Countertops

Countertop lighting does more than illuminate your kitchen workspace; it also adds depth, warmth, and a unique ambiance to your space. 

And when you have a beautiful natural stone countertop, you want to highlight it with your carefully chosen lighting! But how can you choose the right lighting for your countertops? We have some ideas!

1. LED Strip Lighting for Under-Cabinet Illumination

LED strip lighting beneath cabinets is an effective way to bring out the details in natural stone countertops. 

This lighting option provides even, soft illumination that emphasizes the color and texture of your stone without overwhelming the room. LED strips are versatile, allowing you to adjust brightness and even color temperature to match your desired ambiance. 

For warm-colored countertops like granite or marble, choose a soft white or warm tone. For lighter-colored quartz or quartzite, a cooler light can help bring out subtle veining. LED strips are also energy-efficient and low-maintenance, making them a practical yet stylish option.

2. Recessed Lighting for a Clean Look

Recessed lighting installed along the edges of countertops creates a seamless, modern look that enhances your stone’s natural beauty without visible fixtures. These lights, embedded directly into cabinetry or walls, cast a soft glow over the countertop, highlighting unique veining patterns and textures in stones like marble or granite. 

Recessed lights are excellent for minimalist kitchens, as they provide clean lines and focused light, giving the kitchen an uncluttered feel. This lighting approach also offers flexibility, as you can install recessed lights above specific countertop areas, such as cooking or prep zones, for targeted illumination.

3. Pendant Lighting for Statement Illumination

Pendant lighting above countertops and islands adds both functionality and design flair. With a wide range of styles available, pendant lights can be customized to match your kitchen’s aesthetic while providing focused light that brings out the depth of natural stone. 

For kitchens with darker countertops, consider pendants with warm, amber lighting to create a cozy ambiance. In kitchens with lighter surfaces, a clear or frosted glass pendant can amplify natural light and emphasize the stone’s natural luster. Pendant lights are ideal for large islands, as they create a focal point that makes a statement in the kitchen.

4. Integrated Lighting for a Sleek and Modern Effect

Integrated lighting involves embedding LED lights directly into the edge of a countertop, casting light across the stone surface itself. This technique is particularly impactful with translucent stones like quartzite or marble, where the light can penetrate and enhance the stone’s natural patterns. 

Integrated lighting is sleek and discreet, allowing the countertop to remain the main attraction. It’s an innovative choice for homeowners who want a unique, contemporary look, as the embedded lights create a glowing effect that brings out the countertop’s colors and textures in a subtle, refined way.

5. Under-Counter Lighting for Ambient Floor Illumination

Under-counter lighting, installed beneath lower cabinets, provides a soft glow that adds warmth to the kitchen floor and emphasizes the lower edge of the countertop. This approach works well with stone surfaces by casting a soft halo that makes the countertop appear as though it’s floating. 

Under-counter lighting is especially effective in kitchens with darker floors, creating a unique ambiance that adds depth to the room. This lighting option can be adjusted for intensity, allowing you to enhance the overall mood of the kitchen, whether you prefer a brighter look or a more subdued atmosphere.

Elevate Your Kitchen with Custom Lighting Solutions

Lighting is an essential element in kitchen design, especially when it comes to showcasing high-quality natural stone countertops. 

From LED strips to integrated lighting, each of these ideas highlights the natural beauty of stone while creating a welcoming and stylish atmosphere. Contact KG Stevens today for a free quote for your next countertop project!

Choosing the right countertop finish can make a significant difference in the look and feel of your kitchen or bathroom. With the right finish, you can enhance the beauty and functionality of these surfaces. Here are ten unique countertop finishes to consider for your next project.

1. Polished Finish

A polished finish is one of the most popular choices for natural stone countertops, bringing out the stone’s full color and depth. This high-gloss finish reflects light, creating a smooth, mirror-like surface. It’s also easy to clean and highly resistant to stains, so it’s a practical choice.

2. Honed Finish

Honed finishes provide a matte or satin-like appearance, offering a softer look than polished surfaces. This finish is achieved by grinding the stone to a smooth texture without creating a shine. A honed finish works well in traditional and contemporary designs, adding warmth and subtle elegance.

3. Leathered Finish

The leathered finish is becoming a popular choice for natural stone countertops, especially with granite and marble. It adds a textured surface with a soft sheen, giving a unique, tactile quality. Leathered finishes are both visually appealing and practical, as they help hide fingerprints, water spots, and smudges. 

