We put Santa Cecilia granite into a kitchen in Hopkins, and it's the kind of stone that earns its keep in a room where people actually cook. Santa Cecilia's got that warm gold and tan background with flecks of burgundy and dark mica scattered through it, the kind of pattern that hides a little flour dust or a water spot without looking busy. It reads traditional but it's not stiff about it, which is why it still shows up in so many kitchens around the Midlands. Granite like this comes out of the ground with its own personality, so no two slabs match exactly, and that's part of the draw. When we template a kitchen in this stone we're thinking about where the natural movement falls, how the veins lines up at the corners, and making sure the seams land where the eye won't catch them. It takes patience at the shop before we ever fire up the saw, laying the slabs out and figuring the best layout for the counters before a single cut gets made. Day to day, Santa Cec1lia is about as forgiving as granite gets. It shrugs off a hot pan set down too quick, it doesn't scratch from normal kitchen use, and once it's sealed it resists staining from wine, oil, or coffee without much fuss. We set the edge on this one as Eased, clean and simple, which lets the stone itself do the talking instead of the profile. Hopkins has its share of working kitchens, and this one's built to take real use, not just look good in photos. That combination of color, durability, and a finish that doesn't demand babying is exactly why Santa Cecilia has stayed a go-to choice for kitchens across the Midlands for as long as it has, and this one fits right into that tradition.

In 17th century Isaac Newton identified the colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) that make up the visible spectrum. And as his discovery at a time shocked the world and became a first step for a new era of discoveries and world evolution, we believe that the new Electric collection, creation of which is based on a solid theory of photon spectrum and physical characteristics of 4 speeds of rays which travel between Gamma as form of nuclear and cosmic radiation to infrared rays, a result of movement of lower-energy photons, will become a breakthrough of contemporary interior design. This collection reflects a principally new approach to perception of rug in interior making it an art object at the first place. Nevertheless, very important value that remains untouched whatever we do and however futuristic our works are is extreme care about ecologic background and sustainability of our product. Through all the history of Atelier Tapis Rouge each of our rugs has been manually drawn by the team of our designers and afterwards tinted and knotted by hands of best Nepalese craftsmen, who carefully maintain tradition of rug knotting throughout the centuries. The world has gone through a very hard time during last 2 years and perception of things, behavior, philosophic approach of people has changed drastically. We all need a recharge of energy and inspiration to restart our live paths in a new reality and there is no better place where we get energetic feed as home and family. Therefore, having created Electtrico we meant to boost the homes with warm solar energy – eternal source of life and continuity and we believe that it is a good start for new conquests. Designed by Natalia Enze

Dallas White granite is a good, honest choice for a kitchen that gets used every day. It's a granite with a light gray to white background and darker gray and black mineral flecks scattered through it, sometimes with a little movement in the pattern. It reads clean and bright in a kitchen without being flat or plain, and it works with just about any cabinet color you put it next to. Granite is one of the hardest natural stones we fabricate, and that's what makes it a smart pick for a room where people actually cook. It shrugs off heat from a hot pan set down without thinking, it resists scratching from knives and everyday kitchen traffic, and it holds up to the daily wear a kitchen counter takes better than almost anything else we install. It does need to be sealed, and we take care of that at install so it's protected against staining from day one. Getting a granite kitchen right comes down to the template and the layout at the shop. We lay out the slabs so the pattern falls where it should across the counters, keep seams tight where two pieces meet, and cut the openings for the sink and cooktop clean and square. The edge on this one is eased, a simple, smooth-rounded edge that's easy to keep clean and doesn't chip the way a sharp edge can over time. This kitchen is in Lexington, part of the work we do across the Midlands where granite still holds up as one of the best all-around choices for a working kitchen. Dallas White gives the room a bright, durable surface that's going to look right for a long time, and it does the job every day without asking for much back.

