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Slate Countertops 101

Saturday August, 2017

Slate Countertops 101 At Garden State Soapstone ™, we love using natural stone for home renovations. One of our favorite materials is slate. Though slate has been used throughout the home for quite a while, using slate is a relatively new way to think about countertops. It’s beautiful, sustainable, and maintenance free. Most of our… Continue reading Slate Countertops 101

Houzz Trends Reports

Thursday July, 2017

Houzz Trends Reports Each year, Houzz publishes a homeowner renovation report based on data for the previous year. In 2017, kitchen renovations were a top priority among homeowners, so we decided to take a look at the research of these Houzz Trends. When it came to Kitchen Renovations, 95% off the top upgraded features are… Continue reading Houzz Trends Reports

Pair Your Countertop with a Backsplash

Friday June, 2017

Pair Your Countertop with a Backsplash A recent article from Restonnow offers a unique perspective on pairing countertop with backsplash. What’s a backsplash? Anna Gibson, the writer of the post, offers some thoughts: “Backsplash: The word “tile” became so broad in recent years that we no longer just talk about ceramic. Tiles for backsplash are… Continue reading Pair Your Countertop with a Backsplash

Introducing: White Cherokee Marble

Friday May, 2017

New: Marble. Garden State Soapstone ™ Introduces Honed White Cherokee Marble. Cherokee Marble has light grey veining across the stone’s surface. While it complements any of our Soapstone colors, it’s great for kitchen countertops, islands, or bathrooms. It’s been said that White Cherokee Marble is characterized by a soft blend of shimmering white crystals and… Continue reading Introducing: White Cherokee Marble

Time to Renovate?

Friday May, 2017

Is It Time for a Renovation? Are you looking for the right moment to renovate? If so, how do you know what that moment is? Whether your kitchen and bathroom is making your house look dated, or maybe too many things need repairs, here are some tips on the renovation you’ve dreamed of. In terms… Continue reading Time to Renovate?

What’s Unique About Soapstone

Friday May, 2017

What’s Unique About Soapstone What makes soapstone unique? It’s no surprise that we, Garden State Soapstone ™, are all about unique soapstone and other natural stones for countertops. But what’s so special about soapstone? Why is it better, or even different, than other natural stones? We hear questions like these all the time. Of course,… Continue reading What’s Unique About Soapstone

History of Soapstone Around the World

Friday March, 2017

History of Soapstone Around the World Soapstone’s natural, heat-resistant qualities and impermeability set it apart from other trends. In fact soapstone has been used as a tool for baking and architecture for thousands of years. Soapstone artifacts have been found across the world, from the United States to Brazil to Norway. Here’s a little bit… Continue reading History of Soapstone Around the World

Why Chefs Use Soapstone

Sunday February, 2017

Great cooking requires the right kitchen. A lot of chefs and cooks come to us and ask what types of countertops they should consider. We always recommend soapstone countertops. Soapstone is easy to clean and maintain. Soapstone countertops are non-porous, stain resistant, heat resistant. They don’t require sealing. Some homeowners choose to wax or oil… Continue reading Why Chefs Use Soapstone

Natural Home Design in 2017

Monday January, 2017

Home Design in 2017 Natural is Back As 2017 gets into full swing, home design trends move towards functionality, minimalism, and natural materials. On Improve Net, natural stone makes the list again, along with butcher block countertops. Soapstone: Your Go-To Soapstone has repeatedly been named as a go-to material lately. We’ve mentioned the history and… Continue reading Natural Home Design in 2017

Advantages of Natural Stone

Saturday September, 2016

When it comes to soapstone and slate, we love natural stone. At Garden State Soapstone ™, we pride ourselves in our selection of beautiful soapstone and slate, custom-fabricated for your home. We recommend natural stone for a variety of reasons, from the subtle characteristics and textures that it adds to a home, to its versatility… Continue reading Advantages of Natural Stone

Soapstone in 10 Ways

Thursday May, 2016

There’s more than one way to use soapstone. At Garden State Soapstone ™, we’ve discovered that there’s not just one way to use soapstone. In fact, it’s a natural, organic material with versatility that makes it perfect for just about everything. Luckily, we were able to narrow down our favorites. Here are the top 10… Continue reading Soapstone in 10 Ways

Garden State Soapstone ™ in Baltimore: Photo Tour

Friday May, 2011

Garden State Soapstone ™ in Baltimore! It’s always nice to see finished pictures of a beautiful project. Today, however, I’m going to show you some pictures from an onsite installation in Baltimore. These soapstone countertops were fabricated, templated, and installed by Garden State Soapstone ™. Garden State Soapstone ™ serves residents, homeowners, business owners, designers,… Continue reading Garden State Soapstone ™ in Baltimore: Photo Tour

