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Countertops

Countertop Checklist: How To Choose (And Find) Countertops For Your Needs

We know just how easy it is to fall in love with a stone countertop. Maybe it’s a bold and brash granite that’s caught your eye, or the delicate swoops and loops of soft white marble. 

But while every stone countertop has its own unique beauty, not all of them will function their best in every home! You need to choose countertops that can offer you more than just stunning good looks, and to do that, you need to think about your countertop needs. 

Start With Purpose

Before choosing a countertop, it helps to think carefully about how the space functions. Is this a hardworking kitchen used daily for cooking and cleanup, or a decorative bar area used only on weekends? 

Does the bathroom need something moisture-resistant and easy to wipe down, or is durability less of a concern in a guest suite? The more specific you are about your goals, the easier it becomes to filter through options. 

Consider Style With Substance

While appearance plays a role in most decisions, performance should never take a back seat. A surface that looks beautiful but shows every fingerprint or scratch will quickly become a source of frustration. 

Stone countertops offer a variety of looks, from subtle movement to bold patterning, but their strength lies in durability. If you prefer a surface that hides wear, softer veining and a matte finish can help maintain a clean look with less effort. 

Polished stone surfaces can make a room feel brighter and more refined, especially when combined with the right lighting.

Measure More Than Dimensions

Accurate measurements are essential, but visual balance also matters. A countertop should complement its surroundings without overwhelming the space. Think about sightlines too; what will be visible from an adjoining room or dining area? 

Choosing a stone that works well across views can help unify an open layout.

Think Long-Term Value

Choosing a countertop isn’t just about immediate impact. It’s a long-term investment that adds value to your home in both resale value and comfort. Before finalizing your choice, think about how your needs might evolve. 

A growing family, changing routines, or new design updates can all influence what kind of surface makes the most sense in the years ahead.

Visit A Showroom In Person

Photos and samples can help narrow down your choices, but seeing the full slab in person makes a real difference. You might discover unexpected favorites or notice features that don’t show up in online images. 

It also gives you a chance to ask questions and get expert input, which can be especially helpful if you’re weighing a few strong contenders.

Work With Trusted Professionals

Installation matters just as much as material. A well-fabricated and properly installed countertop will last longer, look better, and require less adjustment over time. Choose a supplier who can guide you through each step, from initial selection to final fit. 

Ask about sealing, maintenance expectations, and care recommendations based on the specific type of stone you select. Clear communication throughout the process makes everything run smoother!

Use This Checklist Before You Commit

Once you’ve explored your options, take a moment to walk through the essentials one more time. Our quick checklist can help confirm you’re ready to move forward:

Countertop Selection Checklist

  • Have I clearly identified how this space will be used?
  • Do I know what level of maintenance I’m comfortable with?
  • Does the countertop material suit my home’s existing style?
  • Do I understand the long-term value of the material I’ve chosen?
  • Have I viewed the full slab in person?
  • Have I selected a trusted installer?
  • Am I confident this choice supports both daily use and long-term goals?

Let Us Help You Make The Right Choice

Finding the right countertop is about more than picking a stone; it’s about matching your space, habits, and future plans. At KG Stevens, we help homeowners make confident choices with expert advice and beautiful, lasting materials. Reach out today for a free quote!

Waterfall Edge Quartzite Countertops: Are They Worth the Investment?

Few countertops are as dramatic and make as much of a statement as waterfall edge countertops. The bold use of stone can be on the pricier side of countertop renovations– after all, you’re using a lot more of the slab! However, these countertops bring such value to your space that many homeowners find them definitely worth the investment. 

Whether you’re looking for that extra wow factor for reselling or you want better kitchen performance, a waterfall countertop might be just what your home needs. And when you build it with quartzite, one of the most resilient and beautiful natural stones available, this design choice offers a high-end upgrade that blends strength with style. 

What Are Waterfall Countertops?