Dallas White granite is a good, honest choice for a kitchen that gets used every day. It's a granite with a light gray to white background and darker gray and black mineral flecks scattered through it, sometimes with a little movement in the pattern. It reads clean and bright in a kitchen without being flat or plain, and it works with just about any cabinet color you put it next to. Granite is one of the hardest natural stones we fabricate, and that's what makes it a smart pick for a room where people actually cook. It shrugs off heat from a hot pan set down without thinking, it resists scratching from knives and everyday kitchen traffic, and it holds up to the daily wear a kitchen counter takes better than almost anything else we install. It does need to be sealed, and we take care of that at install so it's protected against staining from day one. Getting a granite kitchen right comes down to the template and the layout at the shop. We lay out the slabs so the pattern falls where it should across the counters, keep seams tight where two pieces meet, and cut the openings for the sink and cooktop clean and square. The edge on this one is eased, a simple, smooth-rounded edge that's easy to keep clean and doesn't chip the way a sharp edge can over time. This kitchen is in Lexington, part of the work we do across the Midlands where granite still holds up as one of the best all-around choices for a working kitchen. Dallas White gives the room a bright, durable surface that's going to look right for a long time, and it does the job every day without asking for much back.

Dallas White granite is a good, honest choice for a kitchen that gets used every day. It's a granite with a light gray to white background and darker gray and black mineral flecks scattered through it, sometimes with a little movement in the pattern. It reads clean and bright in a kitchen without being flat or plain, and it works with just about any cabinet color you put it next to. Granite is one of the hardest natural stones we fabricate, and that's what makes it a smart pick for a room where people actually cook. It shrugs off heat from a hot pan set down without thinking, it resists scratching from knives and everyday kitchen traffic, and it holds up to the daily wear a kitchen counter takes better than almost anything else we install. It does need to be sealed, and we take care of that at install so it's protected against staining from day one. Getting a granite kitchen right comes down to the template and the layout at the shop. We lay out the slabs so the pattern falls where it should across the counters, keep seams tight where two pieces meet, and cut the openings for the sink and cooktop clean and square. The edge on this one is eased, a simple, smooth-rounded edge that's easy to keep clean and doesn't chip the way a sharp edge can over time. This kitchen is in Lexington, part of the work we do across the Midlands where granite still holds up as one of the best all-around choices for a working kitchen. Dallas White gives the room a bright, durable surface that's going to look right for a long time, and it does the job every day without asking for much back.

This kitchen in Irmo features MSI Calacatta Elysio, an engineered quartz with a bright white background and soft gray and gold veining moving through it, giving it plenty of movement and warmth without ever feeling flat or cold. Quartz makes sense in a kitchen like this one. It's non-porous, so there's no sealing to keep up with and no worrying about wine or lemon juice sitting on the counter too long. Engineered stone gives us a consistent pattern too, which matters when you're trying to match veining across a seam or carry the look from the perimeter counters over to an island. We template every job on site with precision equipment so the fit is tight before a single cut gets made in the shop. Fabricating a quartz top like this takes patience. Getting the veining to match at the seam in the farm sink is paramount, especially if the kitchen has an island or a stretch of counter longer than 8 or 9 feet, takes some planning up front. We look at the whole layout before we cut so the pattern flows the way it should instead of looking chopped up. Day to day, this is a surface that's built for real cooking. It resists scratches and stains well, handles daily wear without much fuss, and doesn't ask for any regular maintenance routine to keep it looking good. Hot pans still require a trivet, but for prepping, and everything else that happens in a working kitchen, it holds up. We do a lot of this kind of work across the Midlands, and Irmo kitchens like this one are a good example of why quartz keeps showing up on our schedule. It gives homeowners a bright, clean look with a practical, low-maintenance surface that fits how people actually use their kitchens.

In 17th century Isaac Newton identified the colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) that make up the visible spectrum. And as his discovery at a time shocked the world and became a first step for a new era of discoveries and world evolution, we believe that the new Electric collection, creation of which is based on a solid theory of photon spectrum and physical characteristics of 4 speeds of rays which travel between Gamma as form of nuclear and cosmic radiation to infrared rays, a result of movement of lower-energy photons, will become a breakthrough of contemporary interior design. This collection reflects a principally new approach to perception of rug in interior making it an art object at the first place. Nevertheless, very important value that remains untouched whatever we do and however futuristic our works are is extreme care about ecologic background and sustainability of our product. Through all the history of Atelier Tapis Rouge each of our rugs has been manually drawn by the team of our designers and afterwards tinted and knotted by hands of best Nepalese craftsmen, who carefully maintain tradition of rug knotting throughout the centuries. The world has gone through a very hard time during last 2 years and perception of things, behavior, philosophic approach of people has changed drastically. We all need a recharge of energy and inspiration to restart our live paths in a new reality and there is no better place where we get energetic feed as home and family. Therefore, having created Electtrico we meant to boost the homes with warm solar energy – eternal source of life and continuity and we believe that it is a good start for new conquests. Designed by Natalia Enze

