What's on my radar today: CaesarStone

This past week I had the pleasure of learning about CaesarStone's latest quartz surface, Motivo™, at a local NKBA chapter meeting generously hosted by Mitrani Shower Doors and Caesarstone.  Motivo is a textured embossed quartz surface available in two textures, Lace and Crocodile, that can be used in wall panels, furniture, counters and more. Viewing a small sample does not do it justice. It must be seen in a large application. In my local area, Mitrani Shower Doors, in Woodland Hills has two large installation shown in their shower displays. The texture resembles the authentic pattern found on a crocodile. Stunning.

Shown above: Crocodile 3100C.

Lace2141L

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Beachy Revival

Here are two before and after photos from Coastal Living. What I love about this kitchen is how light and airy it now looks.
Key features:

• Removal of the dropped fluorescent light panels in the ceiling.
• New but vintage inspired, is the clap board detail on the walls.
• Iridescent glass tiles in sea shades for the counter top.
  
• The pantry door is a vintage looking screen door painted in blue. Very clever and perfect to complete this beach cottage look.
  
• Hardwood floor adds warmth.
  

"It was never about having the most up-to-date kitchen or the fanciest appliances,” The homeowner, Jane says. “We wanted it to feel just as it did when it was built.”

For more information on this house go to Revive Your Beach House.
All photos from CoastalLiving.com

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Only Natural Stone Supplier to Receive Certification

Everlife™ by Innovative Stone® ANNOUNCES NSF CERTIFICATION

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (February 2009) – Everlife™ by Innovative Stone has announced its recent NSF® International Certification. This certification states that natural stones having polished finishes protected by Innovative Stone’s PermaShield™ technology meet the material standards for cleanability according to NSF-51.

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) provides industry standards for food equipment and testing to ensure kitchen products - such as Everlife countertops - are safe and sanitary materials to be used in high-traffic food service areas like restaurants. PermaShield™ anti-stain technology allows NSF to issue its certification to the only natural stone countertop offering meeting the criteria.

“We are honored to receive the NSF certification as it’s a testament to the years of extensive research and production that went into developing our PermaShield™ technology, which protects each countertop surface,” commented Karen Pearse, founder and CEO of Innovative Stone.

“Builders, interior designers, chefs and restaurant managers no longer have to choose between safety and design. Our luxurious Everlife offering of resplendent colors allows designers to focus their efforts on creating visionary designs while being ensured the highest level of safety,” she said.

Everlife countertops are protected by PermaShield™, a proprietary process that covers microscopic staining paths below the surface of granite or natural stone material. These paths are infused with molecular technology causing them to adopt water and oil-repelling properties. As a result, PermaShield™ protects the countertop surface from harmful elements.

NSF® International, founded in 1944 as the National Sanitation Foundation, is known for the development of standards, product testing and certification services in the areas of public health, safety and protection of the environment. NSF® Certification programs are accredited to the international standards through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada, assuring the highest level of integrity, quality and acceptance.

In addition to the NSF certification, Everlife™ has received industry certification by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI). For more information on Everlife™, visit www.everlifestone.com or call 1-800- 627-8663

About Innovative Stone®:

Innovative Stone is a leading global fabricator, supplier and distributor of branded natural stone products for commercial and residential markets, with operations in the U.S., Brazil, China, Italy and Turkey. Headquartered in New York, Innovative Stone has distribution centers in major cities across the U.S.

Innovative Stone's commercial stone supply business has a wide-ranging customer base that includes leading U.S. retail stores, shopping malls and hotels as well as many prestigious international projects. As a result of the company’s in-depth industry knowledge, global relationships and service to high-profile customers, Innovative Stone is widely recognized for its solid commitment to excellence and unsurpassed customer service. For additional information on Innovative Stone, call 631-273-4445, visit www.innovativestone.com, or e-mail info@innovativestone.com.

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Stain Resistant Granite Countertops

Love natural stone but not the maintenance? With anti-stain technology, worrisome maintenance for granite, marble, quartzite and soapstone is a thing of the past. Innovative Stone® , just debuted it's premium anti-stain natural stone counter top collection, called Everlife™. This new environmentally conscious collection does not require sealing-typical for most counter top surfaces- and is protected by Innovative Stone's breakthrough PermaShield™ technology.

