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
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 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
Local Homeowners Welcome Spring with Outdoor Soapstone Countertops North Brunswick, NJ – Outdoor kitchens represent a growing trend with today’s homeowners. Not only do they increase the value of a home, but they provide a modern, exterior space where family and friends can gather and enjoy the weather. Garden State Soapstone ™ of North Brunswick,… Continue reading Press Release: Local Homeowners Welcome Spring with Outdoor Countertops
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
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
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
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
Sunday October, 2016
We frequently talk about Patina Patina is how your soapstone naturally ages. It’s why quarried traditional soapstone, in its natural state, is light blue gray or darker grey. Typically the darker soapstone is harder, with less talc. Soapstone countertops will age (patina) or darken naturally. However this could take some time and typically is inconsistent,… Continue reading What is Patina?
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
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
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
Sunday November, 2015
New Video from Garden State Soapstone ™ Check out our newest soapstone video: featuring countertop removal, template, and installation for a home in Monroe, NJ. Garden State Soapstone ™ Video: Learn More Have a question about soapstone? Contact Garden State Soapstone ™, Slate & Wood Countertops.
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)
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
Thursday August, 2015
We all know that outdoor kitchens increase the value of your home while providing a modern, outdoor space. And it’s no surprise that soapstone is the best material for the project. Its thermal, impervious qualities are perfect for year-round enjoyment. Our #1 reason to have an outdoor kitchen? Because spending time outside is not just… Continue reading Trending for Fall: Outdoor Kitchens
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
Friday April, 2011
Cooking on Soapstone: Soapstone Pizza Having a hard time finding the extra money in your budget to eat out or order in? We have a solution – Try a Soapstone Pizza Stone! Pizza stones are becoming more and more popular. Since soapstone and will withstand temperatures over twice that of cast iron and other metal… Continue reading Cooking on Soapstone: Soapstone Pizza!
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!