A waterfall countertop extends the surface material vertically down the sides of an island or cabinet, creating a continuous flow from the top surface to the floor. Instead of ending abruptly at the edge, the stone “cascades” down both sides, much like a waterfall. 

This style works especially well with natural materials that feature rich veining or bold patterning. When installed properly, the veining can be aligned from top to side, giving the impression of a continuous slab.

Why Quartzite Is Ideal For Waterfall Edges

Quartzite is often chosen for waterfall edge designs because it offers both eye-catching beauty and unmatched strength. Formed when sandstone is exposed to intense heat and pressure over time, quartzite is incredibly dense and highly resistant to chips and cracks. 

It holds up exceptionally well to daily wear and tear, making it a smart option for kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere durability is essential.

This natural strength makes quartzite especially suitable for waterfall applications, which require large, exposed sections of stone. Unlike more fragile materials, quartzite can withstand impacts without easily breaking or splintering along the edges. It’s also heat-resistant and scratch-resistant, giving it a practical edge in busy households.

Visual Impact That Elevates A Space

A waterfall quartzite countertop makes an immediate impression. It transforms a basic island or cabinet into a striking design feature that anchors the entire room. The clean vertical lines contribute to a polished, sophisticated look that can complement both modern and transitional interiors. 

Quartzite’s unique color palette, ranging from soft whites and grays to dramatic blues, greens, and earth tones, offers plenty of design flexibility. Whether your kitchen leans minimalist or traditional, quartzite’s natural veining and depth bring texture and dimension to the space.

Added Value Over Time

Beyond the aesthetic appeal, waterfall edge countertops can boost your home’s overall value. High-end features like quartzite and waterfall designs are often associated with luxury homes and custom finishes. 

These details signal quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, which can be attractive to future buyers. And quartzite countertops require less maintenance than many other natural stones. When professionally sealed and maintained, it provides a long-lasting surface that continues to look beautiful year after year.

Why Professional Installation Matters

Because waterfall countertops involve precise cuts, mitered corners, and detailed pattern matching, professional installation is essential. Aligning the veining between horizontal and vertical sections requires expert craftsmanship. This is especially true with quartzite, which is harder to cut and polish than softer stones.

Choosing a professional ensures that the installation will be structurally sound and visually cohesive. Investing in high-quality materials deserves expert handling from start to finish– and that’s where we come in. 

A quartzite waterfall edge countertop is more than a design trend; it’s a long-term investment in both form and function. At KG Stevens, we help homeowners bring their visions to life with premium materials and expert installation. Contact us today for a free quote and take the next step toward transforming your space with a waterfall countertop!

How to Make a Small Kitchen Look Bigger with Quartz Countertops

If you have a small kitchen without the room to expand, don’t despair! The right renovation can make your space feel so much larger, and it all starts with your countertops. With thoughtful design choices and the right materials, even the most compact spaces can appear brighter, cheerier, airier, and bigger. 

At KG Stevens, we’ve been helping homeowners get the most out of their space for years. Today, let’s take a look at how small kitchens can feel so much larger with the right choice of materials. 

Creating Visual Openness with Quartz

When you want to make a compact kitchen feel bigger, you want stone countertops– and specifically, you want light-colored stone countertops. Why? Simple. 

The polished surface of pale-colored stone is light-reflective, meaning it bounces light around the room and helps brighten up even the darkest corners, creating the illusion of more space and openness throughout the kitchen.

Quartz is ideal for this use; it is physically lighter than natural stone, and comes in lots of different colors, including pure snowy white if that’s what you want. Because quartz is manufactured, there’s far more control over its consistency and patterning, giving you options that can help open up the space.

quartz kitchen island

Let Quartz Reflect The Light

Lighting plays a key role in how large a kitchen feels. Quartz surfaces, especially in polished finishes, reflect both natural and artificial light, helping to amplify brightness throughout the room. 