Madura Gold

Everlife Stone is stain resistant, easy to care for and requires no sealing. With the added assurance of a 15 year warranty, consumers can enjoy worry-free enjoyment. Currently there are 45 natural stones to choose from, including marble and slate! View the samples on the Everlife web site to get a better view. Be sure to click on the slabs to view the full slab.

How do they do this?
It's all in the science of molecular technology. PermaShield ® is a penetrating technology that has been scientifically engineered to provide the best protection for granite surfaces. Every Everlife™ granite slab is engineered with Innovative Stone™'s proprietary PermaShield® technology. This anti-staining technology, combined with decades of experience, allows Everlife™ by Innovative Stone™ to provide a free 15-year limited warranty for stain resistance and material integrity. To learn more about Permashield, go to www.permashield.com.

PermaShield™ does not affect or alter the surface of granite, leaving no added color or coating.

Aristocrat Black

Environmentally Safe Technology.

Everlife is certified by GREENGUARD® Environmental Institute and NSF International*, The Public Health and Safety Company™ as a safe and sanitary material. *NSF-51.

Both of these independent, non-profit organizations have classified Everlife natural stone counter tops to be safe and sanitary for use in the home due to the materials ease of cleaning and preservation of indoor air quality.

Bianco Carrara

Hassle Free Beauty of Natural Stone.
Every Everlife™ granite slab is treated by Innovative Stone™'s proprietary anti-staining PermaShield® technology, which protects granite from staining for 15 years subject to the terms and conditions of the limited warranty.

Available through your local fabricators and Everlife Dealers.

The availability of Everlife marks the first time that consumers will be able to purchase PermaShield-protected natural stone counter tops outside of The Home Depot and Expo Design Center. To find a dealer near you, click here.

Shiva Kashi

What you should know about selecting your slabs
Can I view my Everlife™ granite slab prior to fabrication? Due to the variation found in natural stones, in-person slab views are encouraged and may be coordinated by your local Everlife™ dealer, through their corresponding slabyard. This not only assures that you are pleased with the color you have chosen, but may give you the ability to select the precise slab you desire prior to countertop fabrication and installation.

For more facts visit EVERLIFE

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Making responsible material selections.

EMOTION DRIVES THE PURCHASE
Love this counter! I just dig it. Look at the color, the patina of it. It reflects light. The direction in counter design lately is for less shiny, more informal matte finishes as well as mixing textures such as glass, natural stone, engineered stone, wood or stainless steel.

I have the same emotional "ooh-ah" reaction when I look at velvety smooth soft marble counters. The creaminess is lovely to look at but the acid etching and staining, not so pretty after years of use. As with anything, surface beauty has a story behind it. Do the research before you buy. Understand how various materials rate for maintenance and the environmental impact a product has before you buy.

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Did you guess that the counter featured above is concrete? If you did, you get to pass GO and get another roll at the dice again at the eco-friendly game of design monopoly. Any outsider thinking it is a piece of cake to make selections in materials, has yet to remodel. As design and remodeling specialists in our given field, we have the added burden of keeping up with all the latest information before us to help our guide our clients with the best materials for their remodel. The truth is, it is not really a burden. It's only a burden if you don't bother to educate yourself. It's a fascinating time to be in design with so many wonderful material options and information available.

Getting back to the picture above, evaluating concrete counters we can say they are a good option for a sustainable surface, as they are made from limestone, an abundant mineral. Eco-friendly aside, is concrete for you? How fastidious are you about the materials for your project? For more facts on concrete counters than you ever need to know, click here.

If you love the look of concrete like I do, a quick primer video to watch by Fu Teng Chung, Video: Concrete Countertop Vulnerabilities, will show you a concrete counter that has been installed for over twenty five years. There is no reason to limit yourself to one material. Consider the use of more than one counter surface in your design.

Quick fact: Concrete has the same porosity as marble. Translation: monitored maintenance for counter surfaces, requiring regular sealing or waxing. If the idea of "wax on/wax off" is better suited for the Karate Kid and not a part of your cleaning regimen, consider the alternatives. Or if you are athletically inclined you could work in counter maintenance as part of your arm routine. Lats Tuesday: wax the counters. (Ok, so maybe you don't need to buff out your counters weekly, but there is maintenance, unless you have the easy going attitude that Fu Teng Chung has about his counter tops. Be truthful, can you live with irregularities and vulnerabilities?).

