You may have the perfect dream kitchen in your mind leading up to a remodel, but there are certain things that could get in the way of that, like not having enough budget or enough space to implement it. Almost all remodels will involve compromise in one way or another, and another factor you might have to consider and compromise around is kids. If you have young kids or if a friend’s or relative’s children spend a lot of time at your house, then this could affect certain elements of your kitchen design.

Here are a few things to consider if you’re designing a new kitchen for a house with kids.

Wall design

It’s no secret that kids can be messy. So, you might want to think about sticky hands or colored crayons on your walls when deciding their color and design. Slightly darker colors can be more forgiving than white or cream, for example, meaning you won’t have to spend as much time scrubbing them. Think as well about which materials and finishes are easy to clean. Wallpaper, for example, may not be a good option.

Ground-level storage

From a young age, your child will be able to reach and grab at anything close to the ground, including your kitchen cabinets. Be wary of your ground-level storage and what you keep in them. Cabinets are a better option than open storage, preventing kids from pulling things out from open shelves. Consider what you store in your low cabinets, ensuring that nothing dangerous is within their grasp.

You can also use this to give the kids some control over certain elements, such as storing their plastic plates and cutlery in a low cabinet, allowing them to pick them out for themselves at mealtimes. A low drawer or cabinet for their snacks can also give them some responsibility of getting their own food when they ask for a snack. If you do keep anything unsafe at a lower level, like cleaning products under the sink, then make sure there are child locks in place.

Kitchen countertop edge profiles

When your kids start walking and running around the house, they’ll reach an age where your countertops are perfectly head height to them. To minimize any injuries, think about your countertop edge profile and how sharp the edges and corners may be. A more rounded edge profile such as a full bullnose or a round edge is much safer for those inevitable bumps and scrapes.

Get the perfect kitchen countertops for your upcoming kitchen remodel with Amanzi Granite. Our design services help you get each element right, with a variety of factors in mind. Get in touch to find out more about our design and installation services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville.

Your kitchen backsplash can be a standout feature piece, both functional and aesthetic. It’s a great way to display premium materials even if you’re working to a tight budget – for example, installing a complementary granite backsplash if you have to compromise on laminate countertops that just mimic the look of stone.

So, what is the best material for your backsplash if you want to make a statement? Both glass and a variety of natural stone types are popular kitchen backsplash materials. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of each to help you decide.

Pros and cons of glass backsplash

There are lots of great style options when choosing a glass backsplash. You can choose from a range of colors and also have the choice of either glass tile or glass sheet. A glass sheet backsplash is a single piece of glass, which creates a nice and clean, uniform look. It can also be slightly easier to clean than tile due to it not having grout lines. However, glass is generally a very easy material to clean.

One advantage of a glass backsplash over stone backsplashes is that glass is a non-porous material, meaning it won’t need to be sealed in order to avoid stains from splashes of food. If you have a glass tile backsplash, then the grout between the tiles may need sealing to prevent stains.

Glass backsplashes of either kind can look great in contemporary kitchens in particular, and the reflective surface can create the feeling of a lighter and more spacious kitchen.

Pros and cons of natural stone backsplash

There are various types of natural stone you can choose from when opting for a stone backsplash, such as granite, marble, and travertine. Natural stone produces a completely unique end result as each slab of stone is different from the next in the small veining, hue, and pattern details. Similar to glass, you can choose between a slab or tiles for your natural stone backsplash.

As stone is slightly porous, you will need to have your backsplash sealed to prevent stains that can occur when cooking or if liquids are spilled nearby. But like glass, stone is an easy surface to keep clean once it is sealed. Natural stone produces a timeless look that can go well in any style of kitchen, from modern and minimalistic to more traditional and rustic kitchens. And if you’re installing granite countertops or other natural stone countertops, then a natural stone backsplash is the perfect complement to them.

If a granite backsplash or another type of natural stone backsplash is right for you, then contact Amanzi Granite to find out more about our quality stone plus our design and installation services, or visit our showroom in Kernersville to see the stone for yourself.

