The Best Stone for Your Kitchen Floor

The kitchen is the heart of any home. Whether family or guests, your kitchen is bound to be used and seen in different events and gatherings.  In consequence, it can also turn into the messiest room in a matter of hours. There are different types of stones you can choose from to keep your kitchen floor gorgeous and convenient at the same time. Opustone provides a variety of products that will help your kitchen remain flawless when it’s not used and an easy area to clean when it’s in the caught in the storm. To help you chose your perfect kitchen flooring look in your design, here are some suggestions to consider.

Travertine

Travertine is a gorgeous option to have in your kitchen.  Many put it as a counter-top, but many now include the timeless stone as a kitchen floor. The stone is greatfor kitchen use because of its warming look, durability and charm. The natural design in travertine adds a boost of modernity to your kitchen with its colors, patterns and gradations. The floor is perfect for anybody who is looking for a Tuscan inspired design. The only disadvantage about travertine is that it is sensitive to acidic foods and drinks. However, it is easy to clean so no damage will be permanently caused if something does fall on it. Travertine also ages beautiful, so you will have a timeless look that will only improve as the years pass by.

Limestone

Not only is limestone a great option if you are looking for an earthy, neutral look, but it is one of the most low-maintenance stones you can have include in your designs. Limestone was a popular stone during the medieval periods for its rugged, tough stature so it can, most likely, withstand any form of cooking project you go on. It is one of the most durable stones you can place as a floor and will not disappoint in its look. The stone is ideal for homes that are in hot areas like South Florida, for the stone is naturally cool, a great attribute to have in your floor while you are using the stone during the warm, summer months.

Granite

Like limestone, granite is also one of the most durable stones you can have in your kitchen. It has a classy, modern touch and comes in more designs than limestone. Its surface is very hard to scratch and with basic cleaning, will maintain a pristine look that is sometimes hard to keep with other stones. You do not have to worry about acidic foods, juice, grease, oil or heavy objects like pots and pants, because the surface was created to withstand it. Don’t let the toughness fool you though, granite always has a polished, high-gloss look that catches the lights around your house that adds a sparkle in the design.

For any more of your kitchen flooring needs, do not hesitate to call Opustone at one of our three locations for the best suggestions and designs.

Noriata-limestone flooring with a Roma Imperiale- granite back wall.

Different Applications for Natural Stone

Whether in a residential or commercial setting, natural stone products—from Travertine to special gem lines like Antolini Precioustones—add a touch of uniqueness and distinction to any space. But you may not know that when making the choice to install natural stone, the purpose that the stone will be put to can actually play a major role in what you should select. Not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to make maintenance and care easier, certain types of natural stone simply perform better than others in certain settings. While this guide is far from exhaustive, it can give you an idea of what to pick—or what to suggest to someone who is making the decision to incorporate natural stone into their home or business.

Best Stones for Floors and Walls

There are many excellent choices for incorporating natural stone into floors and walls. For example, Travertine, with its (usually) warm color and almost hypnotic veining, is wonderful for floor and all applications. It is actually popular not only indoors, but as an outdoor material as well, since Travertine is naturally water “resistant,” due to the way that the stone is formed. Onyx is an excellent type of natural stone for accents and walls, though it can be somewhat delicate due to the way in which it is formed, so incorporating this material into building or renovation plans requires some thought. Quartzite and slate can also work well as flooring and wall materials, usually in tile form, but shaling can be an issue with slate; shaling is a condition where flakes or pieces of the material fall or break off of the tile or slab. There are a lot of great natural stone products that are perfectly suited to flooring and walls—but some do require more maintenance, which can drive up the cost for businesses.

Best Stones for Other Applications

In addition to floors and walls, many people use natural stone for purposes like countertops—in kitchens as well as bathrooms. Some natural stone types to a better job than others at these applications. Granite, for example, is marvelous for counter tops, and has long been considered the best possible choice for the kitchen in particular, where it’s cool temperature and hardness make it a favored choice for baking enthusiasts. While some like it for floors as well, it shines in decorative functions because the stone tends to have a complex and eye-catching pattern. While marble is sometimes favored for bathroom countertops, it is not always the best choice for the kitchen. Onyx is also a popular choice for specialty surfaces like vanity countertops. Like marble, limestone can work very well as a bathroom countertop material, though its porousness does not lend well to being used in the kitchen, where it can be easily stained.

