Posted by Aimee Clements
White kitchens and bathrooms are extremely popular right now. They are bright, clean, and white creates a natural starting point for any color scheme imaginable. There are numerous ways to create an all white space that reflects your personality and feels creative and interesting. Here at European Marble and Granite, we offer design advice and consultations in our Salt Lake City showroom that will help you to get creative with your tile and stone selections.
Traditional white subway tile will take on a warmer vintage feeling when combined with contrasting grout.
White tile in interesting shapes and textures can be a very dramatic way to make a statement. The Frameworks Collection from Artistic Tile, shown below, can fit into just about any design style from Moroccan to Contemporary to Luxe with its smooth glossy finish and elegant shape.
Whether your project is an urban midcentury remodel or a custom mountain home or anywhere in between, European Marble and Granite can help you with the perfect tile and stone materials, design, and installation.
Posted by Aimee Clements
 Madre Perla Tub Freestanding tubs are a huge trend in bathroom design right now, so we decided to have the talented craftsmen here at European Marble and Granite show a different take on the idea. The result is this jaw dropping bathtub, custom fabricated from Madre Perla Quartzite slab.
This beautiful bathtub is in the entryway of our Salt Lake City showroom along with beautifully designed bathroom wall and floor tile installations featuring glass and stone mosaic tile and accents from Artistic Tile.
We invite you to come in and see this and the other natural stone works of art that we have on display.
 Kitchen Island You can never have enough counter space? Right? Most homeowners spend a lot of time in their kitchens. So having enough counter space is imperative to a good functioning kitchen.
The best way to add additional kitchen counter space is to add a kitchen island. It definitely is the more popular choice with homeowners. However, it can be overwhelming with the many options that an island brings.
First things first, is determining the types of materials you want with your kitchen island; the cabinets, countertop material, electrical, and so on. A real popular choice in countertop material is to go with granite. It is durable and looks good. You’ll want to have your kitchen island materials compatible with the rest of your kitchen. So keep that in mind.
Next, lay out your island, allowing enough room for traffic around the island, and if you decide on seating, plan on the extra room for your chairs. If you do decide on seating, plan on an overhang, allowing for a more comfortable seating fit.
You may want to consider things like sinks, cooktops and stoves. If you go this direction, plan carefully with your utility hook-ups. You may want to consult with an electrician or a plumber to help you decide just what is possible.
Most important, be sure to consult with a representative of European Marble and Granite. They have literally installed 1,000′s of island countertops, and have a wealth of ideas and experience to help you make an informed decision.
 Cracked Granite With the popularity of granite countertops and granite flooring, there are a lot of granite suppliers who have entered into the market place. You need to be careful that you work with a reputable granite contractor.
Simply said, “Not all granite is created equal.”
How do you know quality granite from low quality granite? First of all, poor granite is more easily scratched, heavily pitted, contain more hairline cracks, has an inconsistent thickness, poorly polished edges that are coated with a wax, and of course cheaply priced. If you have shopped around on prices, and there are some quotes that are ridiculously low-balled, rest assured, you are being quoted a low-quality granite price. Poor quality granite is more susceptible to breaking and cracking after the contractor is long gone.
When investing in beautiful granite for your countertops or flooring, make sure that you make a wise investment in granite that will stand the test of time and maintain the luster and magnificence of granite.
It is important to call European Marble and Granite before you make a decision on your granite. Even if you don’t buy from European, their representatives are very knowledgeable in the various types of granite, and its qualities.
 Kitchen Granite Countertop When deciding on a good granite countertop contractor, there is a right way and many wrong ways of working with the right one. A granite countertop is such a long term investment, you don’t want to make the wrong choice up front.
As with any home related project, there are many contractors that are here one day and gone the next. There are so many stories of fly-by-night contractors that take homeowners money, and never deliver, or produce such poor work that the homeowner is left with what they’ve got, with very few channels for recourse. So it is important that you do your homework upfront, to save you grief later on.
Here are some important guidelines to follow:
- Make sure that the contractor has a store you can visit and see their selection. Look for one that is well-established.
- They should have a “deep” understanding of all the types of stones available, their characteristics and qualities.
- They should be willing to share what they know, so that you are not in the dark when making your selection.
- Make sure they can both fabricate and install your granite countertop. You want a contractor that see your project all the way through from beginning to end.
- Do they have their own inventory of stone slabs, a large selection for you to choose from, or are they reselling from someone else? You want to cut out the middleman.
