Patina is a natural aging that adds beauty and character. Patina on wood can appear as wear marks—think of stair treads that have indentations from where family members have gone up and down. Each mark is nostalgic and can tell the story of Christmas mornings sneaking down the stairs and running back up with joyous treasures. The same is true for handrails, banisters, door handles, flooring, tabletops, and countertops. Many religions believe in “touching icons” made of bronze or metal. These items are touched and rubbed so much that the finish is noticeably worn, indicating its truly cherished status. In China, the appearance of “oldness” can contribute to the concept that stone can be elegant. In Japan, patina is viewed as an impression of antiquity and is highly valued.
All materials show signs of use and change that alter their appearance over time. These significant indicators are treasured reminders of the passage of time and that nothing is truly constant. Natural stone is no exception.
some things get better with age.
Western cultures may not be as forgiving but patina can be viewed as part of the beauty of time, which is why many manmade surfacing materials today actually mimic the aging process in their finishes using photographic techniques. Marble’s popularity began in ancient Rome and Greece, where white and off-white marble was used in art and architecture by the world’s greatest designers. From Michelangelo’s David to the Taj Mahal to courtyards and cathedrals, marble has been the stone of choice for centuries. Marble’s elegant movement and distinctive veins are prized to this day, when its patina only adds to its appreciated beauty.
Patina versus Perfect: choosing a stone surface for you home
Patina is inevitable on all natural stone surfaces. Setting your expectations for future visual effects at the onset of your natural stone surface selection process is just as important as the regular maintenance involved to keep the patina at the state you enjoy.
For example, if you want your countertops to look like they were installed yesterday, polished white marble might not be your best decision. But if you love strong veining, classic upscale looks, andyou’re aware that lemon and other acidic ingredients can leave etch marks, go ahead and take the plunge with a marble countertop.
Patina on stone—see if you can learn to love it.
Patina on your countertop surface, not your thing?
Let’s say you love the look of stone but equate a scratch or stain with neglect or mistreatment. There’s a countertop surface for you, thanks to today’s technology. Many engineered surfaces are impervious to stains, scratch-resistant, and super durable, but maybe, most importantly, they’re beautiful and can look stunning as your kitchen or bathroom countertop. Porcelain slabs are a perfect example of beauty and functionality. These slabs are made of clay that’s been fired at high temperatures, and imprinted with a hyper-realistic photo of actual stone (using an ultra-high-definition inkjet printer).
Care and maintenance of your investments.
Stone care: Holding back the signs of age.Yes. Natural stone slabs require sealing. And because marble is sensitive to acids, you’ll need to use a cutting board religiously and wipe away tomato sauce and lemon juice pronto. But over the years, marble develops a patina—which is part of its charm and the beauty of it. And sealing your marble is a DIY project that doesn’t take much time.
Natural stone care tips (marble, granite, quartzite).
Use a neutral cleaner or mild soap with warm water and a non-abrasive cloth for daily cleaning.
Avoid using vinegar, lemon, or other acid-based cleaners such as bathroom cleaners and tub and tile cleaners.
Use coasters, trivets and mats under hot items or items that can scratch the stone.
Minimize soap scum near sinks or on shower walls by regularly using a squeegee.
Re-seal granite and quartzite surfaces yearly and more porous stones every 8 months. (Noticeable water spots at the sink faucet on kitchen and bathroom countertops is a sign your surface is ready for re-sealing.)
Engineered stone care tips.
Pental Quartz® is scratch resistant, stain-resistant, and heat-resistant up to 250° F. Honed surfaces may show fingerprints and other signs of daily living more easily than polished surfaces, so more frequent maintenance according to the below techniques may be required.
Use a cloth or sponge with mild soap and warm water for daily cleaning. Rinse soap thoroughly to remove soap residue which can affect the appearance of the surface.
Clean spills immediately and rinse surface thoroughly with water.
Remove stubborn spots using a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge with a mild and neutral cleaner along with plenty of water.
Avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach cleaners on the surface.
Never cut or chop directly on quartz. Pental Quartz® is scratch resistant but not scratch proof.
Use a hot pad or trivet between hot pans or plates and the surface. Direct contact with extremely high heat can cause damage (such as with crock pots, electric skillets, etc.).
Porcelain care tips:
Porcelain touts resistance to scratches, acid, impacts and fire. It is also waterproof. Regardless of these properties, like all other surfaces, it is recommended that highly staining products like coffee and red wine are cleaned immediately.