For a similar look without the added regimen of regular t.l.c. & maintenance, watch for the hot colors coming up in 2009 from Caesarstone. For now, one of my favorite colors with Caesarstone is # 4350, Lagos Blue. You can order it polished (left) or honed (right).

There are other quartz products out there, so don't write to me to tell me that, I am simply showing Lagos Blue as alternative color to the concrete shown above.

AS FOR THE CABINETS...
featured featured in The New York Times, Home and Garden section, 11/26/08: Of the Sea, and Air, and Sky

...I am shocked.
The design team and homeowners selected, approved and installed Brazilian rosewood cabinets for this kitchen.

Brazilian Rosewood, (Dalbergia nigra), is listed on the official list of threatened Brazilian plants by IBAMA. It is CITES-listed, (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), and illegal to trade. It is one of the most highly prized woods in Brazil.

The New York Times article does not provide all the specifications for the products, so to be fair, I do not have all the facts on this project. If anyone associated with this project can answer the question, I would be willing to post the answer here. Are the woods selected in this project FSC certified as harvested from a “well-managed” forest?

WHAT LENGTH'S WOULD YOU GO...
to own a wood product that is on the endangered list?

Brazilian Rosewood timber has been harvested since colonial times for high-quality furniture and musical instruments. Rates of deforestation are great. Regeneration appears to be poor, possibly because of seed predation by rodents. Source: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/32985

Factoid: Brazilian rosewood became famous in 1921 as an ingredient in Chanel No. 5 and continues to be harvested (often illegally and unsustainably) for fragrances, flooring, furniture, and musical instruments.
reference: Sustainable Development in the Brazilian Amazon: A Tale of Two Community-Based Organizations by Robert C. Tatum1,2 Department of Economics University of North Carolina at Asheville

This newly constructed McMansion Malibu digs featured in the New York Times article is of course, exquisite, and a testament to what money can buy . This could have been an opportunity to promote sustainable design by selecting wood products that are not derived from rain forest destruction.

SHOPPING TRIPS.

We can do a better job at reducing the negative environmental impact with sustainable design selections.

The US is the second largest importer of tropical woods. Ouch! Not really an astounding fact, is it? I am not suggesting you throw out your grandmother's rosewood jewelry case or the buffet handed down to you from your mother. Exotic woods have always had a cache, a status symbol of wealth. It is up to Design/Build professionals for reversing this trend of unsustainable design/build construction practices and providing our clients sustainable alternatives.

MAKING RESPONSIBLE CHOICES. WHAT YOU CAN DO.

1. Avoid any wood product that you cannot identify as domestic and second growth.
2. For plywood, use domestic softwood plywood (pine and spruce) or hardwood plywood (maple, beech and birch).
   
3. Avoid tools with wooden handles unless they are oak, ash or hickory.
   
4. Buy used furniture or antiques.
   
5. Always ask if any tropical woods are independently certified, such as SmartWood™. These are okay to buy.
   

PEACE ON EARTH: INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW.
Ask for manufacturer literature that indicates their level of commitment to protecting our natural resources. Manufacturers are willing to step up their game. One example of responsible manufacturing is Caesarstone. Caesarstone's Eco Brochure shows the company's environmental commitment.

Look for cabinet manufacturers that have earned their certification in the groundbreaking Environmental Stewardship Program administered by the KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer's Association). This program was recently developed in 2006 and grants annual certification to those manufacturers who meet a stringent set of environmental criteria. The criteria, designed to promote the sustainability of natural resources, reduce waste, and to reward those companies who are going above and beyond in their efforts to reduce environmental impacts. The criteria is divided into the following five categories, which manufacturers are required to demonstrate their compliance.

1. Air Quality: Manufacturers must demonstrate their use of low formaldehyde containing raw materials. They must also demonstrate compliance with all local and federal hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) regulations.
2. Product Resource Management: Manufacturers must demonstrate their use of recycled and sustainable products.
3. Process Resource Management: Manufacturers must have active recycling and energy conservation programs in place.
4. Environmental Stewardship: Manufacturers must have a written environmental policy, as well as environmental management systems in place.
5. Community Relations: Manufacturer must demonstrate their involvement with the community through service or charitable organizations.

