Countertops: Granite, Marble, or Something else? How to Decide

Granite

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Granite is one of the most popular choices for countertops. There are a number of reasons for this, one being its gorgeous pattern and variation. It is also very durable as well as stain and heat resistant. Granite requires occasional sealants to improve its luster as well as its longevity. This is not as tumultuous as some make it out to be however. There are many products such as granite wipes that help with this between sealants. 

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Marble

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Marble is a very beautiful and luxurious material that is also very on trend right now. Marble also requires a high grade sealant. It is unfortunately the most porous of the countertop varieties. This means that it is more susceptible to staining. This makes marble not the most ideal for households that need to be kid friendly. 

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Quartz

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Quartz is very similar to granite except that it is not a completely natural material. This is a great choice if you want as little upkeep as possible because it does not require any sealing and is very durable. The down side to quartz is that it does not have as much natural looking veining and color flecks like both granite and marble do naturally. 

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HomeMint

It’s no secret, I am a boy band connoisseur.  It started in my teenage years and has stuck with me ever since.  While I prefer the musical stylings of Nick Lachey and 98 degrees over those of Backstreet Boys or NSYNC, I am a JT fan (Justin Timberlake, that is).  I was excited to read yesterday about Mr. Timberlake’s newest business venture- HomeMint.

HomeMint is a home decorating website offering various furniture, accessory and art lines including some designs created by Justin and his former NSYNC stylist. The whole concept seems pretty neat- shoppers can determine their personal style through a series of visual questions and then shop for items that suit said style.   It does require a log-in to go further than the questionnaire, so that is where I stopped.  I try to avoid signing up for more emails, but if curiosity gets the better of me, I might try it out.  If you look into it, let me know your thoughts.  If it’s like everything else the former NSYNC crooner does, I’m sure it will be a raving success. 

Double Duty Furniture

I say it all the time- I am an efficiency nut!  I adore anything that has more than one purpose. A furniture piece with multiple functions becomes my favorite item in a room that I am working on.  As I was reading up on trends in the design world for 2012, I was delighted to read that multi-purpose furniture is catching on.  I could care less about the fact that I could now be considered trendy.  I’m thrilled to pieces because it means I will have more options for my clients who also love a piece that is full of function!  I had to share a few photos of some items I am in love with.  Enjoy!

 Seats tuck neatly under this cocktail table so they are out of the way until needed for guests.

You won't find dust bunnies under this bed!  Built-in drawers provide a place to store sweaters or maybe even extra bed linens.  (I have a similar piece in my bedroom and cannot say enough good things about it!)

Room to Move

Space plans are the most important thing I do for clients.  Those plans are why I am so helpful to them.  Without a space plan, too much furniture gets shoved into one room leaving very little space to comfortably move about and to enjoy everyday tasks.

The tasks that are most commonly forgotten when placing furniture in a room are:
-Sitting down for conversation.  It's the truth.  People tend to line furniture up along the walls making it difficult to converse with each other without shouting across the room.  Seat groupings allow for easier conversation and a more intimate feeling for guests.  The number of groupings you can fit into a space depends on room size and furniture scale.

-Getting up from the table.  There is a lack of understanding about how much space should be allowed from the edge of the dining table to the wall or even just the edge of the area rug so chairs can be pulled out comfortably.  It is awkward and uncomfortable to have to squeeze into your seat because the chair is backed up against the wall.  How silly do you feel when guests scoot their chair out and end up with uneven chair legs because the front two are placed on the rug and the back two are on the flooring below.  Simple mistakes to avoid, but it requires attention (and a space plan).  30-50 inches of space is recommended around the table edge.

-Sitting in front of a cocktail table.  This can be a bit of a balancing act.  You want the table close enough to be reached when placing a drink or a book on it, but far enough away to allow for legroom when sitting and ample space to pass between the sofa and table.  My typical rule of thumb is 15-18 inches.

The New Flower

I've been seeing gorgeous arrangements all over Pinterest and in magazines.  I wouldn't call them floral arrangements because they don't contain many, if any , flowers. the focal point of the pieces are bare tree braches.  No leaves on the branches, just beautiful, shapely arms stretching out from the trunk. It may sound barren, but look at these arrangements to see how you can blend the branches with other greenery to end up with a beautiful conversation piece!

A Fall ensemble that creates drama and interest for a mantle in a vaulted great room.  The branch will provide the serious height we needed for a room with high ceilings.

A pair of these will create a winter wonderland in any room. It's the perfect balance of traditional (with the gilded greenery), trendy (tree branch) and dazzling (the metallic shades that play with the light). They will be used as part of Christmas decor in a formal room with a variety of gold silver and pink decorations.

All of the pieces shown above were custom created for my clients. I worked closely with my floral designer to find just the right pieces to compliment the decor of the homes we were working in. After the pieces were complete, my floral gal shared with me that before we made the arrangements, not too many people were interested in the tree branch. They didn't understand how to incorporate it into their decor. After our pieces were complete, the branches are selling like wildfire. We gave people some vision and they ran with it.

Best Dressed

I love all things fashion.  In college I studied Merchandising, Apparel & Textiles which offered an emphasis on fashion while still being very applicable to the interior design world I am in now.  In my opinion dressing a room is very similar to dressing yourself.  There are a few key pieces that you must have to be on point.  

The Rug-  A rug in a room is like good undergarments on a lady.  That is your foundation for a good room.  Your outfit would be ruined if you had on a super-cute dress but didn’t wear seamless undies.  Or imagine how awful a shirt would look if (not to be too crass) your bra were too small.    We are appalled by this, but everyday people buy rugs that are too small for their space.  Don’t skimp on size!