4. Brushed Finish

A brushed finish provides a slightly rough texture by using wire brushes to enhance the stone’s natural pattern. This finish adds depth and a rustic feel, making it a great option for those who love a more organic look. It’s particularly effective on granite and limestone, where the finish brings out the stone’s natural veins and patterns, adding character to any kitchen or bathroom.

5. Flamed Finish

A flamed finish is achieved by exposing the stone to high heat, which causes the surface to burst and create a rough texture. This process is typically used with granite, resulting in a slip-resistant surface that’s great for areas requiring extra durability. The flamed finish is especially popular for outdoor kitchens but can add a unique, rugged look indoors as well, giving a bold and textured appearance.

6. Sandblasted Finish

Sandblasting uses a high-pressure stream of sand to create a finely textured, matte surface. This finish is ideal for achieving a subtle, aged appearance, adding character to the stone. A sandblasted finish works well in both modern and rustic spaces, as it provides a muted look that softens the stone’s natural color.

7. Antiqued Finish

The antiqued finish gives stone a time-worn appearance, blending elements of both the brushed and leathered finishes. This process creates a soft texture that feels aged and adds a unique, classic charm to natural stone. The antiqued finish is ideal for those looking to make a statement with their space.

8. Bush-Hammered Finish

A bush-hammered finish is created using a specialized tool that lightly pocks the surface, producing a rough, textured look. This finish is often used on outdoor surfaces or in spaces that benefit from extra grip. It’s especially popular on stones like granite and limestone.

9. Satin Finish

A satin finish falls between honed and polished, offering a low-sheen surface with a smooth touch. It’s perfect for homeowners who appreciate the reflective quality of a polished finish but prefer a subtler look. The satin finish is versatile and works well in various design styles.

10. River-Washed Finish

A river-washed finish combines elements of the leathered and flamed finishes, creating a deeply textured surface with a weathered look. This finish is achieved by first flaming the stone and then brushing it, resulting in a rugged appearance that resembles natural stones found along riverbeds. 

Elevate Your Space with Custom Stone Finishes

Selecting the right finish for your countertops can enhance your kitchen or bathroom’s overall style and functionality. Whether you prefer a polished look or a deeply textured surface, KG Stevens offers a variety of high-quality natural stone finishes to suit your design needs. Contact us today for a free quote!

Creating a vintage-inspired kitchen or bathroom doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice modern conveniences. 

With the right design choices, you can combine the beauty of vintage aesthetics with the durability and functionality of modern countertop materials like stone. Here are six ways to achieve a vintage look using modern stone countertops.

1. Opt for Soft, Muted Tones

Vintage-style kitchens often feature soft, muted tones that create a warm, inviting atmosphere. When choosing modern stone countertops, look for colors that evoke a sense of nostalgia, such as soft whites, gentle creams, and pale grays. 

These subtle shades are reminiscent of old-world charm and can easily be paired with vintage-inspired cabinetry and fixtures. Opting for muted tones helps create a harmonious blend between the past and present.

2. Use Honed or Leathered Finishes

To capture the essence of a vintage look, consider opting for honed or leathered finishes on your stone countertops. These finishes offer a matte or slightly textured surface, reminiscent of aged, time-worn materials. 

A honed finish has a smooth, soft look without the high gloss of polished stone, while a leathered finish adds a subtle texture. Both options can add an old-world feel to modern countertops, making them look more rustic and timeless.

3. Incorporate Rounded Edge Profiles

Edge profiles play an important role in defining the overall aesthetic of your countertops. For a vintage-inspired look, consider choosing rounded or softened edges, such as bullnose or ogee. 

These curving profiles were popular in the early to mid-20th century and can help recreate the soft, flowing lines often seen in vintage kitchens. The rounded edges add a sense of warmth and classic style, blending seamlessly with other vintage elements in the room.

4. Select Marble or Marble-Look Stone

Marble has long been associated with timeless elegance and vintage luxury. Its natural veining and soft hues evoke the grandeur of classic kitchens from decades past. While natural marble is an excellent choice, modern engineered stone options can offer a similar look with added durability and resistance to stains. 

Choosing marble or marble-look countertops allows you to achieve that vintage charm while benefiting from the practicality of modern materials.