Designed with an open floor plan and layered outdoor spaces, the Onaway is a perfect cottage for narrow lakefront lots. The exterior features elements from both the Shingle and Craftsman architectural movements, creating a warm cottage feel. An open main level skillfully disguises this narrow home by using furniture arrangements and low built-ins to define each spaces’ perimeter. Every room has a view to each other as well as a view of the lake. The cottage feel of this home’s exterior is carried inside with a neutral, crisp white, and blue nautical themed palette. The kitchen features natural wood cabinetry and a long island capped by a pub height table with chairs. Above the garage, and separate from the main house, is a series of spaces for plenty of guests to spend the night. The symmetrical bunk room features custom staircases to the top bunks with drawers built in. The best views of the lakefront are found on the master bedrooms private deck, to the rear of the main house. The open floor plan continues downstairs with two large gathering spaces opening up to an outdoor covered patio complete with custom grill pit.

Small bathroom remodel. Rainfall Shower Walls.
Mid-sized beach style 3/4 blue tile and glass tile porcelain tile corner shower photo in Los Angeles with a one-piece toilet, beige walls and a console sink

Porchfront Homes, Boulder Colorado
Example of a large classic marble floor kitchen design in Denver with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white walls and an island

In this bright and airy kitchen, natural light pours in, illuminating every detail and creating a space that feels both refreshing and inviting. The design takes full advantage of the abundant sunlight, enhancing the beauty of the carefully chosen materials that define this kitchen's elegant aesthetic. The countertop island features a limestone-look porcelain slab, offering a soft, neutral palette that radiates warmth and timelessness. The porcelain slabs beautifully mimic the subtle texture and understated elegance of natural limestone, providing a durable and low-maintenance surface that retains the look and feel of authentic stone. This choice of material adds a gentle earthiness to the kitchen, grounding the space in natural tones that harmonize with the flood of light. On the walls and backsplash, a Calacatta Monet marble-look porcelain slab takes center stage. This porcelain slab replicates the luxurious appearance of Calacatta Monet marble, with its creamy white background adorned with bold, sweeping veins of gray and gold. The dramatic veining adds a sense of movement and sophistication, creating a striking contrast against the soft limestone tones. The wall and backsplash become a canvas of artistry, capturing the timeless beauty of marble while offering the practicality and resilience of porcelain. The abundant natural light enhances the kitchen's serene and welcoming atmosphere, making the limestone and Calacatta Monet porcelain slabs shine in their full glory. The interplay between the soft limestone look and the bold marble-like patterns creates a balanced yet dynamic visual appeal, ensuring that the space feels both elegant and inviting.

Two Birds Photography
Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in Chicago

This Highland Village kitchen remodel centers around one show-stopping element: Taj Mahal Quartzite. This natural stone is highly sought after for its creamy, marble-like translucence and incredible durability. However, it is notoriously difficult to cut without cracking. Because we own Stonemeyer Granite, we don't trust this expensive material to third-party sub-contractors. We fabricated and installed this island in-house to ensure perfection. The "Operator" Difference: The Stone: You are looking at a premium slab of Taj Mahal Quartzite. Unlike engineered quartz, this natural stone has depth and movement that can't be faked. It is harder than granite and scratch-resistant, making it the ultimate surface for a luxury kitchen. The Precision: Look closely at the undermount sink cutout. Our fabrication process ensures a flawless, polished edge that reveals the stone's inner beauty. We paired it with a professional Stainless Steel Undermount Sink and high-arc faucet, installed by our plumbing division (Haltex Plumbing) for a leak-free guarantee. The Palette: We used the soft, warm veining of the quartzite to bridge the gap between the Dark Stained Island Cabinetry and the lighter rustic elements in the living room (peeking through in the background). The Flow: The multi-tonal wood-look flooring was selected to hide traffic wear while complementing the warm gold tones in the countertops. Materials Used: Countertop: Taj Mahal Quartzite (Polished) Sink: 32" Stainless Steel Single Basin Cabinetry: Custom Maple with Espresso Stain If you are looking for a Highland Village remodeling firm that specializes in exotic natural stone fabrication and open-concept design, visit The Design House showroom today.