Natural stone countertops, such as granite and marble, don’t just look great in your home, but they are also extremely tough and durable. Still, they might develop scratches or dents over time, particularly if the proper care isn’t taken with them. You can read our tips on how to deal with this kind of minor damage here.

But what about more severe damage to your marble or granite countertops? Due to their durability, deeper cracks are extremely rare. However, it is still possible, so it helps to know what to do if you find yourself in that situation.

How can cracks occur in natural stone countertops?

Natural stone such as granite can have natural fissures occurring within the stone. While these generally aren’t a problem, they can make the stone weaker if it is subject to certain conditions, such as pressure or heat. So, if you regularly do things like putting hot pans and plates down onto the counter, or adding too much weight to your countertops by leaving heavy objects there for long periods of time or regularly climbing on your countertops, cracks can occur.

This is why it’s so important to take proper care of your granite countertops, helping them stay in good condition for longer. There’s also a chance that cracks could occur if the installer didn’t do a good job or if the slab was damaged while being moved, so make sure you choose a reliable provider for installation.

How to repair a cracked countertop

If the crack in your countertop does not create a ridge or a lip and is cleanly inside the stone, this is known as a hairline crack and may not need replacing. It shouldn’t cause any further damage and won’t produce sharp edges or get in the way when cleaning. You can just think of it as an addition to the unique pattern of your stone. But keep an eye on the crack to see if it starts to get larger over time.

If the crack produces a gap or a ridge in the stone, however, a granite repair specialist may be needed. Cracks in granite can be filled with acrylic or epoxy, made to match the color of the stone as closely as possible. The surface of your countertop will then need to be repolished to blend the repair in properly and remove any rough edges. You may then need to reseal your granite countertop.

Whether you’re looking for countertop repair or a new granite countertop for your bathroom or kitchen, Amanzi Granite are here to help. Get in touch to inquire about our design, installation, and maintenance services across Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville, NC.

Have you ever stopped to think a little deeper about the stone that makes up your kitchen countertops or bathroom tiles? How did these rocks form and end up with aesthetically striking tones and patterns that look perfect in your kitchen? What gives them the properties that make them suitable for use in the home? Well, there are three categories of stone, so let’s look at them at a basic level to find out more.

Sedimentary

Sedimentary rocks are formed when small particles of other rocks, grains of sand, and other types of debris, or sediment, accumulate over time and are subjected to pressure, essentially compacting them together to form stone.

Types include: Sandstone, limestone, chalk, shale

Features: The layers of sediment are often visible in these types of stone, showing the different ages across which the stone was formed, and producing an interesting pattern for decorating homes. Sedimentary rock is generally the most porous of the three categories, meaning they may not be as suited to use in the bathroom as others and stains may be more likely to occur in the kitchen. But sealing your countertops can help to prevent this.

Igneous

Igneous rocks are formed when molten hot materials, like volcanic lava and magma, cool down and solidify, either above or beneath the earth’s surface. Those underneath the earth’s surface are then revealed through erosion and mining at quarries.

Types include: Granite, basalt, pumice, obsidian

Features: Igneous rocks produce varied and attractive results. Granite is an example of stone that has cooled slowly beneath the earth, forming the large crystals that produce its signature look. Whereas those formed above the ground cool more quickly, resulting in smaller grains. This formation process is why every slab of granite is completely unique.

Metamorphic

Metamorphic rocks are formed by a combination of heat and pressure at tectonic plate boundaries and faults. Both igneous and sedimentary rocks can form a new metamorphic rock when this heat and pressure is applied.

Types include: Marble, slate, quartzite

Features: Metamorphic stone is characteristically hard, which makes it nice and tough and durable for outdoor use, such as slate roofing tiles or marble sculptures. This is why marble countertops are worth the investment since they are impressively long-lasting. Metamorphic stone also produces an attractive aesthetic, with some having a layered appearance and others not.

