"We took bids from seven or eight companies to remodel our kitchen and bathroom. We had a whole list of improvements we wanted, from 'must-haves' to 'might be nice someday'. We selected TaylorPro Home Services for several reasons, but foremost among those reasons was that the owner, Kerry Taylor, provided us with a detailed breakout of labor/material costs for every option. Nearly every other contractor bundled up the costs of our optional tasks into a single number, which made it quite difficult to select the best options based on our priorities and budget. Kerry's highly detailed proposal wasn't the least expensive we received, but it was organized, thorough, and competitive. The second reason we selected TaylorPro was the demeanor and experience of Kerry himself. It was refreshing to talk to someone who actually gets his hands dirty rather than yet another designer with his head in a computer. (God bless the designers, though -- we had helpful conversations with many!) Kerry has a good design aesthetic, make no mistake, but it was clear that when problems inevitably popped up, Kerry would know how to address them. He is calm, personable, and competent. In other words, he is just the sort of person you want to work with. We can't forget to mention the TaylorPro crew. The first thing you notice is how youthful they are. Not a single gray hair among them. Yet after watching them work awhile, you begin to notice how extraordinarily skilful they are. It doesn't matter what is on the day's agenda -- electrical, paint, plumbing, drywall -- these guys tackle it all and do it exceedingly well. They aren't just putting in their time and collecting a check. They take terrific pride in the work they do, a quality that seems more and more difficult to find these days. They are pleasant to be around and I never heard a cross word among them. They took pains to keep the noise and dust to a minimum. They cleaned up at the end of every day, even those days when they put in extra hours and were obviously very tired. This is easily the best work crew we've ever had at our house. We should also mention that the subcontractors that TaylorPro uses are top-notch. The folks who laid down our new tile floor (Jeff) had every bit as much expertise and integrity as TaylorPro. They did an excellent job on both the flooring and the tile backsplash. These two elements receive compliments from everyone who visits our remodeled kitchen. (We wish Jeff would put his company on Angie's List so that we could give him the recognition he deserves!) In addition, the fellows who fabricated our Caesarstone countertop were also great craftsmen. They did a beautiful job. When we noticed a small blemish a few days after the countertop was installed, they came out immediately and corrected the problem. Nice! In summary, TaylorPro has lived up to all the glowing recommendations here on Angie's List. Our experience with TaylorPro is right in line with the others. They stayed on task, they communicated well, they stayed on budget, and they gave us more than we had any right to expect. We don't know a better compliment to give Kerry and company than this: when it comes time to remodel the upstairs bathrooms, we won't need to solicit seven or eight bids. We'll just call TaylorPro. " ~ Lysa & Mark W, Clients Photos by: Kerry W. Taylor

Custom Gardens is an independent contractor engaged in the landscape business, offering and agreeing to care for and maintain the premises for the above mentioned client, located at the above mentioned address for the benefit of the customer under the terms and conditions set forth in this Contract. LAWN MAINTENANCE - All grass areas are to be kept cut, trimmed and edged. Additionally, all driveways, walkways, decks and patios are to be blown off to remove any mowing or trimming related debris. JAN-FEB: ONE (1) time per month MARCH: TWO (2) times per month APRIL - OCT: WEEKLY NOVEMBER: TWO (2) times per month. DECEMBER: ONE (1) time per month. WEED CONTROL (Beds & Hard Surfaces) -All flowerbeds are to be kept weeded, edged and maintained. Areas of ground cover are to be kept weeded and trimmed to promote healthy vegetative growth and an attractive appearance. Weeds and grass are to be kept clear of fences and driveways. AS NEEDED with chemical usage and hand weeding. SHRUB TRIMMING - All shrubbery and hedges are to be trimmed a total of four (4) times annually to promote healthy vegetative growth and an attractive appearance. Crepe Myrtles and Japanese Maple will be thinned once annually. FOUR TIMES PER YEAR LEAF CLEAN UPS - During leaf season, all leaves and other related debris will be either blown into the surrounding wooded areas (if permissible) or taken to the street where they will be hauled away for recycling for a total of four (4) times annually from November to January. FOUR TIMES PER YEAR OPTIONAL SERVICES AERATE & OVERSEED - Lawn can be aerated and seeded. We offer different rates based on seed type. MULCH – Custom Gardens can install your preferred mulch once annually. SEASONAL COLOR CHANGE – SPRING: Spring annuals can be customized and installed. FALL: Fall annuals can be customized and installed.