CONSERVATION IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.
Information is all around us. Resources abound. You can be informed. Another good source for further reading on conservation: Rainforest Alliance
Whatever you do, research your products before you buy. Look for the KCMA, FSC symbols as credible labels on your wood products.

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Can I add a garbage disposal to my farmhouse sink?

Over at The Daily Tubber they are discussing garbage disposals. Ok, so who really wants to talk about garbage disposals you may ask? But the truth of the matter is that the garbage disposal plays a large part in convenience and practicality in the kitchen.

I had a client call me saying the sink was vibrating something awful every time she used the garbage disposal in her stainless steel sink. Garbage disposals come in varying horse powers. Most households can get by just fine with 1/2 or 3/4 horse power. Could a heavy duty garbage disposal be too powerful for your sink? The torque of a powerful disposal can loosen the clamps that hold the sink in place. Check with your plumbing store and your plumber to make sure your garbage disposal will be compatible with your sink.

In the case of the vibrating sink, it turns out that the clamps that holds the sink in place came loose due to a garbage disposal that was too powerful and not compatible with her sink. She was able to replace the garbage disposal for another and has not had a problem since. Purchasing a garbage disposal based on highest price or the most horsepower is not the best way to judge it's value or compatibility with your sink.

Another cautionary note with garbage disposals is not to rush the job. Installing an under mount sink, granite tops and hooking up the plumbing all in the same day is a recipe for problems later. If it is done all in one day, chances are the weight of a heavy disposal will pull the sink away from the counter top eventually. The epoxy that bonds the sink needs to set for at least a day before the plumber comes in to hook up the garbage disposal and fixtures.

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Greystone Showhouse 2008

Shown here is the estate's principal stairway,
featuring marble stairs and hand-carved ballustrades.
(photo credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles Times, Sunday Home & Garden section announces the opening of the Veranda sponsored Greystone show house 2008.
To purchase tickets, go to www.BeverlyHillsGardenShowcase.Org

Magazine editor-at-large Carolyn Englefield, lined up 28 interior and landscape designers from Southern California and beyond -- a list that includes Martyn, Lawrence-Bullard, Suzanne Rheinstein, Windsor Smith, Rose Tarlow and David Phoenix. Englefield's directive: Create the feel of a Great Gatsby-style home taken into the 21st century." Her second request, perhaps even harder to fulfill: "Make it feel like a real home."

As an undergraduate at UCLA, I would steal away time between morning and afternoon classes, drive up the curvy streets in Beverly Hills to have a quiet moment in the gardens, study and daydream about the history of the Doheny Mansion. It was there, I would pullout my sketch book and study the architecture and dream about a career in design.

HISTORY OF GREYSTONE

Built in 1928 for the son of a prominent oil baron, majestic Greystone Mansion today is surrounded by 18.5 pastoral acres of lush, City-owned parkland. The former Doheny estate is now a registered historical landmark and serves as a stunning backdrop for cultural and educational activities, photo and commercial shoots, weddings and public events. Since 1965, when the property was leased to the American Film Institute, Greystone has had feature roles in many famous movies.

Visitors are invited to stroll through two public areas on the grounds—the beautifully maintained formal gardens with their centerpiece fountain, and the pool and inner courtyard area.

PHOTOS FROM THE LA TIMES. For more photos visit: Greystone show house 2008.

Appliances by Dacor and cabinets and countertops by Acquisitions
fill the family kitchen by Veranda.
(photo credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Detail of the carved hood.


Pictures from past events at Greystone.
Notice the kitchen transformed from a past Design House.
The lights and wall cabinets are original to the home. It appears the floor, paint, island, appliances and base cabinets have been changed from each Design House.

During my college years, the reflecting pond was one of my favorite areas to sit, although not as lusciously appointed as shown in this photo. Peel me a grape!

For a history of Greystone please visit Friends of Greystone Mansion.

The Beverly Hills house will be open through Nov. 16, and admission is $30. For more photos click in the above link to the LA Times.