Designing For A Different Generation

Tuesday May, 2011

Homes and the Generation Gap An article written by Anita Shaw, titled Bridging the Gap, reminds kitchen and bath designers that each generation has a different personality and specific needs. Below are the highlights: Bridging the Gap By Antia Shaw May 2011 Many different issues and elements influence which trends rise and fall and which products… Continue reading Designing For A Different Generation

Dining In Style…Sea Style

Tuesday May, 2011

Dining in Style, Anywhere. Below are some pictures from Architectural Digest that show how you can dine in style, even on your yacht! Read more about dining on the sea: Click here for the full article. Dining on Your Yacht The Kathleen Anne, a 128-foot Feadship yacht owned by a Scottish couple, includes three levels… Continue reading Dining In Style…Sea Style

Personalize your Countertops!

Tuesday May, 2011

The options are endless! Here is some more inspiration from K+BB on how you can completely transform your countertops: Countertops: Surface Expression Yes, white kitchens are still very much in fashion and thus the interest in white countertops continues. But if you feel a groan coming on with this bit of non-news, you may want… Continue reading Personalize your Countertops!

Dr. Bubbles to the rescue!

Wednesday April, 2011

Dr. Bubbles and Your Soapstone As I have discussed before, the care & maintenance for soapstone is minimal and very simple. The most common way to keep your soapstone looking beautiful was by using mineral oil, until a better solution came about – Dry Wax.  There are many benefits to the wax such as: Eliminates the… Continue reading Dr. Bubbles to the rescue!

Be Inspired By Kitchens!

Friday April, 2011

Kitchen Inspiration We’re ending the day with some kitchen inspiration! When designing/remodeling a kitchen, it can often be very overwhelming with all the different appliances, materials, and finishes. I came across a great article from KOHLER on how to bring your own inspiration into kitchen design. If you want to transform your kitchen into a… Continue reading Be Inspired By Kitchens!

Soapstone Q&A

Thursday April, 2011

Soapstone Q&A Since I get many questions about soapstone every day, I wanted to provide you with some of the most frequently asked questions. Here’s my Soapstone Q&A. If you have any others, post below OR contact me here. QUESTION: Do I need to seal my soapstone counters like granite or marble? ANSWER: No. Soapstone… Continue reading Soapstone Q&A

Architectural Digest: Words of Wisdom from the Experts

Monday April, 2011

Architectural Digest: Words of Wisdom from the Experts If you are having a hard time designing your kitchen, check out this interesting article I found from Architectural Digest.  Read more on Architectural Digest: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/ Designers Tell All When designing a kitchen, what are the key considerations? What are your favorite materials to use? What are… Continue reading Architectural Digest: Words of Wisdom from the Experts

Spring is Here: Outdoor Kitchen

Thursday April, 2011

Soapstone: Outdoor Kitchen & Grill Now that the weather is warming up, I want to share with you how soapstone can be used as the perfect material for your outdoor kitchen & grill. Soapstone is ideally suited for outdoor use because it is heat and stain resistant. Some other stone countertop surfaces hold heat, creating a… Continue reading Spring is Here: Outdoor Kitchen

From Granite Gurus: Check this out

Tuesday April, 2011

Granite Gurus: Remodeling Your Kitchen Wondering if it’s worth it to remodel your kitchen?? Check out this interesting fact from the article “Did you know…“ from Granite Gurus. The article discusses a return on investment when it comes to renovating your home. The article says that “For every dollar you spend this year remodeling your… Continue reading From Granite Gurus: Check this out

How Should I Treat My Soapstone?

Wednesday March, 2011

How should I treat my Soapstone? Care and Maintenance for your Soapstone How should I treat my soapstone? We’ve got the answer! Here are 3 maintenance free ways of treating your soapstone. Absolutely no oiling required. • 95% of our clients no longer use Mineral Oil. Traditionally most soapstone customers used a mineral oil to… Continue reading How Should I Treat My Soapstone?

Go Ahead, Scratch your Soapstone!

Wednesday March, 2011

What if Soapstone Scratches? Are you afraid of ruining your beautiful new soapstone countertops? Don’t be! So, what if your soapstone scratches? You as a consumer can fix it! If your soapstone countertop becomes scratched, follow these easy restoration steps: Most scratches will disappear with a dab of mineral oil. To permanently remove a deep… Continue reading Go Ahead, Scratch your Soapstone!