Link-a-sink copper sink. Santa Cecilia granite. Avoid the Watermark Designs faucets like the plague: Wall mounted vanity faucet was loose. They shipped a replacement cartridge free of charge but took 4 weeks. Delta sent one for another bathroom and was received within a few days free of charge. Mirror lacked instructions on how to put it up. When the mirror slipped, we tightened the 3mm set screws that press against the glass. The glass cracked. They said we tightened the screws too much. Well otherwise the glass slipped down. No torque spec. Additionally they blamed us for not installing the protective felt that did NOT come with the mirror. No mention of the felt in the instructions....in fact, no mention of the word "mirror" is in the instructions on how to put it up. They have since changed their instructions so why did they blame me? They finally supplied a replacement mirror but took 10 weeks (!!!) and countless phone calls. They actually sent the mechanical engineering drawings with dimensions to me for the mirror holder. I was able to identify 13 *very* basic design flaws. Hand shower tilts down by its own weight. They have a set screw to provide friction that presses against the threads of another screw. Horrible design likely to fail multiple times over the course of ownership. Toilet paper holder has two pieces held together by a machine screw. Threads came stripped probably due to incorrect/short screw. Fortunately a large screw held it together. Shower faucets have the cover plates attach by screwing a piece into an adapter that screws into yet another adapter that screws into the valve. Of course they all spin when you tighten them and you are supposed to set one of the inner adapters to within a millimeter of the outer trim. Horrible design. Instructions for setting the depth of the shower faucet are extremely misleading (product lines and finishes using multiple codes and overlapping codes, poor part numbering scheme) to the contractors and do not follow GMP resulting in the wrong depth set by the contractor. Finishes are beautiful but not all the pieces match. Multiple phone calls to customer service promise return phone calls that never happen. Although if it weren't for one person, A.S., I would have returned everything. Thank you A.S. No parts breakdown on any items so if you need something, you need to call them....and then wait 8-10 weeks as nothing is stocked. I spent thousands of dollars expecting top of the line faucets. I feel like I got raped.

The La Dolce Vita - 2016 Portland Oregon Street of Dreams. The incredible pool design by Anderson Poolworks along with the creative approach of Exterior Spaces LLC, deserves mention. There are too many unique and beautiful features to mention. The pool and jacuzzi beckon you to explore. Builder - Haggart Luxury Homes Home Designer - Mike Blondino, Blondino Design, Inc. Interior Designer - Ronda Divers Interiors Photography: Kyle Bryant, SpeedsPhoto LLC

Lavender makes a statement in every aspect of design and functionality. As you enter the front door of the home you are immediately engulfed by the covered lanai which runs the entire length of the home. It’s bordered by a uniquely shaped swimming pool and connecting pool deck. A casita with en-suite bathroom is separated from the main residence but is connected to the home through the lanai. The great room spans 31’-8” in length and is bordered by the uniquely designed arched kitchen and arched island. The great room has two sets of 90 degree floor to ceiling, fully retractable and hidden glass doors which open completely allowing for the seamless interaction between the interior and the exterior lanai. The master suite is located on the first floor and comprises the full width of the home. It features two independent vanities and sinks, two separate water closets, and two dressing room/closets that are situated around a free-standing tub and double entry shower. A porte-cochere driveway leads you into a driveway court where a two car garage is on one side of the residence and a single car garage on the opposite side of the driveway court. Lavender has 4,709 square feet of air conditioned area with 7,034 of total under roof square footage. Awards: 2006 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando 2006 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Second Place Bath of the Year – Third Place Living Room of the Year – Honorable Mention Dining Room – Honorable Mention Kitchen