Quality furniture- Trendy is fun, but it can be costly to keep up.  If we only buy clothing that is the latest trend, we would be shopping and spending a lot.  Our best bet is to find quality pieces that will stand the test of time that we can update with trendier accessories.  The same is true with furniture.  By selecting some classic upholstered pieces we set ourselves up to bring in trends through other elements in the room.  This helps us to avoid being unhappy with our sofa when newer models come into the stores.  

Glitz & Glam- Everyone has their preferred level of WOW! when it comes to accessories.  With some people, you can’t put enough diamonds on them.  With others,  a simple pair of stud earrings and their wedding ring is all they choose to wear.  I, myself, fall somewhere in the middle.  I think accessories are where you can afford to play around with trends and get a little funky.  Accessories in the home are not all that different from those we wear in fashion.  We have pillows, window treatments, candlesticks, finials, etc to layer upon the furniture just like we have bracelets, necklaces, belts, scarves and leggings to create a layered outfit on ourselves. 

Conversation pieces- I use my shoes as conversation pieces.  When the sky is dark and dreary but I am wearing a black & gray ensemble, I throw in bright yellow shoes for cheer.  I rarely select a plain shoe.  I’m gazing into my closet now and don’t see one pair that doesn’t have an oversized buckle, a fun texture or sheen, or a bold color to it.  The same should hold true for your art.  Select pieces that catch your eye and lead you around the room.  Think about what has meaning to you, what makes you feel comfortable and what might strike up conversation with your guests.  Those are the pieces you want on your walls.  Don’t feel like you have to put the same thing up all over.  Not every pair of shoes you have goes with every outfit, and your artwork won’t naturally fit in every room.  Mix it up with mirrors, painting, photos and framed prints.  

Think about some of these things and how you’ve dressed your house.  Does it really reflect you? 

Stretching the Dollar to Cover Your Windows

We all want unique items.  There is something about having what no one else does that makes us proud.  But sometimes lack of time and money get in the way of us having one-of-a-kind pieces.  When it comes to window treatments like draperies there IS a way to have the best of both worlds.  Store- bought window treatments can be dressed up to appear as if they were custom made.  Adding trims with beads, baubles or tassels instantly allow the panels to appear expensive.  Another embellishment option that gives a more streamlined look is adding a band of fabric along the edge of the treatment. 

Don't forget about the hardware.  My advice to my clients is to always splurge on a rod with a larger diameter (1.5- 3 inches). Steer clear of the thin half-inch metal poles that look as though they will snap if you stare at them too long.  Finials add a sophisticated element that enhances the decor of the room. You want a finial to have some weight to it so it looks sturdy and correctly proportioned to the size of the rod.

A popular look for hardware right now is to use a pair of shorter rods instead of one long one.  This can only be done if the panels are not functional (meaning they do not open and close).  I refer to non-functional panels as "dummy panels".  You hang these drapes on either side of the window, each with its own rod.  The appeal to this method is that you aren't staring at a rod that sprawls the width of the window.  Instead your eye can focus on the beautiful draperies that flank the window casing. 

Happy window dressing!

Hidden Potential

I am always on a quest to re-purpose things.  If an item has multiple uses, you can bet that I will buy it.  I'm not sure where my affinity for function is rooted, but it's rooted deep!  That's why I had to share my top three favorite pieces that are off the charts in both beauty & function!

1.  Cocktail table seating.  A storage ottoman that also serves as a bench seat during parties.  A round glass-topped table with four seats tucked below.  Either option makes a room that is short on space more useable.  I have implemented these options for clients who regularly hosted friends and needed additional seating.  The dual purpose makes me giddy!

2. Trundle Beds.  I know bigger is considered better nowadays.  But I still love twin beds, especially daybeds!  They are perfect solutions for kids or small guest rooms.  Storing a trundle underneath affords you the option of allowing the kid's friends over for slumber parties or creating a double bed when your out-of-town friends come for the weekend.

3. Serving Platters.  Pewter, ceramic, wood or glass trays have a million uses.  Of course, they come in handy for displaying yummy appetizers at parties.  But their function goes so much farther than that.  Platters can be used to adorn the top of your kitchen cabinets or dining room hutch.  They can be placed on your coffee table to serve as a gathering place for the remotes or magazines.  Resting on top of your bedroom dresser, a tray can be the gathering place for loose change, your wallet and car keys. 

If you are tight on space or a neat freak (like me!), these three pieces can completely change your space!

Collections

Nostalgia, interest and sometimes greed feed into our desire to collect things.  Some people collect baseball cards, others collect old movie posters.  As child, I collected porcelain clown figurines.  I now have hundreds of these delicate, handpainted pieces stored away in boxes.  To be honest, I have no idea what to do with them.  How many of us are like that?  We buy and collect all these things we want, but then we just end up storing them away in the basement of attic because we don’t know how to use them.  

Watching an episode of Design Star earlier this week provided great inspiration.  A couple collected old records.  The designer decided to showcase those records as art.  Square wooden blocks were attached to the wall arranged in a grid formation to create a platform.  Then one record was screwed into each platform.  What a fantastic way to fill a wall with a unique art piece!  Additionally, it made the room more personal to the homeowners AND cleared out boxes of records that would otherwise collect dust. 

It can be challenging to think outside the box but when we do we can usually come up with awesome ways to re-purpose the things we love!  I’m tempted to (cover your ears, Mom) take all my porcelain figurines and bust them into pieces that I can use in a mosaic.  I could create a mirror frame or a back-splash out of the pieces instead of letting them age in the cardboard walls of a moving box.  What will you do with your collector’s items?