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Having a small kitchen does not mean you need to sacrifice style or functionality. With smart design strategies and creative planning, compact kitchens can be just as beautiful and efficient as larger ones. Whether you are planning a complete remodel or refreshing your current layout, the ideas below will help you make the most of… Continue reading Maximizing Small Kitchens: Stylish Solutions Without Compromise

While marble is a favorite for timeless elegance, it does require more care and maintenance than other natural stone options. Of course, it will look beautiful even with the wear and tear of daily life evident on the surface, but if you want to keep your counters and tiles looking new, here are a few… Continue reading Caring for Marble throughout Your Kitchen and Bathroom

Outdoor living spaces have become complete extensions of the home, allowing families to entertain, cook, relax, and enjoy at least three seasons. For homeowners across New Jersey, outdoor kitchens and patios are not just about functionality but beauty and long-term durability. When it comes to selecting materials that meet all of those criteria, soapstone and slate rise… Continue reading Why Choose Soapstone and Slate for Your Outdoor Kitchens and Patios

Even in NJ, NY, PA, and DE, early spring preparation ensures a thriving garden throughout the growing season. March is a temperamental month in the Northeast, but as the frost thaws, you can prepare your garden for the warmer months ahead. Here are some tasks to start now to make planting in May easier. 1.… Continue reading Spring is coming! How to get your garden ready

A kitchen renovation is one of the most fun but also the most complicated ways to update your home. Doing this right can increase your home value, but between the electrical work, plumbing, cabinetry, finishes, and countertops, it’s a space where a mistake can be costly (or dangerous). While there’s no shortage of inspiration online… Continue reading What NOT to DIY during Your Kitchen Renovation

If you love your kitchen layout, cabinet refacing is an efficient and cost-effective way to refresh your kitchen or bathroom without the need for a complete renovation. When you update the exterior surfaces of your existing cabinets, you can achieve a fresh, modern look while preserving the current layout and structure. If you’ve been wondering… Continue reading Everything You Need to Know About Cabinet Refacing

Even in NJ, NY, PA, and DE, early spring preparation ensures a thriving garden throughout the growing season. March is a temperamental month in the Northeast, but as the frost thaws, you can prepare your garden for the warmer months ahead. Here are some tasks to start now to make planting in May easier. 1.… Continue reading Spring is coming! How to get your garden ready

Personalized details completely transform the look and feel of a home, which is why custom millwork—those wood details like paneling, wainscotting, cabinetry, and shelving—is not just about functionality; it’s about style, craftsmanship, and creating a space that reflects your personality. Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an old one, millwork can add warmth… Continue reading Timeless, but Trending: Update Your Home with Custom Millwork

If you love your kitchen layout, cabinet refacing is an efficient and cost-effective way to refresh your kitchen or bathroom without the need for a complete renovation. When you update the exterior surfaces of your existing cabinets, you can achieve a fresh, modern look while preserving the current layout and structure. If you’ve been wondering… Continue reading Everything You Need to Know About Cabinet Refacing

Even in NJ, NY, PA, and DE, early spring preparation ensures a thriving garden throughout the growing season. March is a temperamental month in the Northeast, but as the frost thaws, you can prepare your garden for the warmer months ahead. Here are some tasks to start now to make planting in May easier. 1.… Continue reading Spring is coming! How to get your garden ready

Winter is the season of warm, hearty meals, indulgent treats, and cozy moments with family and friends. Stocking your pantry thoughtfully ensures you’re prepared for everything from impromptu hot chocolate breaks to hearty homemade soups on a chilly evening. Here’s a guide to winter pantry staples, from the essentials to a few fun, indulgent extras… Continue reading Winter Pantry Staples: Stocking Your Kitchen for Comfort and Warmth

When it comes to designing a bathroom that is as functional as it is beautiful, the sink plays a central role. Choosing a custom soapstone sink ensures a unique combination of style and practicality that can help your bathroom become a luxurious spa. Here’s why a custom soapstone sink might be the perfect choice for… Continue reading Custom Soapstone Sinks for the Bathroom

The 2025 Pantone Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, is a warm, earthy brown that exudes a sense of calm, grounding, and simple luxury. This versatile shade pairs beautifully with natural materials while complementing almost any palette to make spaces feel cozy and soft. Whether you’re designing a kitchen, refreshing a bathroom, or reimagining your outdoor spaces,… Continue reading Embracing Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year: Mocha Mousse

Designing custom wood furniture for your home can be an exciting but stressful process since you want to create an heirloom piece that will stand the test of time. When designing custom wood furniture, there are several important factors to consider ensuring that your piece is not only visually stunning but also functional, practical, and… Continue reading Considerations for Designing Your Custom Wood Furniture

Every year, we round up our favorite projects and share them as inspiration as you design your kitchen, bathrooms, and other spaces. This year, we saw certain materials used more and more in homes, and custom wood furniture also stood out this year. Check out these photos, and start planning your projects for the new… Continue reading The Best of 2024 in Soapstone, Slate, and Wood Countertops (and more!)