Lavender makes a statement in every aspect of design and functionality. As you enter the front door of the home you are immediately engulfed by the covered lanai which runs the entire length of the home. It’s bordered by a uniquely shaped swimming pool and connecting pool deck. A casita with en-suite bathroom is separated from the main residence but is connected to the home through the lanai. The great room spans 31’-8” in length and is bordered by the uniquely designed arched kitchen and arched island. The great room has two sets of 90 degree floor to ceiling, fully retractable and hidden glass doors which open completely allowing for the seamless interaction between the interior and the exterior lanai. The master suite is located on the first floor and comprises the full width of the home. It features two independent vanities and sinks, two separate water closets, and two dressing room/closets that are situated around a free-standing tub and double entry shower. A porte-cochere driveway leads you into a driveway court where a two car garage is on one side of the residence and a single car garage on the opposite side of the driveway court. Lavender has 4,709 square feet of air conditioned area with 7,034 of total under roof square footage. Awards: 2006 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando 2006 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Second Place Bath of the Year – Third Place Living Room of the Year – Honorable Mention Dining Room – Honorable Mention Kitchen

Custom Gardens is an independent contractor engaged in the landscape business, offering and agreeing to care for and maintain the premises for the above mentioned client, located at the above mentioned address for the benefit of the customer under the terms and conditions set forth in this Contract. LAWN MAINTENANCE - All grass areas are to be kept cut, trimmed and edged. Additionally, all driveways, walkways, decks and patios are to be blown off to remove any mowing or trimming related debris. JAN-FEB: ONE (1) time per month MARCH: TWO (2) times per month APRIL - OCT: WEEKLY NOVEMBER: TWO (2) times per month. DECEMBER: ONE (1) time per month. WEED CONTROL (Beds & Hard Surfaces) -All flowerbeds are to be kept weeded, edged and maintained. Areas of ground cover are to be kept weeded and trimmed to promote healthy vegetative growth and an attractive appearance. Weeds and grass are to be kept clear of fences and driveways. AS NEEDED with chemical usage and hand weeding. SHRUB TRIMMING - All shrubbery and hedges are to be trimmed a total of four (4) times annually to promote healthy vegetative growth and an attractive appearance. Crepe Myrtles and Japanese Maple will be thinned once annually. FOUR TIMES PER YEAR LEAF CLEAN UPS - During leaf season, all leaves and other related debris will be either blown into the surrounding wooded areas (if permissible) or taken to the street where they will be hauled away for recycling for a total of four (4) times annually from November to January. FOUR TIMES PER YEAR OPTIONAL SERVICES AERATE & OVERSEED - Lawn can be aerated and seeded. We offer different rates based on seed type. MULCH – Custom Gardens can install your preferred mulch once annually. SEASONAL COLOR CHANGE – SPRING: Spring annuals can be customized and installed. FALL: Fall annuals can be customized and installed.

Downstairs powder room. I presented this wallpaper to our client and mentioned that I had been looking for a place to use this at. They LOVED this wallpaper and mentioned the downstair powder bath! That became the base for the rest of the selections.