Because quartz reflects light so effectively, it can work in tandem with well-placed lighting to brighten corners and counter shadows, helping the entire kitchen feel more open and airy.

Choose Simple, Clean Patterns

A consistent, low-contrast pattern works best when you’re trying to make a small kitchen feel bigger. Highly veined or bold-patterned countertops can be beautiful, but in a compact kitchen, they can sometimes draw too much attention and interrupt the visual flow. 

The goal is to create a surface that feels open and uncluttered. When the eye can move easily across countertops without hitting visual interruptions, the entire kitchen feels more expansive and less confined.

Slim Edge Profiles Maximize Surface Area

Edge profiles might seem like a minor detail, but they can subtly influence how open your kitchen feels. Chunkier or ornate edge designs can feel bulky in small kitchens, calling attention to the thickness of the surface rather than the overall space. 

Choosing a slim, squared edge or a simple eased edge helps maintain a clean and modern look. These minimal profiles draw less attention to the boundary of the countertop, keeping the eye moving and preserving a sense of openness. With quartz, you can maintain elegance while choosing a thinner profile that fits the room’s proportions.

Tech-Infused Quartz: How Smart Features Enhance Functionality in Your Countertops

Match Countertops And Backsplash For Flow

Another technique that enhances spaciousness is using the same quartz material for both the countertops and the backsplash. Extending the quartz vertically eliminates the break between surfaces, making the kitchen feel taller and more cohesive. 

This approach creates an uninterrupted flow that keeps the design feeling open; using one consistent material for both elements reduces visual distractions.

Design With Confidence And Impact

Small kitchens require thoughtful choices, but they also offer opportunities for impactful design. By choosing quartz countertops that reflect light, feature subtle movement, and support a clean color palette, you can transform a compact kitchen into one that feels stylish and spacious. 

At KG Stevens, we specialize in helping homeowners find quartz countertops that work beautifully with their space and goals. Contact us today for a free quote and let us help you make your kitchen feel more expansive.

Granite Countertops on a Budget: How to Get the Best Look for Less

Granite countertops remain one of the most desirable features in a kitchen or bathroom, thanks to their natural beauty, strength, and long-lasting appeal. While granite is often viewed as a premium material, it’s entirely possible to achieve a high-end look without stretching your budget too far. 

Smart choices in design, layout, and selection can all contribute to a polished result while keeping costs manageable.

Choosing the Right Colors and Patterns

When working within a budget, opting for more readily available granite colors can help keep the project affordable. Stones with consistent patterns or more common shades, like lightly speckled blacks, tans, or grays, tend to be priced more competitively due to their wider availability. 

These options still offer the durability and natural charm of granite, and they pair well with a variety of cabinet finishes and flooring materials.

Choosing a more uniform pattern without heavy multicolored speckling can also be a smart visual decision. Simpler patterns help minimize the appearance of seams, especially in larger kitchen layouts, and they contribute to a clean, cohesive look. These styles are timeless and tend to complement both traditional and modern spaces.

Choose an Efficient Layout

Granite in Minimalist Design

The size and shape of your countertop layout can significantly influence the overall project cost. Designing around standard slab sizes when possible can reduce waste and labor, which helps keep costs down. Avoiding unnecessary curves or elaborate edge profiles can further help keep the project efficient. Straight runs and clean corners allow for faster fabrication and easier installation, which can translate to overall savings.

Figuring out a space and money saving layout is something that a professional fabricator can help you with. When you work with an experienced team, they can help you with layout considerations that reduce material waste without sacrificing the finished look. And when they do the installation right the first time, you don’t have to worry about hidden labor costs or unforeseen repairs. It’s an up-front investment that pays off during and after the project.

Exploring Remnants for Smaller Projects

For bathrooms, laundry rooms, or small kitchen islands, granite remnants can be a smart solution. These are leftover pieces from previous installations, often large enough for smaller surfaces and available at reduced cost. Remnants still offer the same durability and aesthetic appeal as full slabs, and many fabricators offer a range of sizes and styles that can suit a variety of design needs.

