solids, swirls, dots. You will look at it every day. If your countertop is 100 inches long and the slab is only 80 inches long, you will have a seam. Take your time. Other than choosing the right type of stone for your project, color is important. Go with the look and color you love. These will last many life times with heavy use in your kitchen.. If you have a smaller kitchen, a dark stone may make your kitchen appear smaller. A 3/4 inch stone is best suited for vertical wall applications and fireplace surrounds while 1 1/4 is preferable for countertops. This matted surface does take a little more maintenance and care and it's more susceptible to stains and aluminum markings. Look at the different patterns. There are so many to choose from, you're bound to find one that's totally you.. If you stone cutter don't like a shiny look, a honed finish may be for you. Granite and soapstone are both very durable natural stones and work wonderful for kitchen countertops. But, lighter stones are more apt to stain and they need to be sealed more frequently.How do you know which stone is the best stone? Before heading to the showroom to pick out your stone, consider these things to make sure you get the best stone for you. A flamed or brushed finish still has a shine but it is more dimpled or rough to the touch giving your stone a natural look. Since stone is a natural product, there is no such thing as "one size fits all". Ask your fabricator about the pros and cons of different finishes for your project before heading out to look at stone. These stones, as well as travertine are best saved for lighter trafficked areas. Do you like dark stones? The darker stones tend to be harder, and shinier with less chance of staining or discoloring. They also need to be sealed less frequently, if even at all! But, they tend to show fingerprints and dust more readily. Dust and fingerprints aren't so apparent. Is the stone right for your project? While onyx and marbles are quite beautiful with their translucent colors, bright whites, and stone edge polishing machine intense swirls and markings, think twice if you are putting in kitchen countertops. How do you choose a color or narrow it down? Look at color charts and samples to get a feel for what you like. Think about how you will use the stone. If you love the look of lighter colored stones, they will expand a small room and make it seem larger.
. With this information in hand, you're off to the stone yard/ showroom. Then, make the appropriate selection. When you're out and about, pay attention to what others have done with color. This finish isn't a great choice for countertops because of the textured surface. If you love to cook or have children, this isn't the best of combinations. Have you thought about your surface finish? I prefer polished for its shine, ease of care, and maintenance but I know it's not for everyone. Slabs of different stones come in many different sizes. Do you know what size slabs you want or need? This is so you are able to minimize your seams. Think about the thickness of your stone. Once you know the type of stone you are going to use, narrow down your color preferences. Think about what color makes you feel good. Your fabricator will tell you how much stone you need, as in how many slabs. It will be harder to clean