This enquiry from Neath came from an elderly gentleman who was moving into a care home in the near future and wanted his Victorian tiled hallway renovated before the property went on the market. He mentioned he didn’t think it was that dirty however it could do with a clean and reseal. We arranged to call in one morning and take a look at the tiles and whilst there we completed a test clean so we could provide an accurate price for renovating the floor. For the clean I applied Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, the purpose of this was to see whether and how fast the dirt would shift and also to get an idea of the condition of the floor beneath the layer of dirt. The test clean went well and the owner was happy to accept our price and suggested that as we had already made a start we might as well continue. Fortunately, there were two of us that day and I only had a couple of other quotes in the area, so I was able to crack on. I should mention this work was done at the beginning of 2020 before the COVID-19 lockdown. All sorts of detritus gets walked into hallways so we began by using a hand held scraper to take off any anything that sat upon/above the floors surface. This also makes the cleaning process that little bit easier for us. The earlier test clean had enabled us to establish which cleaning methods and products would work best on the floor so it was just a question of putting the plan into action. The process involved applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean to the floor, leaving it to soak in for ten minutes and then working it with a coarse 400-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary buffer. More water was applied for lubrication where required and the soil produced afterwards was rinsed off and extracted with a wet vacuum. The pad is encrusted with industrial diamonds and cuts into the tile and removes a very thin layer leaving the tile very clean. After extracting the soil, the floor was inspected, and we noticed that there were a few tiles throughout the floor that needed more work. To deal with these we used hand-held diamond blocks of varying grits to remove the ingrained dirt and bring the tiles back to life. The client was over the moon with the results of the cleaning and we scheduled a date of the following week to come back and seal the tiles. We also discussed sealers and he had asked if we could leave the floor with a shiny finish. With that in mind we recommended Tile Doctors Seal and Go which works really well on Victorian tiles. It is also water based and so doesn’t produce a smell as it dries. On our return the floor was given a quick wipe down and once dry sealed with four coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which will add protection and make them easy to keep clean. Once complete the floor looked great and very welcoming, just what you need when selling a property as initial impressions always count. Adrian Iacono Swansea Tile Doctor

Example of an eclectic home design design in Denver

EXCLUSIVE HARDWOOD - COLOR: LONDON FOG. CARPET SHOWCASE - COLOR: SILVER CHARMS Just Shoot Me Photography
Example of a staircase design in Calgary

Lavender makes a statement in every aspect of design and functionality. As you enter the front door of the home you are immediately engulfed by the covered lanai which runs the entire length of the home. It’s bordered by a uniquely shaped swimming pool and connecting pool deck. A casita with en-suite bathroom is separated from the main residence but is connected to the home through the lanai. The great room spans 31’-8” in length and is bordered by the uniquely designed arched kitchen and arched island. The great room has two sets of 90 degree floor to ceiling, fully retractable and hidden glass doors which open completely allowing for the seamless interaction between the interior and the exterior lanai. The master suite is located on the first floor and comprises the full width of the home. It features two independent vanities and sinks, two separate water closets, and two dressing room/closets that are situated around a free-standing tub and double entry shower. A porte-cochere driveway leads you into a driveway court where a two car garage is on one side of the residence and a single car garage on the opposite side of the driveway court. Lavender has 4,709 square feet of air conditioned area with 7,034 of total under roof square footage. Awards: 2006 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando 2006 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Second Place Bath of the Year – Third Place Living Room of the Year – Honorable Mention Dining Room – Honorable Mention Kitchen

This weekend gardner's retreat is set in a quiet valley one block from the harbor. It is a paradise in that its very protected and therefore an ideal location to plant and have thrive. I came recommended to the homeowner worked with an architectural firm and was used to micro managing every aspect of a job. I mention this because I managed to stay one step ahead of him and anticipated his concerns. i'm proud to say that now when he recommends me he always mentions "and just let him do his thing, he knows better."

Lavender makes a statement in every aspect of design and functionality. As you enter the front door of the home you are immediately engulfed by the covered lanai which runs the entire length of the home. It’s bordered by a uniquely shaped swimming pool and connecting pool deck. A casita with en-suite bathroom is separated from the main residence but is connected to the home through the lanai. The great room spans 31’-8” in length and is bordered by the uniquely designed arched kitchen and arched island. The great room has two sets of 90 degree floor to ceiling, fully retractable and hidden glass doors which open completely allowing for the seamless interaction between the interior and the exterior lanai. The master suite is located on the first floor and comprises the full width of the home. It features two independent vanities and sinks, two separate water closets, and two dressing room/closets that are situated around a free-standing tub and double entry shower. A porte-cochere driveway leads you into a driveway court where a two car garage is on one side of the residence and a single car garage on the opposite side of the driveway court. Lavender has 4,709 square feet of air conditioned area with 7,034 of total under roof square footage. Awards: 2006 Parade of Homes – “Grand Award Winner”, Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando 2006 Orlando Home & Leisure’s: – Second Place Bath of the Year – Third Place Living Room of the Year – Honorable Mention Dining Room – Honorable Mention Kitchen