Using remnants can also open up access to more expensive colors that might otherwise fall outside your budget range. Since you’re only covering a smaller area, you have more flexibility to select from premium options that have been discounted.

Low-Maintenance Benefits Add Long-Term Value

Granite is well known for its durability, and that toughness offers long-term benefits that easily justify the initial investment. Once sealed, granite resists stains, heat, and everyday wear. This resilience means fewer replacements or repairs over time, which adds value beyond the initial installation. A well-maintained granite countertop can last for decades, keeping your space beautiful and functional for years.

You don’t have to sacrifice style to stick to a budget. With thoughtful planning and expert support, granite countertops can be both stunning and cost-conscious. Choosing wisely and working with professionals allows you to enjoy the natural elegance of granite while making the most of your investment. If you’re ready to explore granite countertops for your home, KG Stevens is here to help. Reach out today for a free quote for your countertop project!

Quartzite vs. Marble: Which One Is Better for Your Kitchen?

Natural stone countertops are incredibly popular in new projects and home renovations. No matter what type of stone you choose, you’ll enjoy the durability, performance, appearance, and relatively easy maintenance of these countertops. 

But making the right choice of stone can be a little bit complicated. Today, let’s take a look at the differences between marble and quartzite. While they might look similar, these two stones have a lot of differences between them. Understanding the differences is important for choosing the right one. 

Natural Beauty and Aesthetic Appeal

Both quartzite and marble deliver stunning visual impact. In fact, quartzite is sometimes used in applications where softer marble is a bit of a problem. However, there are some key differences in the colors that are most readily available.

Marble is known for its classic elegance, and the most common slabs come in whites, creams, and subtle greys. It’s also known for its soft veining that gives it a refined, luxurious feel.Many homeowners choose marble for its graceful, artistic appearance.

Quartzite tends to offer more dramatic movement and color variation. If you aren’t looking for a slab that mimics marble, you might like the bolder, more texture patterns that it can offer. For kitchens with a modern or eclectic design, bold quartzite adds an organic yet striking element that sets the tone for the whole space.

Marble Countertops and Zen Design

Durability and Maintenance

When it comes to durability, quartzite is the tougher contender. Formed under intense heat and pressure, quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones available for countertops. It resists scratches and stands up well to everyday wear, making it a great choice for active kitchens. It’s also heat-resistant, so placing hot pots or pans on its surface is less of a concern, though a trivet is always recommended.

Marble, while still a strong natural material, is softer and more porous than quartzite. It’s more prone to scratches, etching, and staining, especially from acidic foods or cleaning products. Marble requires a bit more care and regular sealing to maintain its surface. For those who love the aged patina that marble develops over time, this might be part of the charm. But for homeowners seeking low-maintenance durability, quartzite is the more practical choice.

Long-Term Value and Use

Both quartzite and marble bring lasting value to a home, but their performance differs over time. Quartzite’s resilience makes it a better match for busy households or kitchens that see heavy use. Its ability to maintain its beauty without showing much wear gives it a long-lasting edge for those who prioritize functionality. Marble, though less rugged, remains a top-tier material for upscale kitchens. It’s a favorite among those who value history, artistry, and craftsmanship in design. 

Quartzite Countertops With Classic Cabinetry

Which One Fits Your Kitchen Best?

If your kitchen needs a tough, low-maintenance surface with bold style options, quartzite is likely the better fit. If you’re drawn to timeless elegance and are willing to give your countertops a little extra care, marble may be the right choice for you. 

Both stones can elevate your space; you just need to decide which one works with your lifestyle and design goals. If you need assistance choosing a stone for your kitchen countertop, or want a free quote for your project, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at KG Stevens today. Our team is here to give you the expertise you need!

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