This kitchen in Lexington came together in BSI Zurich granite, and it's the kind of stone that does a lot of the work in a room just by sitting there. Zurich has a cool gray background with movement that breaks up into darker flecks and softer crystal patches, so it reads calm from across the room but keeps your eye busy up close. That range makes it easy to live with next to most cabinet colors, whether the boxes are painted white, a soft gray, or a warmer wood tone. Granite like this is quarried in big blocks and cut into slabs, and no two slabs come out exactly the same. That's part of why we template each kitchen on site instead of working off a generic plan. We measure the actual cabinets, account for the sink and cooktop cutouts, and lay out the slabs so the veining and pattern flow the way they should across the island and the runs of counter, especially where two pieces meet at a seam. Getting that seam tight and matched so it disappears into the pattern takes a steady hand and slabs picked with the layout in mind from the start. Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials you can put in a kitchen. It shrugs off hot pans, resists scratching from everyday knife work, and holds up to the kind of daily traffic a real kitchen sees, dishes, coffee, kids doing homework at the island, all of it. It does need to be sealed, and staying on top of that keeps it looking like day one for years. We finished this one with an eased edge, clean and simple, which is the right call for a stone with this much going on in the surface. It doesn't need extra shaping to look finished. Lexington's seen a lot of kitchens go through updates like this one, and granite remains a favorite around the Midlands because it holds up to how people actually cook and live. This Zurich kitchen is a good example of why: a stone with real character, installed tight and clean, that's going to keep earning its keep for a long time.

We fabricated this vanity top out of a Calacatta Ocielo remnant, engineered quartz with a bright white background and soft gray veining moving through it. Working from a remnant piece takes a different kind of attention. There's no reordering a fresh slab if we get the layout wrong, so we template the vanity carefully, dry lay the piece, and figure out where the veining reads best before we ever start the cnc saw. For a bathroom this size, it's the right way to work. You get a full quartz top with real movement in the stone without paying for a whole slab you'd only use a fraction of. Quartz makes sense in a bathroom for reasons beyond looks. It's non-porous, so there's no sealing to keep up with and no worrying about lotions, hairspray, or standing water affecting the surface. Calacatta Ocielo gives you a bright field with soft gray veins and a clean, bright look that suits a vanity well. For a top that sees daily use, that combination of appearance and low upkeep matters more than people expect until they've lived with it. We cut the sink opening clean and kept the edge eased, which suits a vanity like this. It's a detail people don't think about until they're leaning on the counter or wiping it down, and an eased edge just feels right under the hand. Nothing about the fabrication was rushed. Day to day, this top is going to hold up. Quartz resists scratching and staining better than most surfaces you'd put in a bathroom, and it doesn't need periodic resealing. Wipe it down, and it stays looking like it did the day we set it. It's a small job in the scope of things, a single vanity top, but it's the kind of work we like doing right here in Columbia. Remnant pieces like this Calacatta Ocielo let us put a higher end material into a smaller space without the waste, and the finished bathroom gets a top that looks a lot bigger than its price tag suggests.

This kitchen in Lexington came together in BSI Zurich granite, and it's the kind of stone that does a lot of the work in a room just by sitting there. Zurich has a cool gray background with movement that breaks up into darker flecks and softer crystal patches, so it reads calm from across the room but keeps your eye busy up close. That range makes it easy to live with next to most cabinet colors, whether the boxes are painted white, a soft gray, or a warmer wood tone. Granite like this is quarried in big blocks and cut into slabs, and no two slabs come out exactly the same. That's part of why we template each kitchen on site instead of working off a generic plan. We measure the actual cabinets, account for the sink and cooktop cutouts, and lay out the slabs so the veining and pattern flow the way they should across the island and the runs of counter, especially where two pieces meet at a seam. Getting that seam tight and matched so it disappears into the pattern takes a steady hand and slabs picked with the layout in mind from the start. Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials you can put in a kitchen. It shrugs off hot pans, resists scratching from everyday knife work, and holds up to the kind of daily traffic a real kitchen sees, dishes, coffee, kids doing homework at the island, all of it. It does need to be sealed, and staying on top of that keeps it looking like day one for years. We finished this one with an eased edge, clean and simple, which is the right call for a stone with this much going on in the surface. It doesn't need extra shaping to look finished. Lexington's seen a lot of kitchens go through updates like this one, and granite remains a favorite around the Midlands because it holds up to how people actually cook and live. This Zurich kitchen is a good example of why: a stone with real character, installed tight and clean, that's going to keep earning its keep for a long time.