The living room has a combination of contrasting elements. The dark hardwood floor and paneled feature wall provide a striking contrast to the bright, white walls and large windows. This interplay of dark and light creates a visually appealing dynamic within the space. Adding to the overall aesthetic of the living room are the kul grilles vent covers. These vent covers are mentioned as providing an extra layer of clean sophistication to the room. They serve as a design element that enhances the overall aesthetic appeal and adds refinement. By mentioning that the vent covers complement the sleek lines of the furniture, it suggests that they harmonize with the modern and streamlined style of the furnishings in the room. This cohesiveness helps to create a unified and visually pleasing space. Architect Randy Buffie believes in striking a balance between artistry and solid construction methods in good home design. This philosophy is reflected in his choice of kul grilles vent covers for this particular design build. By selecting these vent covers, it implies that they not only contribute to the visual aspect of the living room but also meet the architect's standards for high-quality construction.

Inspiration for a 1950s home design remodel in Other

Jon and Bev loved the layout of their bathroom, however the materials were dated and discolored. Bev mentioned that she wanted something with a little movement and something that was clean and current. This light grey veined porcelain provides a soft movement and allows your eye to float across the room nicely. This tile is called Tru Marmi Silver Polished. The mosaic Valentino Bardiglio Tulip gives the opportunity to showcase a beautiful color theme throughout the room. The warm tone of the circle gives life and warmth to the larger wall tiles. Cascade, a nice quartz slab is featured as the vanity top, but also is seen in different parts of the shower. We used it as the seat bench, the shelves in the niche, and other areas. Master Bathroom Remodel In Ahwatukee Jon and Bev loved the layout of their bathroom, however the materials were dated and discolored. Bev mentioned that she wanted something with a little movement and something that was clean and current. This light grey veined porcelain provides a soft movement and allows your eye to float across the room nicely. This tile is called Tru Marmi Silver Polished. The mosaic Valentino Bardiglio Tulip gives the opportunity to showcase a beautiful color theme throughout the room. The warm tone of the circle gives life and warmth to the larger wall tiles. Cascade, a nice quartz slab is featured as the vanity top, but also is seen in different parts of the shower. We used it as the seat bench, the shelves in the niche, and other areas. Master bathroom being renovated before and after photo We also updated the technology of the shower system. Moen U was installed and a new shower system allows for a very relaxing shower.