- Do they order their own stone slabs directly from the stone quarry? How often have they been to the quarry to inspect the quality of the work and material? Directing directly with the quarry, insures quality stone to work with.
- Deal with someone who has a long-standing business and has been around for a while. They are still in business because they have satisfied customers.
- Ask about their guarantee on the quality of their work. Do they stand behind it.
European Marble and Granite measures up to each of these 8 guidelines. They have a long-standing reputation of being the best in the Intermountain area. Call today to have them get started on your next remodeling project.
 A little over a decade ago, granite countertops use to be only for the rich and famous. But now, you see them in most new homes, and are the countertop of choice for remodeling projects. Popularity has soared for the stone tops. Homeowners like the look of elegance, coupled with ease of maintenance.
What has fueled the increase in use and popularity in the last 10 years? There are a couple of factors.
Granite use to be very costly to mine from local granite quarries. Wages were high and equipment expensive. Shipping costs on granite and marble stone was also quite costly.
Now, with the ability to ship stone more economically, and with the low wage costs in other countries, granite and marble countertops have come down in price quite a bit, compared to what it use to be. Also, there is better technology in cutting the slabs through the use of programmed equipment.
Speak to a European Marble and Granite representative today to see just how affordable your new granite or marble countertops will be.
 When considering to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, and determining that you want to install elegant looking granite countertops and flooring, picking out just the right granite slab is really important. There are several aspects you’ll want to address.
Remember that granite will out-live you, so you want to make sure that your selection of a granite slab is such that it will be a pattern and color that you’ll love for a long time. Make sure it compliments your room colors and works well with your backsplash.
As you are considering your granite slab, say for a kitchen island, think of how the pattern will look on a large scale in your kitchen. You don’t want it to be too over-powering.
If you are looking at a long or large area for your countertop, plan on seams in the granite slab. Granite usually only comes in 10-foot lengths. Darker or subtle patterns are better for showing seams. They are less noticeable.
When determining an edge for your granite top, you’ll want to consider the style of your room. For a modern kitchen, a straight edge would fit, while a bull-nosed edge, with a slight curve to it, would work best for a more traditional kitchen.
As always, consult with a European Marble and Granite representative. They have a wealth of experience helping you to make the right decision when picking out a granite slab.
 Why choose granite when trying to decide on the type of floor you want in your entryway, kitchen or bathroom? Granite is one of the most popular stones for flooring. Because granite is one of the hardest stones, it is durable and will last forever. Granite stone is very easy to maintain and clean, as long as you seal it each year.
Since granite is highly resistant to scratches and wear, it will maintain its polish surface for years to come. If you care for your granite floors properly, wiping up spills immediately, it will keep its new look for decades.
When deciding on what type of granite stone to use in various places of your home, consult with a European Marble and Granite representative. They have a wealth of experience in helping you to pick just the right stone for your entryway, kitchen or bathroom.
 The most remodeled room in a home is the kitchen, and rightly so. We spend most of our waking hours in the kitchen. And the most touched, wiped, used, banged, chopped and smeared surface in the kitchen are your countertops. They are the central focus and most used area in the home. So it is important, when remodeling, to give your countertops the greatest attention. It can make or break the aesthetics of a newly refurbished kitchen.
Aside from being the most durable, granite countertops will add the look of elegance you are trying to achieve for your kitchen. The colors and patterns are endless, making it easy to find just the right blend and match for the rest of the room. There are no two granite slabs alike. So you will have a one of a kind look.
As with any home decorating or remodeling project, there are a lot of options to consider and steps to be taken to accomplish just what you are wanting. This is where European Marble and Granite can assist. With years of experience of working with interior designers and contractors, they have worked on 1,000′s of kitchen combinations. They have a good feel of what looks good and what works right. Give them a call today, to help you with your remodeling project.
 When cleaning granite, whether it is a granite counter top or granite floors, just remember to avoid using harsh cleaners. Harsh cleaners can dull the finish of the granite and damage the sealant.
To clean your granite surfaces, in a bucket of warm water, drop a few drops of dish washing liquid. Using a sponge or cloth, wet it and wipe down the stone surface completely. Follow up with a rinse by using a different sponge or cloth, and thoroughly rinse the surface with clean warm water. Then dry the surface with a clean dry microfiber cloth.
You should use a natural stone cleaner to restore the shine. Contact European Marble and Granite for an excellent cleaner.
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