This kitchen in Lexington came together in BSI Zurich granite, and it's the kind of stone that does a lot of the work in a room just by sitting there. Zurich has a cool gray background with movement that breaks up into darker flecks and softer crystal patches, so it reads calm from across the room but keeps your eye busy up close. That range makes it easy to live with next to most cabinet colors, whether the boxes are painted white, a soft gray, or a warmer wood tone. Granite like this is quarried in big blocks and cut into slabs, and no two slabs come out exactly the same. That's part of why we template each kitchen on site instead of working off a generic plan. We measure the actual cabinets, account for the sink and cooktop cutouts, and lay out the slabs so the veining and pattern flow the way they should across the island and the runs of counter, especially where two pieces meet at a seam. Getting that seam tight and matched so it disappears into the pattern takes a steady hand and slabs picked with the layout in mind from the start. Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials you can put in a kitchen. It shrugs off hot pans, resists scratching from everyday knife work, and holds up to the kind of daily traffic a real kitchen sees, dishes, coffee, kids doing homework at the island, all of it. It does need to be sealed, and staying on top of that keeps it looking like day one for years. We finished this one with an eased edge, clean and simple, which is the right call for a stone with this much going on in the surface. It doesn't need extra shaping to look finished. Lexington's seen a lot of kitchens go through updates like this one, and granite remains a favorite around the Midlands because it holds up to how people actually cook and live. This Zurich kitchen is a good example of why: a stone with real character, installed tight and clean, that's going to keep earning its keep for a long time.

This kitchen in Lexington came together in BSI Zurich granite, and it's the kind of stone that does a lot of the work in a room just by sitting there. Zurich has a cool gray background with movement that breaks up into darker flecks and softer crystal patches, so it reads calm from across the room but keeps your eye busy up close. That range makes it easy to live with next to most cabinet colors, whether the boxes are painted white, a soft gray, or a warmer wood tone. Granite like this is quarried in big blocks and cut into slabs, and no two slabs come out exactly the same. That's part of why we template each kitchen on site instead of working off a generic plan. We measure the actual cabinets, account for the sink and cooktop cutouts, and lay out the slabs so the veining and pattern flow the way they should across the island and the runs of counter, especially where two pieces meet at a seam. Getting that seam tight and matched so it disappears into the pattern takes a steady hand and slabs picked with the layout in mind from the start. Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials you can put in a kitchen. It shrugs off hot pans, resists scratching from everyday knife work, and holds up to the kind of daily traffic a real kitchen sees, dishes, coffee, kids doing homework at the island, all of it. It does need to be sealed, and staying on top of that keeps it looking like day one for years. We finished this one with an eased edge, clean and simple, which is the right call for a stone with this much going on in the surface. It doesn't need extra shaping to look finished. Lexington's seen a lot of kitchens go through updates like this one, and granite remains a favorite around the Midlands because it holds up to how people actually cook and live. This Zurich kitchen is a good example of why: a stone with real character, installed tight and clean, that's going to keep earning its keep for a long time.

This kitchen in Lexington came together in BSI Zurich granite, and it's the kind of stone that does a lot of the work in a room just by sitting there. Zurich has a cool gray background with movement that breaks up into darker flecks and softer crystal patches, so it reads calm from across the room but keeps your eye busy up close. That range makes it easy to live with next to most cabinet colors, whether the boxes are painted white, a soft gray, or a warmer wood tone. Granite like this is quarried in big blocks and cut into slabs, and no two slabs come out exactly the same. That's part of why we template each kitchen on site instead of working off a generic plan. We measure the actual cabinets, account for the sink and cooktop cutouts, and lay out the slabs so the veining and pattern flow the way they should across the island and the runs of counter, especially where two pieces meet at a seam. Getting that seam tight and matched so it disappears into the pattern takes a steady hand and slabs picked with the layout in mind from the start. Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials you can put in a kitchen. It shrugs off hot pans, resists scratching from everyday knife work, and holds up to the kind of daily traffic a real kitchen sees, dishes, coffee, kids doing homework at the island, all of it. It does need to be sealed, and staying on top of that keeps it looking like day one for years. We finished this one with an eased edge, clean and simple, which is the right call for a stone with this much going on in the surface. It doesn't need extra shaping to look finished. Lexington's seen a lot of kitchens go through updates like this one, and granite remains a favorite around the Midlands because it holds up to how people actually cook and live. This Zurich kitchen is a good example of why: a stone with real character, installed tight and clean, that's going to keep earning its keep for a long time.