Overall, the type of natural stone that works best for a particular space and project depends on a number of factors including individual taste and the way in which a room will be used. But there are some forms of natural stone that simply shine the most in particular applications—and that’s one factor to consider when making a selection for home or business.

A World of Color: Part One of Three

Cool vs. Warm Colors

What does color say about you? A lot.

When redesigning your home and incorporating natural stone, whether it is counter tops, patios or floor tiling, the color options are endless.

In the world of color there are three primary colors – red, blue and yellow, three secondary colors – purple, green and orange, and two neutral colors – black and white. Combined, this simple palette lends itself to an endless possibility of color in various hues, shades, intensities and tones.

Falling in love with color is easy, but it’s picking one that is perfect for you and your home that is a bit more difficult. Luckily there are a few insider tricks that may help you choose the color that suits your design best.

We’ll start with cool verses warm.

Many people want certain rooms in their homes to evoke a particular feeling or remind them of a special place – such as a beach-side retreat remnant of the refreshing blue waves crashing on the shore and the cool sea breeze rustling the sand or the calming solitude of a desert sunset vibrant with color and exuding a still, comforting warmth.

There are no doubt thousands of colors that can accomplish both of these destination illusions, but the key to narrowing the choices down by 50 percent is deciding if your room is cool or warm. Opustone can help you choose what color sensation is best for you and help you match the perfect product to your project.

Cool colors are based on blues, greens, pinks, purples, blue-greens, magentas, and blue-based reds. These colors are softer and often emulate the sky, ocean and shades of winter snow. Cool colors are soothing in nature. If you’re hoping that your design will blend into the background or act as a supporting theme in design, rather than a main focus, cool colors are the perfect choice as they tend to recede. They give an impression of calm and rarely overpower the main content of a design.

Opustone has several products that represent the cool color palate such as Malange which is a marble with a blend of unique pinks and purples, Titanium which is a travertine featuring cool blues and grays, and Silver Travertine which combines hints of bluish grays to create a subtle cooling look.

Warm colors are based on yellows, oranges, browns, yellowish greens, orangish reds, and similar colors. These colors radiate a genuine warmth that allude to fire, sunsets and rich earth tones. Warm colors are vivid in nature. They are bold, energetic and tend to advance in space. If you’re looking to make an element of your room pop, warm colors are the perfect tool to make that happen; though caution should be taken as to not overwhelm a room with these eye-catching hues.

Leave it to Opustone to set fire to stone with these radiating color blends – we suggest you check out Rojo Alicante a marble with vivid orange and red blends, Breccia Damascata Peach marble with warm peach hues throughout, and the shining Golden Rustic D/E Pattern travertine that yellow-ish gold glimmers.

Whether you’re looking to refinish the trim around your pool-side oasis or are trying to liven up a small, cold bathroom – the cool and warm rule of the thumb will certainly prove useful when selecting the color of your natural stone.

Opustone’s knowledgeable sales people are always available to help you choose the color that best suits your project. Stop in, or call today.

Value Vault is Featured in This Old House

Value Vault was recently featured in This Old House's magazine in a piece titled "24 products and professionals to make your house standout on your street." Below is an excerpt from the article:

Want granite counter tops on a laminate budget? Visit the online home of Opustone's clearance showroom in Miami and browse through a rotating stock of discounted stone slabs and remnants in varied colors and textures. With up to 50 percent off and special shipping rates with freight carriers for national delivery, you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. Just keep in mind that Opustone sells materials only, so you'll have to work with a local fabricator for any custom cuts, edge profiles and installation. A 68-by-92-inch slab of beige travertine was recently listed for $4 per square foot, down from $7; opustone.com

More Than 100,000 Square Feet of Inspiration

Where do you find your inspiration to create a masterpiece? Nature… the shower… a warehouse?

Opustone’s slab warehouse, at more than 100,000 square feet, features a nearly endless selection of the best slabs and tiles available in travertine, marble, granite, limestone, quartzite and onyx. The selection is large enough to spend several hours looking over the different options for your perfect stone match. Luckily, the knowledgeable and experienced Opustone staff will guide through the entire process with ease and assurance.

Once you find a possible match, you’ll experience one of the most impressive facets of the facility: Opustone’s crane system. It is specially designed to seek out your exact slab, carefully lift it and escort it to a designated viewing area so you can get up close and personal when making your selection.

The entire experience is designed to bring Opustone’s vast selection right to your fingertips making it very easy to find your inspiration.

Stop into our showroom and a friendly sales representative will help get you started in finding the perfect stone for your masterpiece.