Ask a kitchen designer in Chicago which countertop question comes up most and you will hear the same answer: white or off-white quartz, and which shade. Homeowners walk into showrooms with a photo saved on their phone, usually a bright, veined slab from a magazine spread, and leave an hour later realizing there are a dozen versions of that same look. The confusion is not about taste. It is about the fact that "white quartz" covers a huge range of patterns, undertones, and price points, and nobody explains the differences before the sale. Older bungalows and newer builds alike are getting stripped of their dated laminate and butcher block in favor of quartz, and the reasons are practical rather than trendy. Quartz does not need sealing, resists the kind of staining that granite can suffer over decades, and holds up to the freeze-thaw humidity swings that Chicago basements and kitchens go through every year. Once a homeowner commits to quartz, though, the real decision starts: which white, and does the pattern justify the difference in cost. This piece walks through three specific slabs that keep showing up in Chicago renovation projects, why designers reach for them in different rooms, and what actually separates a flat white surface from one with real depth. None of this requires a design background to follow. It is mostly about paying attention to how a slab behaves under kitchen lighting, how busy the vending gets, and how it photographs versus how it looks in person. Why White Quartz Took Over Chicago Kitchens Ten years ago, granite dominated Chicago kitchen remodels almost by default. It was durable, it looked expensive, and every fabricator in the metro area carried a wide range of colors. Quartz has since taken over that position, and the shift happened faster than most contractors expected. Engineered stone gave homeowners a more predictable surface, since natural granite varies slab to slab while quartz is manufactured to a consistent pattern batch after batch. The other driver is light. Chicago winters are long and gray, and a lot of kitchens, especially in older two-flats and courtyard buildings, do not get much direct sun. A dark granite countertop in a dim kitchen can make the whole room feel smaller. White and light-toned quartz reflects what little natural light comes through the windows, and it makes a galley kitchen or a north-facing space feel noticeably brighter without touching the cabinetry or the layout. There is also a resale argument that local real estate agents bring up constantly. White quartz photographs well for listings, reads as updated and low-maintenance to buyers touring in person, and does not compete visually with whatever cabinet color the next owner might prefer. It is a safer bet than a bold veined marble look or a colored quartz that might feel dated in five years. Arctic White and the Cost Question Among the flatter, more uniform whites, arctic white quartz price comes up constantly in budget conversations because the slab sits at a more approachable point than the heavily veined Italian-marble-inspired patterns. It reads as clean and bright without the busy movement that some homeowners find overwhelming in a small kitchen. Fabricators in the Chicago area tend to keep it in stock precisely because demand stays steady across both new construction and remodel projects. Part of what keeps this slab affordable relative to its heavily patterned cousins comes down to manufacturing complexity. A quartz surface with minimal veining and a consistent white base is simpler to produce at scale than one that mimics the irregular, high-contrast movement of natural Calacatta marble. That production difference shows up directly in what a homeowner pays per square foot, and it is worth asking a fabricator to walk through that pricing before assuming every white quartz costs the same. Homeowners planning a full kitchen, including an island, backsplash, and perimeter counters, often use a flatter white like this specifically because it lets other elements carry the visual interest. A patterned tile backsplash or a bold cabinet color reads more clearly against a calm countertop than against one already fighting for attention with heavy veining. Designers frequently pair simpler whites with statement lighting fixtures for exactly this reason. What Makes Calacatta Patterns Different Calacatta refers to a family of marble originally quarried in Italy, known for a bright white background broken up by bold, often gold-toned veining that moves in thick, dramatic streaks rather than thin gray lines. Natural Calacatta marble is soft, porous, and expensive to maintain, which is exactly why quartz manufacturers spent years developing engineered versions that replicate the look without the upkeep headaches. The challenge with any Calacatta-style quartz is getting the veining to look organic instead of printed. Early generations of engineered stone struggled with repetitive patterns that gave away the fact the slab was manufactured rather than cut from actual marble. Modern digital printing and layering techniques have closed that gap considerably, and the better Calacatta-inspired quartz lines now vary the veining across each slab batch so two counters in the same kitchen do not look identical. Chicago designers gravitate toward Calacatta patterns for kitchens that function as the visual centerpiece of an open floor plan, which describes a large share of the gut renovations happening in neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, and the North Shore suburbs. When the kitchen island is visible from the living room and dining area, a dramatic veined surface becomes part of the home's overall design language rather than a purely functional work surface. Calacatta Arno Under Kitchen Lighting One of the more popular options in this category, calacatta arno quartz, balances a warm white base with soft gray and gold veining that avoids looking too stark under the cooler LED lighting common in newer Chicago builds. Homeowners touring showrooms sometimes make the mistake of judging a slab entirely under warm incandescent lighting, then get surprised when the same surface looks slightly different once installed under their kitchen's actual fixtures. What separates this particular pattern from flatter competitors is how the veining clusters rather than spreading evenly across the slab. That clustering mimics the way real quarried marble forms, with denser mineral deposits in some sections and cleaner stretches in others. Fabricators cutting a large island slab from a single piece will often orient the pattern intentionally so the busiest veining lands somewhere visually interesting rather than getting cut off at an edge. Because the background reads warmer than a stark white, this pattern tends to pair well with brass or matte gold hardware, a combination that has been showing up repeatedly in Chicago kitchen remodels over the past few renovation seasons. Cabinet painters report a similar trend, with more clients requesting warm white or greige cabinet colors specifically because they complement this kind of veined quartz better than a cooler, blue-toned white would. Silestone's Version of the Calacatta Look Manufacturers compete directly in this Calacatta-inspired category, and silestone eternal calacatta gold represents one brand's specific take on the pattern, distinguished by richer gold veining set against a brighter white base than some competing slabs in the same family. Silestone has built a reputation around anti-bacterial surface treatments in addition to the standard quartz durability, a detail some homeowners specifically ask about for kitchens used heavily by families with young children. The veining in this particular slab tends to run in longer, more continuous lines compared to the clustered pattern found in some other Calacatta-style options, which gives large island surfaces a sense of visual flow from one end to the other. Fabricators working with bigger islands, the kind increasingly common in open-concept Chicago remodels, often favor patterns like this because there is less need to worry about seams interrupting a busy, disconnected pattern. Price positioning for this slab tends to sit toward the upper end of the engineered quartz category, reflecting both the brand's manufacturing process and the complexity of replicating that continuous gold veining consistently across production batches. Homeowners weighing this option against other Calacatta-style quartz should ask their fabricator directly about batch availability, since premium patterns sometimes have longer lead times than standard stock colors. Living With Quartz Day to Day Beyond how a slab looks in a showroom or a listing photo, the daily experience of owning quartz countertops matters more once the renovation dust settles. Quartz resists scratching far better than laminate and holds up to the acidic spills, hot pans, and general abuse of an active kitchen without the sealing maintenance that natural stone requires every year or two. That low-maintenance reputation is a large part of why quartz overtook granite in the first place. Heat resistance is a detail that gets less attention than it should. While quartz handles moderate heat well, manufacturers generally recommend using a trivet or pad for very hot pots straight off the stove, since sudden temperature shock can occasionally cause stress marks in the resin binder that holds the engineered stone together. This is a minor precaution rather than a major limitation, but it is worth mentioning to anyone assuming quartz is entirely indestructible. Cleaning routines stay simple across almost every pattern in this category. A damp cloth and mild soap handle daily messes, and the nonporous surface means wine, coffee, and tomato-based sauces do not soak in the way they can with unsealed granite or marble. Homeowners moving from an older stone counter often mention how much less they worry about everyday spills once quartz is installed, which is a quality-of-life change that rarely makes it into the initial design conversation. Choosing Between the Three There is no single correct answer among these three slabs, and that is exactly why they keep coming up together in the same design conversations across Chicago renovation projects. A flatter white with minimal veining suits kitchens where other elements need to carry the visual interest, while a bolder Calacatta-inspired pattern makes sense when the countertop itself is meant to be the centerpiece of an open floor plan. Budget matters too, and it is worth having a direct conversation with a fabricator about where each option lands before falling in love with a specific slab in a showroom. Lighting, cabinet color, and how the kitchen connects to the rest of the home all play into which pattern will actually look right once installation is finished rather than just in a photo. Whatever direction a homeowner leans, seeing a full slab in person under actual kitchen lighting remains the single most useful step before signing off. Photos only go so far once the countertop is sitting in the room it will live in for years.

