"Revealing" How I Feel About Granite

I can't help it, I just LOVE granite!  The flow, the patterns, the colors and textures......... they just enthrall me.  When it comes time for a client to select granite for their kitchen remodel, I go with them to the supplier to look at the wide variety of slabs.  It's an important part of the total customer service that we offer our clients at HearthWood Kitchens.  We give them a great deal of guidance and advice so that they can make good choices for the materials that will become part of their new kitchen.  When we go granite shopping, I can guide them away from the softer and more problematic stones, and give them advice on color, pattern, texture, etc.  We make choices that will work together for a beautiful end result.  The bonus for me is that looking at granite is something I just love to do!  With my background in the visual arts, looking at some beautiful granite can give me that same "aesthetic emotion" that people get when they view a breathtaking work of art.  No surprise there, since natural stone is Nature's artwork!  And I never get tired of looking at it.

But, aside from expressing the fact that I get excited about granite, I would also like to mention one of the practical details that needs to be considered when choosing granite countertops.  That detail is called the sink reveal.  An undermount sink is the most popular sink choice when people opt for granite or engineered stone countertops (Cambria, Silestone, Hanstone, Caesarstone, etc.).  Take a look at the diagrams below.  The countertop is shown in grey.  The undermount sink will be attached to the bottom of the countertop, and the sink cut-out in the granite will have polished edges.  The "reveal" is the portion of the sink edge that will be either hidden (negative reveal in top diagram) or visible (positive reveal in middle diagram).  The bottom diagram shows a zero reveal, or a flush mount installation.

                                                             NEGATIVE  REVEAL

                                                               POSITIVE REVEAL

                                                    ZERO REVEAL (FLUSH MOUNT)

 The drawback to the positive reveal is that when you brush crumbs or spills off of the countertop into the sink, they will land on the exposed edge of the sink and you will then have to clean that off, also.   Not very practical, and it's surprising that many sink manufacturers actually recommend the positive reveal installation. We always choose the flush or the negative reveal. This is just one of the many details we guide you through when we help you select new countertops for your project.  Keep reading my blogs to learn a lot more about the process of getting beautiful new granite countertops and all the details and options that we can help you choose.

Where do I start??

This is my first time writing a blog and I'm really not sure where to start.  I have plenty to say, make no mistake about that.  But where do I begin?  What should I talk about first?  As this thought echoed in my head, I realized that this is a question I actually hear quite often --- from people who are interested in remodeling their kitchen, but have no idea how to begin.  "I have some ideas but I don't know where to start," is the most frequent comment from them.  Here's what I tell them:  Many people start by talking to their friends, relatives, coworkers, and acquaintances who have already gone through a remodeling project.  If you start there, politely listen to their comments, but also remember that their experience with one kitchen remodel (or even two, three, or four) does not make them an expert in kitchen design.  It does not take the place of formal training or years of daily experiences in the kitchen remodeling trade.  Listen to them.......and then call a professional.  Look for a company that has designers who are certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. This is your assurance that you will receive a good design with great functionality.  AND you will be working with someone who has passed the required training and exams.  AND you will know that this designer had to work successfully in the kitchen and bath industry for years before being recommended by his/her peers and endorsed by other professionals.  You can feel confident that, with their guidance, you will be well on your way to seeing your dream kitchen become a reality.  A kitchen remodel is usually a large investment in your home and because of this, it should be handled by experienced professionals (not "Chuck-in-a-Truck" who scribbles a design on a napkin. Sorry, Chuck.). There is much truth in the saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none." Sorry again, Chuck.  And Jack.

A kitchen designer trained by the NKBA will be a goldmine of information relating to every detail of your remodeling project.  They know about all the popular choices for sinks, faucets, cabinets, flooring, lighting, hardware, and backsplash tiles ----- but they will also tell you about the products you've never heard of and the latest style trends that the average consumer does not yet know about.  He/she may ask if you have started a folder of kitchen pictures cut from magazines. This can be a great tool for the designer as they try to determine the styles, colors, and materials that appeal to you.  Let your designer be the one to help you make decisions on wood specie, stain or paint colors, tile design, etc.  The choices and decisions are yours but the designer's input can be invaluable.

So basically, that's where you start:  by clipping photos from magazines and then calling a professional kitchen designer.  They will know where to guide you from that point on.  Just jump in with both feet ---- the same way that I just finished writing on my first blog topic!