We hope that this helps you understand the natural stone used in your home and why it produces such great aesthetic and functional results. You can visit our showroom in Kernersville to see the range of high-quality natural stone available for kitchen countertops, tiles, backsplash, and more.

Natural stone doesn’t just look great on a small scale like for your bathroom tiles and kitchen countertops. It’s also used in lots of constructions throughout the world. From functional buildings to stunning statues and architecture, natural stone is the perfect building block for lots of different uses. Let’s look at some different types of natural stone and the famous architecture you might have seen them in.

Marble

If you walk into the lobby of a luxurious hotel, then it’ll likely be adorned with marble columns or other marble features. It’s an extremely popular building material for this kind of aesthetic, and has also long been used in sculpting thanks to its durability, which is why we can still admire some of these works of art hundreds and even thousands of years later.

The Statue of David by Michelangelo is perhaps one of the most famous marble statues to exist. This 17-foot-tall figure was sculpted in the early 1500s and is still on show in Florence, Italy in the Accademia Gallery. The Venus de Milo is another famous marble sculpture, housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, sculpted in ancient Greek times more than 2,000 years ago.

In the US, both the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial are great examples of marble structures. And lots of other landmarks around the world are made from marble, including the Taj Mahal in India, the Pantheon in Italy, and the Parthenon in Greece.

Sandstone

You may already know that the White House is an example of sandstone architecture. The walls were constructed from gray-colored sandstone. There are conflicting stories about how the building got its signature white color, with some claiming it was painted white to hide damage after fires during the war of 1812. While other sources say that a lime-based whitewash was used during construction in 1798.

Granite

Granite is another great building material, so what famous landmarks can you see that boast this attractive and durable stone? Well you may have already seen one if you’ve visited South Dakota and Mount Rushmore. Those 60-foot presidential portraits were carved out of granite over a span of 14 years.

Find out more about the different kinds of natural stone that we use at Amanzi Granite, or visit our showroom in Kernersville to see our stone for yourself when planning for an upcoming home improvement project around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville, NC.

A water feature can really lift your garden aesthetically and even create a zen-like atmosphere; great for relaxing in your backyard during the day or on warm evenings. As a durable, weather-resistant, and attractive material, natural stone makes the perfect addition to your water features and their surrounding areas. Let’s look at some ideas for using natural stone in your outdoor water features and the best types of stone to use.

Ponds and rockeries

A pond is not only an attractive water feature, but it also encourages biodiversity by providing a natural home for insects, frogs and toads, and other local wildlife. Designing a rockery around your pond is a great look, and you can use pebbles inside your pond to create a shallower end that makes it easy for small wildlife to get in and out.

Stone-walled water features

If you’ve got young kids or pets, then safety around water features like pools and ponds is especially important. But fencing off your water feature doesn’t have to detract from its visual appeal. A low natural stone wall can add to decorative elements of the feature while still making it safer.

Water fountains

Water fountains can range from modest to grand, so there’s an idea for everyone’s budget and style. Granite, marble, limestone, and sandstone are all popular natural stone materials for buildings fountains, standing up to a range of weather conditions. Larger fountains may have a paved area around them, or you can surround your fountain with colorful flowers and plants. Water fountains of all sizes are also good for attracting birds to your garden.

Waterfalls

Waterfalls can be standalone features or incorporated into a pond. Natural stone can be arranged in a wide variety of ways to create a beautiful cascading feature, producing the relaxing sound of running water as well. Slabs of slate are a good option for waterfalls, as are larger rocks of various different types.

Stone paths leading to your water feature

If you want to make your water feature a focal point of your garden, then a great idea is to have a path leading up to it. This provides easy access as well as creating a natural flow around your garden to certain focal points, and stone paths can boast a range of stunning designs.

For marble, granite, and other types of quality natural stone to use in and around your outdoor water feature, contact Amanzi Granite to find out more about our stone as well as our design and installation services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville, NC.