This townhome located on Lake Anna of Reston, VA own into a confined gall kitchen with a very limited cabinet space, short wall cabinets, big closet taking over big portion of kitchen, duct chase creating a big barrier, plumbing chases causing bulkhead and a bearing wall header to name a few of obstacles Their dream was to walk in from front door and have a clear view of wall to wall scenic view of the lake. Modernize the kitchen, eliminate bearing walls, lots of storage, upgraded appliances and so much more. They have been chasing this dream for years and have been turned down by multiple firms due to level of difficulty of the project, budget constraint and as she put it “cleeking with a design firm that can feel her needs” Our staff spent countless number of hours to hear her and bring her dream to reality. The main constraint was the bearing wall on corner of foyer and living room, which was a closet, main duct chase and return ducts, obscene amount of plumbing and not to mention structural load. By the way of re-routing mechanical chases, and reformulating all second-floor plumbing stack to back walls, and then inserting few structural beams that transfer the second-floor joists to front and back wall, we have accomplished the biggest goals of all and created the view open floor plan Now home to a big island with cooktop and beverage center. The home has front to back clear view of the scenic lake. ¬¬¬With expanding the kitchen into front breakfast area, we have doubled up on storage and cabinet space. Long line of gorgeous counter top and full backsplash under new Led lighting has glorified this kitchen project. The linear porcelain floor tile has complimented the counter top and her trophy accessories.