Use a damp microfiber cloth or soft sponge and neutral liquid detergent for daily cleaning.
Stubborn stains may be removed using a low-abrasion sponge and neutral cleaner.
Do not use steel scouring pads for stains or cleaning.
Substances such as oven cleaners, acids or dyes must be removed immediately by washing the surface with water.
It is recommended to use hot mats and trivets under hot pans though the product offers great resistance to heat.
Use chopping boards when cutting, as ceramic knives can scratch the surface.
Appreciating stone’s beautiful compositions: Viewing stone choices at IRG.
IRG’s immense in-stock selection of natural and engineered stone slabs offers you the perfect opportunity to compare and contrast full slab options for your home. Keep your mind open to all surfaces, but be educated, not afraid. The IRG stone experts can guide you through your decision-making process to find the perfect solution for your life, your lifestyle, and your budget.
If you need a natural stone surfacing material whose beauty will lift your spirits, color it with IRG’s Ijen Blue Quartzite. This stunning and unique surface is mysterious, and magical.
1. Why is Ijen Blue Quartzite so unique?
The gossamer, thread-like veining in Ijen Blue weaves dark blue, gold, and white strands into a mesmerizing pattern. Add its gorgeous blue background and this quartzite will quickly draw you into its depths, adding a hypnotic calm to your day.
2. Where can Ijen Blue Quartzite be used?
Ijen Blue comes from the quarries of Brazil and makes a showstopping wall, fireplace, kitchen island or counter and backsplash combination. Best used where it can star as a dominant feature in the room, this quartzite is a good choice for modern, minimalist designs — but book-matching slabs for waterfall islands or shower walls is a powerful way to add drama.
3. How do I care for this Quartzite?
Quartzite is heat- and stain-resistant, making it a very durable and practical material. It can be used on a spectacular waterfall kitchen counter or a minimalist installation in a modern home design. Proper sealing will keep out moisture and bacteria while retaining its magnificent appearance.
4. Where can I find Ijen Blue Quartzite?
No one has a better selection of in-stock Quartzite slabs than IRG. Visit an IRG showroom near you (conveniently located in Brisbane, Dublin, and Sacramento) and IRG’s staff of surface experts can guide you through your selection. Schedule an appointment today.
These days, consumers are generally familiar with quartz, granite, marble and even quartzite countertops; but soapstone remains one of the more elusive surfaces in homeowners’ eyes. Soapstone has been quarried and used throughout the world for centuries, but there is recently renewed interest in using this material from designers and homeowners alike.
IRG’s Soapstone is a unique and long-lasting countertop choice. Read on to learn why this material is fast becoming a go-to surface for working gourmet kitchens and rustic homes.
1. non-porous and stain resistant.
Soapstone is extremely dense – even more so than granite or quartzite. Unlike other natural stone, acids and spilled liquids do not penetrate the surface. That means no stains! But be careful not to confuse density with hardness. While denser and unsusceptible to staining, soapstone is softer than granite and quartzite so it can scratch more easily. That hasn’t stopped extensive use of this impervious surface in laboratories and science classrooms as sinks, flooring and work surfaces.
2. It Takes the HEat!
Any natural stone will fare better with heat than engineered quartz (which contains resin), but using trivets under hot items on marble and granite is still wise. On the other hand, soapstone is the most heat-friendly natural stone. Traditionally used for colonial fireplace hearths and wood stoves, soapstone absorbs, holds, and radiates heat extremely well. So go right ahead and place hot pots from the stove or baking trays from the oven directly on your soapstone countertops!
3. Low-Maintenance.
If soapstone’s impervious and heat-absorbent qualities weren’t enough, the material doesn’t require any long-term maintenance. No yearly sealing or special cleaning rituals required: a simple wipe of soapy water suffices as regular cleaner.
Soapstone countertops will never fade with direct sunlight, but some homeowners choose to evenly darken the natural color with wax or mineral oil. If you do enhance the surface, there will inevitably be some follow-up waxing or oiling involved.
4. An Organic and Rustic Look.
The naturally-occurring patina on soapstone adds to its earthy and organic look. Soapstone works tremendously well in rustic spaces with wood elements, making it a wonderful inclusion in farmhouse kitchens and mountain homes. Even when enhanced with oil or wax, dark soapstone countertops with veining meld beautifully in nature-inspired spaces.