Certain trends go in and out of style as the decades go by. And whether it’s fashion or interior design, retro or vintage styles are always popular. It may be a sense of nostalgia for previous generations, or the fact of looking back and admiring generations that you didn’t live through. Retro styles can add lots of character to a space, so let’s look at some simple yet interesting ways to add a touch of retro or vintage style to your home.

Pops of color

While modern style is often associated with minimalist, neutral, and often monochromatic color schemes, styles of the 60s and 70s especially certainly weren’t afraid to go bold with color. Adding splashes of bright greens, yellows, and oranges in your furniture or décor is a simple way to give a room a retro feel.

When it comes to your countertops, stone with natural flecks of color can add to that retro vibe and complement the splashes of color you’ve chosen without going overboard. Or you can opt for a backsplash in that same bold color to stand out while matching the rest of the room.

Patterns and textures

It’s not just color that takes center stage in retro design, but also exciting patterns and textures. Furniture covers, wallpapers, and floors can feature striking geometric patterns that really draw the eye. And there’s a mix of textures on display, from thick shag carpets to glossier finishes.

Retro floor styles

We’ve already mentioned shag carpets, a popular feature of retro living rooms and bedrooms especially. There was also a trend of colorful carpeting in bathrooms in the 70s, but this has fallen out of favor even in modern retro design due to practicality reasons. Another popular retro floor style is stone or porcelain tiles in bold, contrasting colors. For example, the classic black and white tile pattern that you might associate with 50s diners.

Dynamic furniture

Retro style can sometimes be less cohesive than modern interior design, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There isn’t always a single focal point to a room. Abstract and dynamic pieces of furniture in the same room could each stand out in their own way, perhaps with a different bold color or a slightly different style.

Retro accessories

If you want to go all out with the retro look, take a step back in time with electronics and accessories. Whether they’re just for show or you actually use them, you could add a retro record player or a traditional dialler telephone, for example. The artwork you choose for your walls can also add to the retro feel.

If you’re planning a retro-style kitchen or bathroom, then contact Amanzi Granite for your countertops, floors, and other natural stone features and accents, serving customers, homes, and businesses around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville.

Rustic interior design can create a warm, natural atmosphere and a rugged look. It’s not as smooth and clean as other styles, but this adds a lot of character. Whether you’re designing an entirely rustic, country-style home or just want to add some character to your bathroom with a unique rustic style, we’ve got some tips to help you pull this off.

Wood features

Wood paneling, vanities, and other wood features give a nice natural look to your bathroom. Reclaimed wood and unfinished wood especially create a rugged, rustic appeal. Bear in mind the effect of moisture in the bathroom on wood features, however. Certain types of wood are better suited to the bathroom based on porosity, or a finish may be required to protect it. Alternatively, you can choose faux wood materials to produce a similar aesthetic without the risk of water damage.

Natural stone

Natural stone is a mainstay of rustic design, along with other natural materials such as wood. Again, reclaimed natural stone can add to the rusticity of it, or the finish you choose for your stone countertop can make a big difference. Rather than a polished finish, a honed or a brushed finish can look better in this kind of space. Alternatively, unfinished natural stone is an option. Exposed brick is also a great, rustic look if that’s an option.

Farmhouse sink

A farmhouse sink makes an attractive addition to a rustic bathroom. This kind of sink is typically set into the vanity with the front of it exposed. Alternatively, a rustic-style sink can sit on top of the vanity for a more exposed look. Additionally, a natural stone sink offers a more rustic alternative to the typical polished ceramic look.

Rustic accessories and storage

Now for some finishing touches. Small details like your shower curtain, artwork on the wall, and decorations on the windowsill can add to the country or farmhouse aesthetic. Then also think about your storage. Rather than a complete vanity, you could opt for an open space under the sink and bathroom countertop, and then place items such as wicker baskets or wooden crates in this space for storing your toiletries and bathroom accessories.

