This kitchen was fabricated by Lapptops and the cabinets were done by King's Woodwork! http://lapptops.net/ This kitchen features Calacatta marble with a polished finish on the island. The surrounding countertops are absolute black granite with a honed finish. This kitchen is so clean and bright! Search "calacatta" or "black", see variations of this marble & granite, or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward. You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material. Understanding Marble: Marble is a porous, high-maintenance surface. Be prepared to see some scratches. Marble is a softer stone. However, marble is still so beautiful with the scratches! If you’ve ever gone to Italy, you can see the beautiful marble on floors and many restaurants. It’s a classic lasting look. Even with scratches. If you don't mind the extra work, they are a beautiful addition. Marble has a multifaceted ability to work with so many different design styles. If you're a homeowner looking for a wipe-and-go countertop, though, you'll probably want to skip this one. It's cost-effective, depending on the type of marble you buy. Carrara marble (a grayer version with softer veins from Carrara, Italy) is one of the least expensive natural countertop materials on the market, mainly because it's readily available. Calacatta marble, which offers a whiter surface and more dramatic veining, and the price tag goes up. Marble is heat-resistant — which is great — but you still need to be careful. Marble is heat resistant. Despite its ability to withstand high temps, you never want to place a piping hot pot on for risk of discoloring or burning the surface. We recommend always using a pot holder anyways. We don’t want to dissuade you from using marble. In fact, I personally have a marble island in my kitchen. Stone Action solely wants you to be informed so that you’re choosing the right material for your project. We hope you personally come check out our marble or other stone selection! See more marble or other types of Stone Action’s stone selection: http://www.stoneaction.com

The living room has our Crema Marfil coffee table. The kitchen has a Typhoon Bordeaux granite that blends perfectly with the cherry cabinets and wooden floors. See more crema marfil marble: http://stoneaction.net/website/?s=crema+marfil See more Typhoon Bordeaux granite: http://stoneaction.net/website/?s=typhoon+bordeaux Project completed by Jcabido Remodeling! http://jcabidoremodeling.com/

Photo: Michael K. Wilkinson The original attic had wood paneling on the walls and ceiling and was mostly used for storage and as a retreat for the cats. The 7-foot walls did not capture the volume of the roof line, nor did it take advantage of the square footage. We removed the existing paneling and pushed the existing walls back so they had a lower height around the perimeter. This provides a dramatic contrast to the new high ceiling and dramatic angles of the roofline. We maintained an open floor plan and used glass panels and doors for privacy and separation of different functions. The finished square footage is 650 sq.ft. There is about 350 sq.ft. of unfinished the storage area. The space needed some detailing to balance the large volume. The open plan also required a visual delineation of the different areas. Our designer added three beams across the ceiling over the bed to define the master bedroom. The beams were finished with the same dark stain used to refinish the attic’s original pine flooring. Dimmable recessed lights in the ceiling are placed in accordance with the beams location. There are two good-size closets for the owners in the eaves, and additional storage, as well as the HVAC system is also located in the eaves and access through two doors—one next to the bed and one in the bathroom.

Beautiful saltwater pool with the Blue Ridge Mountains sitting in the rearview!
Inspiration for a large transitional backyard concrete and rectangular lap pool landscaping remodel in DC Metro

Our client had purchased a townhome in Manhattan Beach, CA. which really only needed a few updates to become her home. She was looking for a modern master bathroom with a curbless shower complete with pebble stone floor and a channel drain. The shower is silver beige limestone with a mosaic tile niche. One of the unique elements to this design is the window over the floating vanity. The vessel sinks don’t require much backsplash; the mosaic behind them ties in the same pattern in the shower niche. Also in line with the modern style of the room are the floating shelves over the commode. The room has a mix of pendant lights and recessed lighting. The bathroom is completed with an Espresso pocket door with white laminated glass. A coordinating bi fold door was used on her walk-in closet. Both doors now coordinate with the entry to her master bedroom. We also added the niche cabinetry and shelving in the master bedroom for additional storage.

Planters stand sentry to a seating bench in a compact city garden.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional front yard stone landscaping in Chicago for fall.

A young family moving from NYC to their first house in Westchester County found this spacious colonial in Mt. Kisco New York. With sweeping lawns and total privacy, the home offered the perfect setting for raising their family. The dated kitchen was gutted but did not require any additional square footage to accommodate a new, classic white kitchen with polished nickel hardware and gold toned pendant lanterns. 2 dishwashers flank the large sink on either side, with custom waste and recycling storage under the sink. Kitchen design and custom cabinetry by Studio Dearborn. Architect Brad DeMotte. Interior design finishes by Elizabeth Thurer Interior Design. Calcatta Picasso marble countertops by Rye Marble and Stone. Appliances by Wolf and Subzero; range hood insert by Best. Cabinetry color: Benjamin Moore White Opulence. Hardware by Jeffrey Alexander Belcastel collection. Backsplash tile by Nanacq in 3x6 white glossy available from Lima Tile, Stamford. Bar faucet: Signature Hardware. Bar sink: Elkay Asana. Photography Neil Landino.

Photography by Treve Johnson Photography
Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen remodel in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, quartz countertops, an island, white countertops, light wood cabinets, window backsplash and paneled appliances