We Love
Saturday September, 2016
Garden State Soapstone ™ on Houzz: Thank You For 100 Saves! Since re-designing our website last summer, we’ve also taken initiatives to stay active on Houzz. Thanks to our customers and followers, we’re pleased that our hard work has paid off! Along with 17 amazing reviews from our customers, we’ve officially hit 100 saves on… Continue reading 100 on Houzz
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
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
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
Tuesday March, 2016
New: Soapstone & Glass Knobs We’re so excited about our new soapstone knobs that we had to write a blog post. If you’ve been thinking about adding soapstone to your home, soapstone knobs are a great place to start. Or, if you already have soapstone anywhere in your home, show it off with these knobs.… Continue reading Soapstone and Glass Knobs: Sustainable & Decorative
Tuesday February, 2016
Soapstone’s Unique Veining Characteristics When it comes to soapstone, each individual slab is unique. When it comes to the range of varieties, there are subtle to dramatic tonal and veining variations through each type. Some slabs have dispersed and minimal veining. Other slabs have dense and dramatic soapstone veining. How does soapstone veining occur? Soapstone… Continue reading Soapstone Veining
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 October, 2015
Houzz Survey of Homeowners & Renovations A recent Houzz publication surveyed the percentage of homeowners across generations, their goals for renovations, and the most common renovations. Last year, 58% of surveyed homeowners were renovating. Of course, this says a lot about the clientele on Houzz, but just what are these renovation trends? Interiors and Professional… Continue reading A Survey of Renovations
Thursday September, 2015
Cooking with Soapstone For our last blog post, we talked about outdoor kitchens, and why they’re perfect for fall. This time around, we’re going to talk a little more about soapstone as a cooking tool. This exciting New York Times article, which came out at the beginning of the month, details how soapstone can enhance… Continue reading Cooking with Soapstone
Tuesday May, 2011
Grill Inside with Williams-Sonoma I was checking out Williams-Sonoma’s blog and came across an article that instructs how to grill great burgers, steaks, and much more inside – perfect for city living! The trick to using indoor grilling tools is knowing what they cook well and what they don’t, so I grabbed our Test Kitchen… Continue reading Tips to Grill Inside with Williams-Sonoma
Monday May, 2011
Green Homes with HGTV HGTV has an opportunity for you to win their Green Home of 2011. It’s a custom built, modern prairie style, fully furnished, eco-friendly home located in Denver CO – worth almost $700,000. The home also includes local artwork and funishings, and engineered hardwood flooring. Enter twice a day through June 2, 2011! Enter… Continue reading HGTV Green Home: Enter to Win!
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
Thursday May, 2011
HGTV has some great ideas for your new kitchen. Looking for new backsplashes? HGTV is a great resource. Two Backsplashes: Better Than One Two kitchen backsplash materials are better than one. Candice Olson pairs soapstone and blue glass tiles in this New Orleans-inspired kitchen. Bronze Sparkle Install under-cabinet lighting to show off your backsplash.… Continue reading Backsplashes: HGTV!
Wednesday May, 2011
Whiskey Soapstones & Whiskey Rocks This summer, enjoy soapstone whiskey rocks in your drink. Whiskey soapstones are the perfect way to chill your drink and keep it cold. Get the Most Out of Your Drink Since summer is right around the corner, you need to invest in these soapstone ice rocks! Avoid warm drinks – these… Continue reading Whisky Soapstones: Get the Most From Your Drink
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