As temperatures begin to cool and the leaves fall, many homeowners assume they need to pack up their outdoor furniture. However, with the proper planning and a few adjustments, you can use your patio in the cooler months because the right materials require less maintenance when preparing for snow. Whether gathering with friends around a… Continue reading Enjoying Your Outdoor Space as the Weather Cools

Marble will always be a timeless, favorite material for kitchens and bathrooms. With its natural beauty and veining, designers can match it with any contemporary or traditional aesthetic within a home. At Garden State Soapstone, Slate, and Wood Countertops, we offer Cherokee Marble to complement our other natural stone offerings. Here are a few reasons… Continue reading The Benefits of Cherokee Marble

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are on the hunt for unique, thoughtful gifts that will bring joy to our loved ones. In the age of big-box retailers, shopping small can often bring the convenience of online shopping while still supporting local artists. This holiday season, consider shopping small and experience the benefits… Continue reading Shopping Small for the Holidays

Floating shelves have become a popular choice in home design, offering a sleek or rustic alternative to traditional cabinetry. These minimalist, wall-mounted shelves bring both form and function to your kitchen, making them a favorite among interior designers and homeowners alike. If you’re considering floating shelves for your next renovation, keep reading to find the benefits… Continue reading Incorporating Floating Shelves to Your Home Design

The holiday season is just around the corner, and if you enjoy hosting family gatherings, dinner parties, or festive events, now is the time to prepare your kitchen and entertaining spaces. Whether you’re planning a large Thanksgiving feast, a cozy Christmas dinner, or simply want to be ready for spontaneous holiday get-togethers, organizing and optimizing… Continue reading Preparing Your Kitchen for the Holidays

Slate flagstone is a favorite natural stone material used in many homes because of its durability, versatility, and rustic appearance. The unique textures and shapes of these pieces make it a great choice for outdoor walkways and patios, but it looks just as great when you want to bring the outdoors in. What is Slate… Continue reading Slate Flagstone: Indoors & Outdoors

Soapstone is a natural stone that has been utilized for centuries because of its beauty and durability. Soapstone’s charm and character only increase as it develops a natural patina over time. Many homeowners love how this stone can transform and enhance the aesthetics of any space. With simple, regular maintenance or even a professional restoration… Continue reading Embracing the Natural Patina of Soapstone

As the back-to-school season approaches, it’s crucial to prepare your home, particularly your kitchen, for the new school year. A well-organized and efficiently set-up kitchen can make mornings less stressful, meal prep easier, and overall family routines smoother. Here are some ways to prepare your kitchen for back-to-school season. 1. Meal Planning and Preparation Station One… Continue reading Back-to-School Necessities for a Streamlined Kitchen Routine

Save yourself the hassle and expense of new cabinets during renovation, especially if your layout works well for you. When you use cabinet refacing instead of replacement, you save time and money. But here are a few other reasons to consider this option for your next renovation.  1. Cost-Effective Solution One of the most significant… Continue reading 12 Reasons to Consider Cabinet Refacing for Your Renovation Project

Dreaming up your new kitchen always starts out fun, but you might have a different opinion once demolition begins. Fortunately, the summer is a great time for the project because you have so many outdoor cooking options. Here are some practical tips to help you live in your house during an extensive kitchen renovation, ensuring… Continue reading Tips for Surviving a Kitchen Renovation

When you’re working on a renovation, the right cabinetry and storage make all the difference. From kitchens and bathrooms to entertainment systems and beyond, choosing custom millwork elevates the style, functionality, and overall atmosphere of your living spaces.  1. Tailored to Your Vision: Custom millwork allows you to bring your design vision to life with… Continue reading Benefits of Custom Millwork for Your Renovation

When you’re designing a kitchen, you might have a vision of the perfect sink, but there are many different options with just as many functional and aesthetic features. And that’s before you consider the materials you could choose for your custom sink. Let’s explore the key differences and benefits of popular sink styles you might be considering… Continue reading Everything ABOUT the Kitchen Sink