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Tile Murals

Imagine being able to transfer any image onto marble, ceramic and glass tile to create tile murals?

Alicia Tapp Designs is very excited & proud to announce

the availability of art from

Contemporary & Award Winning Artists and Photographers

in a variety of themes and techniques~ from Tuscany landscapes to

Renaissance and spiritual paintings to be transferred onto your choice of

marble, ceramic and glass tiles. ..Indoors or Outdoors

Whether your project is indoors or out, ( kitchen back splash, floors, counter tops, patio or pools),there are innumerable ways to customize your design.

Alicia Tapp Designs offers unlimited ideas on their web site. AliciaTappDesigns.com

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Red Hot and Sizzle

What comes with the territory of designing kitchen and bath projects is the desire to punch it up with every new design. A new detail, a color, a new style. What makes a design special? A design aesthetic that carries all the way through. One that fits the style of the home. Proceed cautiously if your style leans towards the eclectic side. Learning to play up one style requires restraint. Restaint by carefully selecting materials that are in scale for the space, finishes that lend to the design, not detract from the overall effect. Adding too many elements or elements from a different theme makes for confusion.

Here are some of my favorite details from across the board. Inspired by color, asian elements, modern elements, and traditional elegance but never all at once. What do they all share? Restraint. Restraint, when balanced with the right balance of texture, scale, and tone is never boring. I love them all. Do you have a favorite?

From a favorite web site of mine: Green Tea Design. a Mizuya Island and Mizuya Counter with beautifully finished concrete countertops, a Maru Table, Dana Shelf, and some Antique Benches.

This sexy kitchen exudes style. It is a hip update to a 50's home. Designed by a fellow NKBA Member and friend, Ronni Fryman from Kitchen Places, Ventura, CA.

A balance mix of materials. Everyone loves a painted kitchen. This one exudes luscious elegance.
Flamed finished matte counters for the island with black distressed cabinets balances the bling of the chandelier and stately height of the white cabinets. This one, yours truly picked the colors and consulted on the layout for a friend of mine.

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The Power of Restaint

Here is a picture I have added to my clip board of my favorite kitchens right now. I have the one from the magazine on my clip board in my office since April. It is getting a little tattered. I found more photos of it on line for you at House Beautiful. Designed by Suzanne Kasler, photographed for House Beautiful, April 2008. For more gorgeous views of this Normandy styled home please visit the link here to House Beautiful. It is wonderful to dream of having a new kitchen, isn't it? If I could own more then one home, I know what style kitchens would be in my dream homes, what would yours be?

If money were no object,
wouldn't it be a dream to maintain at least three homes?
Each would have a theme of it's own
My three dream homes:
(1) would be in a quaint beach community with views of the ocean and have an herb garden outside my kitchen door. It would be a cottage styled painted kitchen. Easy access to the outdoors. It would be a Green Built home, energy efficient and chemical free. I could bike ride to the weekly farmers market. I see this dream cottage on a hillside in Pacific Palisades.

(2) would be located in a luxury high rise building. Dark cabinets, high gloss off white Silestone or Caesarstone counter tops, glass tile back splash. Simple, small and modern. Located in Las Vegas, like the Turnberry Luxury Apts. at the MGM or a hip and modern loft in New York City. It would be my weekend escape to shop, catch a show and enjoy the nightlife.

(3) My third home has got to be in Sedona, Arizona. The kitchen would have cool adobe walls, simplicity of materials, rustic woods, an ancient kitchen table instead of an island in the kitchen. A gorgeous view of the mountains for tranquility and a place to paint would be all I would need.

What I like about this kitchen is the restraint of color. It is friendly and time worn. (Somewhat, read below for my comment on the sisal rug). Off white cabinets, white dinner ware, plaster hood, white tile splash, Bone white paint by Benjamin Moore. This is classic and I can't see this ever going out of style.

What works so beautifully in this kitchen is the restrained use of color. The boldest use of color comes from the tangerine color of the tulips. The formality of the Louis XV chairs dressed down in Donghia's relaxed linen fabric in storm, against the rustic antique farm table adds life and warmth to the neutral palette. Silver leaf chandelier by Niermann Weeks.