If you’re looking to add natural stone countertops, floors, walls, and other accents to your rustic bathroom, then contact Amanzi Granite for our quality stone and installation services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville.

We’re here to not only make your kitchen look great with high-quality granite countertops and other stylish natural stone features, but we also want to make sure that your kitchen is a functional space that comfortably serves its purpose. A big part of this is how much storage space you have for appliances, utensils, dishware, and food, which can especially be a challenge in smaller kitchens. If you’re looking for ways to streamline your kitchen and maximize on space, then read on for some of our kitchen storage tips and ideas.

Drawer dividers

Keep things organized and use your drawer space more efficiently by placing dividers or inserts into them to separate different items. These are commonly used for cutlery, with a different section for forks, knives, and spoons, but they can also be used for larger utensils and other items.

Lazy Susans and rolling shelves

There are storage tools to help you maximize the space in your cabinets, too, and that make it easier to access everything in there, even the stuff right at the back. A lazy Susan or a set of rolling shelves are a couple of accessories that will help you organize your kitchen cabinets better.

Hanging space

In cabinets with shelves (or shelves that are out in the open), you use the top of each shelf well but there is often space underneath each shelf that’s going to waste. You can place hooks or other kinds of hardware that allow you to hang things from underneath the shelf. Depending on how much space you have, mugs, glassware, utensils, and pots and pans are things that are suitable for hanging. A wall-mounted magnetic strip can also be used to safely hang knives and other metal utensils.

Shelf risers

Another way to maximize shelf space is by using shelf risers. These metal or plastic frames can have space underneath so you can easily store things on multiple levels, great for organization as well as efficiency.

Open kitchen island

Kitchen islands can take up a lot of valuable space in a small kitchen, but they can also add a great deal of storage, too. As well as cabinets, you can also install open storage on one or more sides of your island to create lots of storage space and create the impression of more space in a small kitchen.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, then contact Amanzi Granite for quality stone and installation services for your granite or marble countertops. We provide services to homes and businesses around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville.

Granite, marble, and other natural stone surfaces are an elegant way to boost the aesthetic appeal of your home, whether you’re looking for kitchen countertops, bathroom tiles, or stone floors for an outdoor patio. But natural stone isn’t just ideal for your home, but also for businesses looking to boost their curb appeal or give a more professional image, while also making a sustainable choice in materials.

At Amanzi Granite, we provide high-quality natural stone and professional installation and other services for commercial interiors and exteriors. Read on for some of the best ways you could use natural stone in your business.

Hotel lobbies

Think of that feeling of luxury you get when you step into a hotel lobby adorned with marble columns and polished stone floors. Natural stone can really elevate the aesthetics of your hotel, including smaller accents around the building and even in the rooms as well as larger pieces like stone floors and counters. Lobbies of office buildings, events spaces, and other commercial buildings can also utilize natural stone well.

Bars/restaurants/kitchens

Natural stone countertops and bar tops can go great in a range of settings that serve food and drink. And they can fit in with a wide range of styles – they’re not just for the luxurious commercial settings. Natural stone floors can also be a good choice for these types of businesses as they can withstand a lot of foot traffic and can be textured to provide a non-slippery floor.

Outdoor signs

If you have a large outdoor sign that welcomes people to your venue/business or directs people where to go, then it needs to be a material that can withstand a variety of weather conditions over time. Natural stone is a tough and durable option that also produces a great aesthetic to present your business in a good light.

Commercial landscaping

For commercial spaces and businesses with gardens or grounds, natural stone can be used as landscaping accents in a number of ways. Stone paths, water features, walls, stepping stones, outdoor seating, and various decorative options are just a few of the ways natural stone can lift the aesthetics of your outdoor commercial space.

Our services include cleaning, sealing, polishing, and honing your natural stone to keep everything looking in good condition and lasting for as long as possible. To find out more about our commercial services or to get a quote for your business, contact Amanzi Granite for expert services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville.