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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gorgeous master bath with dramatic retro "wave" tile. Peak Photography
Example of a 1950s bathroom design in Los Angeles

Engineered cedar siding creates beautiful gray-blue tones at the exterior of the home, while adding a textural element to activate the simple exterior design.

This previously unused attic space is now a sauna/yoga room. The left sauna wall follows the attic rafters down diagonally to allow a wider space for leg room on the twin sauna benches.

Blue Fantasy granite is one of those stones that stops people in the kitchen doorway. It's got that deep blue-gray base with soft movement running through it, flecks of white and darker gray scattered across the surface, and enough depth to it that it reads different depending on the light hitting it. In this Irmo kitchen it works as the anchor for the whole room, the kind of stone that doesn't need anything else dressing it up. Granite like this comes out of the ground with real mineral variation, and that's part of why we like working with it. Every slab has its own character, so when we template a kitchen like this one we're not just measuring cabinets, we're looking at how the pattern will fall across the counters and figuring out where the seams need to land so the movement in the stone keeps flowing instead of getting chopped up at a corner. That's the part of the job that takes patience more than anything else. Blue Fantasy is a hard, dense granite, and that's exactly what you want in a kitchen that gets used every day. It shrugs off heat, it resists scratching better than most surfaces you'll put a knife near, and it holds up to the kind of daily abuse a real kitchen dishes out. We sealed it before we left so it stays easy to wipe down and keeps its color from picking up any staining, and that's about the only maintenance it'll ever ask for. We kept the edge eased on this one, simple and clean, which lets the stone itself do the talking instead of competing with it. Jobs like this are why we like working around Irmo and the rest of the Midlands. Every kitchen brings its own layout, its own light, its own slab pulled off the yard, and getting it right means paying attention to the details that don't show up in a photo, tight seams, a level install, an edge that doesn't fight the stone. This one came together the way we like to see them, a granite with real presence doing exactly what a kitchen counter should do for years to come.

Blue Fantasy granite is one of those stones that stops people in the kitchen doorway. It's got that deep blue-gray base with soft movement running through it, flecks of white and darker gray scattered across the surface, and enough depth to it that it reads different depending on the light hitting it. In this Irmo kitchen it works as the anchor for the whole room, the kind of stone that doesn't need anything else dressing it up. Granite like this comes out of the ground with real mineral variation, and that's part of why we like working with it. Every slab has its own character, so when we template a kitchen like this one we're not just measuring cabinets, we're looking at how the pattern will fall across the counters and figuring out where the seams need to land so the movement in the stone keeps flowing instead of getting chopped up at a corner. That's the part of the job that takes patience more than anything else. Blue Fantasy is a hard, dense granite, and that's exactly what you want in a kitchen that gets used every day. It shrugs off heat, it resists scratching better than most surfaces you'll put a knife near, and it holds up to the kind of daily abuse a real kitchen dishes out. We sealed it before we left so it stays easy to wipe down and keeps its color from picking up any staining, and that's about the only maintenance it'll ever ask for. We kept the edge eased on this one, simple and clean, which lets the stone itself do the talking instead of competing with it. Jobs like this are why we like working around Irmo and the rest of the Midlands. Every kitchen brings its own layout, its own light, its own slab pulled off the yard, and getting it right means paying attention to the details that don't show up in a photo, tight seams, a level install, an edge that doesn't fight the stone. This one came together the way we like to see them, a granite with real presence doing exactly what a kitchen counter should do for years to come.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Blue Fantasy granite is one of those stones that stops people in the kitchen doorway. It's got that deep blue-gray base with soft movement running through it, flecks of white and darker gray scattered across the surface, and enough depth to it that it reads different depending on the light hitting it. In this Irmo kitchen it works as the anchor for the whole room, the kind of stone that doesn't need anything else dressing it up. Granite like this comes out of the ground with real mineral variation, and that's part of why we like working with it. Every slab has its own character, so when we template a kitchen like this one we're not just measuring cabinets, we're looking at how the pattern will fall across the counters and figuring out where the seams need to land so the movement in the stone keeps flowing instead of getting chopped up at a corner. That's the part of the job that takes patience more than anything else. Blue Fantasy is a hard, dense granite, and that's exactly what you want in a kitchen that gets used every day. It shrugs off heat, it resists scratching better than most surfaces you'll put a knife near, and it holds up to the kind of daily abuse a real kitchen dishes out. We sealed it before we left so it stays easy to wipe down and keeps its color from picking up any staining, and that's about the only maintenance it'll ever ask for. We kept the edge eased on this one, simple and clean, which lets the stone itself do the talking instead of competing with it. Jobs like this are why we like working around Irmo and the rest of the Midlands. Every kitchen brings its own layout, its own light, its own slab pulled off the yard, and getting it right means paying attention to the details that don't show up in a photo, tight seams, a level install, an edge that doesn't fight the stone. This one came together the way we like to see them, a granite with real presence doing exactly what a kitchen counter should do for years to come.

Blue Fantasy granite is one of those stones that stops people in the kitchen doorway. It's got that deep blue-gray base with soft movement running through it, flecks of white and darker gray scattered across the surface, and enough depth to it that it reads different depending on the light hitting it. In this Irmo kitchen it works as the anchor for the whole room, the kind of stone that doesn't need anything else dressing it up. Granite like this comes out of the ground with real mineral variation, and that's part of why we like working with it. Every slab has its own character, so when we template a kitchen like this one we're not just measuring cabinets, we're looking at how the pattern will fall across the counters and figuring out where the seams need to land so the movement in the stone keeps flowing instead of getting chopped up at a corner. That's the part of the job that takes patience more than anything else. Blue Fantasy is a hard, dense granite, and that's exactly what you want in a kitchen that gets used every day. It shrugs off heat, it resists scratching better than most surfaces you'll put a knife near, and it holds up to the kind of daily abuse a real kitchen dishes out. We sealed it before we left so it stays easy to wipe down and keeps its color from picking up any staining, and that's about the only maintenance it'll ever ask for. We kept the edge eased on this one, simple and clean, which lets the stone itself do the talking instead of competing with it. Jobs like this are why we like working around Irmo and the rest of the Midlands. Every kitchen brings its own layout, its own light, its own slab pulled off the yard, and getting it right means paying attention to the details that don't show up in a photo, tight seams, a level install, an edge that doesn't fight the stone. This one came together the way we like to see them, a granite with real presence doing exactly what a kitchen counter should do for years to come.

Blue Fantasy granite is one of those stones that stops people in the kitchen doorway. It's got that deep blue-gray base with soft movement running through it, flecks of white and darker gray scattered across the surface, and enough depth to it that it reads different depending on the light hitting it. In this Irmo kitchen it works as the anchor for the whole room, the kind of stone that doesn't need anything else dressing it up. Granite like this comes out of the ground with real mineral variation, and that's part of why we like working with it. Every slab has its own character, so when we template a kitchen like this one we're not just measuring cabinets, we're looking at how the pattern will fall across the counters and figuring out where the seams need to land so the movement in the stone keeps flowing instead of getting chopped up at a corner. That's the part of the job that takes patience more than anything else. Blue Fantasy is a hard, dense granite, and that's exactly what you want in a kitchen that gets used every day. It shrugs off heat, it resists scratching better than most surfaces you'll put a knife near, and it holds up to the kind of daily abuse a real kitchen dishes out. We sealed it before we left so it stays easy to wipe down and keeps its color from picking up any staining, and that's about the only maintenance it'll ever ask for. We kept the edge eased on this one, simple and clean, which lets the stone itself do the talking instead of competing with it. Jobs like this are why we like working around Irmo and the rest of the Midlands. Every kitchen brings its own layout, its own light, its own slab pulled off the yard, and getting it right means paying attention to the details that don't show up in a photo, tight seams, a level install, an edge that doesn't fight the stone. This one came together the way we like to see them, a granite with real presence doing exactly what a kitchen counter should do for years to come.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.

Collaboration with Canonbury Homes and Frank Neely Design Associates.
Inspiration for a timeless open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets and two islands

Tiffany Crystal quartzite is one of those stones that earns its keep in a kitchen. It's got that cool, crystalline background, whites and grays moving quietly across the surface with enough sparkle in the light to keep it from feeling flat. It reads clean and bright without going stark, which is why it works so well in a kitchen where people actually cook and gather, not just admire counters from across the room. Quartzite is real stone, not engineered, so it comes with natural hardness that holds up to daily kitchen abuse. It resists scratching and handles heat well, though we still tell folks to use a trivet, because no counter needs a hot pan set straight on it just to prove a point. Sealing it right after install and keeping up with it over the years keeps the surface performing the way it should, and Tiffany Crystal takes a seal well because of its tight, dense structure. Fabricating a slab like this takes some care in the layout. We spend real time bookmatching and dry-fitting pieces so the movement in the stone flows across seams instead of fighting itself at the corners. On a kitchen island or a run of perimeter counters, getting that continuity right is what separates a good installation from one that just gets the measurements correct. We kept the edge eased here, which is the right call on a stone with this much personality. It doesn't need extra shaping to draw the eye, the stone's already doing that work. Day to day, this is a kitchen counter that's going to live hard and look good doing it. Quartzite shrugs off knife marks, stands up to acidic spills, and cleans up with regular dish soap and water. It's the kind of surface you stop babying after the first few months because it simply holds up. Jobs like this one in Lexington are what we like seeing come through the shop. It's a straightforward kitchen application done with a stone that's got real depth to it, installed by people who care about how the seams and the veining line up when the job's done. That's the kind of work that keeps the Midlands trade honest.