The counters look to be made of limestone, although honed Caesarstone could be used in place, for easier maintenance. Grey Herringbone Sisal area rug on the floor; well that is the only item I fear will be an agitation. Tripping over it, staining it, I am afraid that would drive me crazy trying to keep it clean. I would stain the hardwood floors slightly darker and leave it at that. I love this kitchen.

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It is easier finding green building materials, wish the same was true for cheap gas.

It used to be finding earth-friendly, energy efficient products was harder to source out. Now, there is a buffet of green options before us. The options are within our reach; energy efficient; recycled content; fsc certified wood products are easier to find and closer to home. See the latest articles and products shown in ECOHOME.
While we have freedom of choice to order the best, most energy efficient and eco-friendly products. The disparity of choice has never hit us harder than it has with the cost of gas.
As I waited at the freeway off-ramp to get home tonight, several thoughts came to mind. The insane price of gas at close to $4.50 per gallon makes me extremely grateful that I live less than five miles away from work. Others don't have it so easy. Commuting to Los Angeles and the surrounding cities in grid-lock traffic is a way of life for many. 50 to 60 mile round trips are common travel distances for Southern California suburbanites. People I talk to everyday are telling me they are rethinking how they are getting around. The wait lists for carpools is increasing. Others have to rethink sales trips to the city. My vendors are faxing notices that they are forced to add fuel surcharges to our orders to offset the cost of delivery.

All around me, I am witnessing people adapting. Water rationing is another thing we need to be aware of here in California as we face news of an impending drought. As I sat there idling at the jammed offramp I noticed a rider on a new motorcycle in the lane next to me. I quickly took note of the new bike and the fact that the rider was a women. I wondered, did she trade in her SUV for the motorbike? Would she have purchased that bike if it wasn't for the crazy cost of gasoline?

We live one city away from the agricultural farm lands and another unusual trend is coming about. There is a long stretch of farm land from Camarillo to Ventura where the strawberry, lettuce, avocado and orange crops are grown. Commuters are trading in the gas hogs and the farm laborers are buying these these newer and bigger SUV's and trucks because the prices of these vehicles are becoming more affordable.
So what does this mean to us? Adapting to the changing times is a way of life. The choice to go green will be the new desired trend. Remember when real estate ads read "gourmet kitchens with all new stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops" were all the rage?

I predict in five years from now, it will be the norm to see real estate ads describe homes for sale as "green built, energy efficient homes". Energy robbing appliances, single pane windows, non-low VOC paints and particle board cabinets will drive the cost of homes down, while installing the more expensive energy efficient building materials will bring a higher return on investment.

Now, you are probably wondering about the symbols above. Maybe you have seen some before. Do you want to know what they mean:
Here you go, read on. Next time you come across one of these symbols, you will know what they mean.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments at all levels to "green" the production and purchasing chain.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that certifies sustainable businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods. USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education, and its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.

The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security.

For businesspeople focused on evaluating, selecting and manufacturing environmentally preferable wood and paper products, Metafore is a source of tools, information and innovative thinking.

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Beautiful sinks

More beautiful kitchen sinks.

Enjoy!

What strikes me the most about this sink and counter is the rustic appeal of the concrete against the glossy cast iron sink. A mix of materials-Beautiful.

The concrete countertops were cast in place and finished with an acrylic sealer and a special wax. To maintain the patina, they're rewaxed about every two months.

As seen in House Beautiful.

French country style with the farmhouse sink is the cleanup and storage area, where dishes are kept. House Beautiful.

Ann Sacks's Zeus sink with an antique copper patina is paired with Kohler's Vinnata faucet in Vibrant Brazen Bronze. From House Beautiful. Click here.

Bucks County Soapstone makes the old-fashioned farmhouse sink with a canted front and a little dip in the rim, as if it had worn down over the years. Perrin & Rowe faucet for Rohl.

Franke's Manor House apron-front sink in stainless steel puts an industrial spin on the country look. As seen in House Beautiful.

A duo with creative details. The Farmhouse sinks and Julia faucets are from Waterworks. The counter top is made of two 3/4 inch slabs of Calacatta Oro marble put together, for extra thickness, then topped with a third layer in back. As seen in House Beautiful.

French Country in Darien, Connecticut. Click here for House Beautiful article.

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