5. Pair with Retro Backsplashes

One way to highlight the vintage appeal of your stone countertops is by pairing them with a retro-inspired backsplash. Subway tiles, geometric patterns, or mosaic tiles in soft, classic colors can bring a vintage vibe to your kitchen or bathroom. 

The combination of a timeless stone countertop with a nostalgic backsplash creates a cohesive look that embraces vintage design without compromising modern functionality.

6. Highlight Natural Veining

Natural veining in stone countertops, such as granite or quartzite, can add character and depth to your space. In vintage-inspired designs, these veins can evoke the look of well-worn, aged surfaces that have stood the test of time. 

By choosing stone with prominent, elegant veining, you can emphasize the organic beauty of the material while creating a sense of history in your kitchen or bathroom. The veining adds texture and visual interest, contributing to the overall vintage aesthetic.

Transform Your Kitchen with a Vintage Look

Achieving a vintage look in your kitchen or bathroom is possible with the right stone countertops and design choices. 

From muted tones and honed finishes to retro backsplashes and timeless edge profiles, you can create a space that combines old-world charm with modern practicality. Contact KG Stevens for a free quote for your vintage-inspired countertop project!

Stone countertops offer a timeless look and exceptional durability to any kitchen or bathroom. Customizing your stone surfaces can elevate your space’s overall design, turning standard countertops into personal expressions of style and luxury. 

Here are 10 creative ways to personalize your stone countertops with custom designs.

1. Incorporate Unique Edge Profiles

The edge profile of your countertop can significantly impact the overall look and feel of your space. Moving away from standard edges such as straight or beveled, you can consider more decorative edges like ogee, waterfall, or bullnose. These intricate edge designs add a sophisticated, polished touch to the countertop, giving it a custom look that reflects your style, whether classic or modern.

2. Add Inlays for a Decorative Touch

Inlays are a unique way to introduce pattern or texture into your countertop design. By incorporating materials like metal, glass, or even contrasting stone, you can create intricate borders, shapes, or geometric designs that enhance the artistic appeal of the countertop. This technique adds a layer of visual interest, making your countertops stand out as true works of art.

3. Choose Two-Tone Countertops

If you want to create an eye-catching centerpiece, using two different types of stone for your countertops can achieve a beautiful visual contrast. Pairing light stone with darker accents, or mixing different textures like polished and honed finishes, creates a striking, custom look. This approach works especially well for kitchen islands, where the contrast makes the countertop a focal point.

4. Opt for Waterfall Countertops

A waterfall edge is an increasingly popular design where the countertop material continues down the sides of the island or cabinetry, forming a sleek, continuous flow. This design highlights the natural beauty of the stone and adds a sense of modern luxury to any kitchen. The flowing, seamless look draws attention to the unique veining of the stone, giving it an architectural appeal.

5. Use Engraving for Personalization

Engraving can add a personal touch to your countertops. Whether it’s an intricate pattern, a family emblem, or a meaningful quote, engraving adds character while maintaining the elegance of your stone surface.

6. Create Contrast with Different Finishes

Combining finishes like polished and honed adds texture and depth to your countertops. This mix creates visual and tactile contrast, enhancing specific areas like an island or backsplash while maintaining the overall beauty of the stone.

7. Add a Built-In Drainboard

A built-in drainboard, carved into the stone, adds both function and style to your kitchen. It channels water away from dishes while offering a sleek, seamless design, enhancing convenience without detracting from the countertop’s elegance.

8. Integrate a Stone Backsplash

Extending your countertop material up the wall creates a cohesive, luxurious look. Whether full-height or shorter, a stone backsplash ensures continuity between the countertop and wall, bringing elegance to your kitchen or bathroom.

9. Highlight Natural Veining

Stones with dramatic veining, such as marble or quartzite, create striking visual appeal. Carefully positioning the stone to highlight its natural veins makes your countertop a one-of-a-kind piece of art, offering a completely custom look.

10. Customize with Color Contrasts

Create contrast by pairing a light-colored countertop with dark cabinetry. This color contrast adds visual interest and can define different areas of your kitchen, such as islands or perimeter countertops, making the space feel more dynamic.

Transform Your Space with Custom Countertops

Customizing your stone countertops allows you to express your unique style while enhancing functionality. From custom edge profiles to striking inlays and finishes, your countertops can be personalized to fit your vision. 

Contact KG Stevens for a free quote. We’re here to help you create the perfect custom design for your home.