When crafting a custom table that embodies both style and functionality, selecting the right wood material can feel like a big decision. Each wood species brings its own unique character, durability, and aesthetic appeal to the table (pun intended!). In this guide, we’ll explore some popular wood options for custom tables, including black walnut, mahogany,… Continue reading Choosing the best material for your custom table

Over the past year or so, the Cottagecore aesthetic became appealing to many homeowners, offering nostalgia, coziness, and the beauty of gardens even if you don’t live in a cottage. Rooted in romanticized notions of countryside life, Cottagecore celebrates the beauty of imperfection, handmade craftsmanship, and the enchantment of nature. While you may think of… Continue reading Adding cozy “Cottagecore” style to your patio design

If you’re working on building a patio this year, make it a space you can enjoy year-round. By carefully considering shade, heating, materials, lighting, and other features, you can construct a versatile and inviting patio that becomes an extension of your home’s living space beyond your summer celebrations. Strategic Shade Solutions: Let’s start with the… Continue reading Building a Patio to Enjoy Beyond Summer

If you’re renovating your patio this spring and summer, you may be thinking of a full outdoor kitchen. You may need to consider if you need a sink in the space, as well. Maybe you just want more counter space around your grill to line up the prep items or serve your barbecue items without… Continue reading Should your patio have an outdoor sink?

If you’re starting a renovation, you might be concerned about investing in trendy materials that will be out of style in a year or two. Marble actually isn’t the concern here: other design trends you’ve seen with marble may be OUT, but marble is still IN. Timeless or Trendy? Marble is the definition of timeless,… Continue reading Is Marble Trending OUT for Home Design?

Marble is always a popular natural stone for bathrooms, and designers return to it again and again for the timeless style dating back to the ancient Greeks. If you’re renovating your bathroom, you’ve definitely considered marble tiles and countertops in your space. Let’s walk through the pros and cons of incorporating marble into bathroom design… Continue reading Should You Choose Marble for Your Bathroom?

You’ve probably considered wood countertops in the kitchen, but the thought never crossed your mind to include them for a bathroom renovation. In fact, they can add warmth and contrast to a traditionally white and bright space. Find out why a wood countertop might be the best option for your bathroom renovation. Adding Warmth to… Continue reading Can you use wood countertops in bathrooms? Yes!

As the design world looks forward to the trends of the upcoming year, we love to see the different colors each brand decides on. They observe the rising trends across focus areas and predict what we’ll see again and again throughout the year. Here are a few of our favorites: Pantone, Benjamin Moore, Behr, and… Continue reading 2024 Colors of the Year

In the ever-evolving world of home decor and remodeling, cabinet resurfacing stands out as a cost-effective and transformative solution. Let’s walk through the benefits of cabinet resurfacing in NJ and NY. Cabinet Refacing vs. Painting or Replacing Cabinets When revitalizing your kitchen or bathroom, you’ll probably choose between cabinet refacing, painting, and replacing as the… Continue reading Transform Your Space: Cabinet Resurfacing in NJ and NY

As we step into a new year, it’s the perfect time for homeowners to set goals that elevate their living spaces to new heights. If you’re looking for some ideas to improve your living space in 2024, here’s a comprehensive guide to achieving your home goals in the coming year. Smart Home Integration Stay at… Continue reading New Year Goals for Your Home

Selecting the perfect countertop for your kitchen not only influences the overall aesthetics but also determines the functionality and maintenance requirements of your space. If you’ve been considering the top countertop materials, you may not have seen slate. However, this natural stone option has significant benefits over some of the other top choices. Slate Countertops:… Continue reading Slate Countertops vs. The Top Countertop Materials

A fireplace is the heart of any home, radiating warmth and timeless charm. With the holidays approaching, the fireplace takes center stage in your festivities. When designing a fireplace mantel and surround, natural materials like stone and wood are the most popular choices, bringing rustic sophistication to any space. From design considerations to working with… Continue reading Crafting Elegance: Designing a Fireplace Mantel and Surround with Natural Stone and Wood

Soapstone, a naturally occurring metamorphic rock, has been a favorite among homeowners and designers for centuries due to its unique properties and timeless beauty. Whether you’re considering soapstone countertops, custom sinks, or indoor/outdoor floor tiles, you likely have questions about this versatile material. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about… Continue reading Your Ultimate Guide to Soapstone Products: Top FAQs Answered