5. It’s Versatile.
Besides traditional kitchen countertops, soapstone is now being used in pizza ovens, outdoor kitchens, for architectural accents, thresholds and more. From country to contemporary, non-porous soapstone has a naturally lustrous silky soft feel. You will find slabs in dark greens and blues, from light grey to dark charcoal in color.
There is no better place to see and choose your own slab of soapstone than IRG. With vast California warehouses in Sacramento, Brisbane and Dublin, IRG’s stone experts can help you select the perfect soapstone for your space! Contact us to schedule your visit.
Today, we see cabinets in every imaginable color from bright yellow or white, warm browns, and cool blues, to dark black. Whatever you choose for your cabinet color, the right material and color of countertop can result in highlighting the best features of both. Don’t panic, it doesn’t have to be difficult to decide on the perfect combo. Here’s how to start:
Start with Your Home Itself.
The style of your home and your great room areas are factors playing a major role in your kitchen decisions. Is your style sleek and modern? Then a neutral palette inspired by nature with a splash of color might be appropriate. Casual, comfy country might call for blues and yellows or greens. Fun, fantastic bohemian space more your style? Then the sky’s the limit for your color palette choices
Go to your local bookstore, look through, and then buy, home design magazines with styles that appeal to you. Pay attention to the colors in the photos and see if they fit with your home style.
Pick a Palette and Go in Style.
We’ve written about choosing colors for areas in your home based on the feel and effect you’re wanting to achieve; calming, exciting, motivating, etc. Your kitchen is no exception.
The kitchen is often the central meeting place to socialize while prepping and enjoying meals or entertaining. The easiest color starting point is to choose two main colors, based on the mood you want to set, and then add touches of a third to set your own design tone. For example, start with a main palette of black and white, then add in touches of light birch, highlights of gold and a splash of silver.
But don’t stop your investigation here.
Consider Color: The Best Match.
If you’re still daunted by color, you might look at a color wheel. A color wheel can help you develop a palette to choose from. You can pick and adjust colors based on color harmony rules. Here’s three to start with.
Complimentary Colors. These colors sit across from each other on the color wheel. As the name suggests, they complement each other, bringing out the best in each other.
Analogous Colors. These sit next to each other on the color wheel. They can share the same space just as comfortably in your kitchen. The result is a less contrasty more calming setting.
Neutral colors. These colors include, black, greys, whites, beiges, and brown tones. Neutrals are extremely popular in interior design right now. While not vibrant choices, these hues often form a safe background and starting point for entry into color decisions because you can change out you color scheme more easily with stronger color choices in accents and accessories.
Mix, match, compare, and contrast color. There’s plenty of online tools to help you visualize color choices. Here’s one of our favorites.
Cabinet or Counter: Which comes first?
We have good news on this choice: It doesn’t matter.
If you fall in love with a cabinet color or a countertop, just match it with the other. Understand, however, that not all cabinets go with all counter surfaces. For example, a white countertop with white cabinets might be too much of a good thing. The result can be, well, white. Instead of accenting the room, it can be one bland, monotonous room that doesn’t feel comfortable to live in.
Instead, you might select a cabinet color that you love, and look for a counter surface that has an accent of that color in its veining. For example, maybe you fell in love with white cabinets. Instead of white marble, which might look too sterile, maybe choose Black Moon Polished Marble, whose rich black will complement the cabinets and tie them together with the white veining.
There are many countertop choices, the most popular being natural stone, including marble, granite, quartzite, and soapstone. Engineered stone such as pental quartz or porcelain slabs are also choices many homeowners feel fit their needs. Occasionally consumers choose butcher block, stainless steel, or concrete for their countertop surfaces.
The most-used cabinet material is wood, with many styles to choose from, including open shelving.
If you’ve found a countertop surface that brings hearts to your eyes, hold a photo of that cabinet style (or better yet, get a sample door panel) against it to consider the effect of the combo. Likewise, an existing set of cabinets may be your starting point, consider that many can be successfully painted, modified, or totally changed out.
Color Counterpoints.
Sometimes, seeing is believing, so here are some well-chosen examples:
Warm-toned wood cabinets get extra oomph from a frosty white quartz or quartzite.Beautiful blue marbles are a luxurious choice with cherry woods or dark walnuts.Obviously wood grained cupboards pair well with blues and greens in granite, marble, or quartzite.Reddish oak shelving makes richly veined marble stand out even more stronglyDeep charcoal or very dark brown countertops can be enhanced with creamy colored cabinets.
And then there’s the New Countersplash!
Thanks to the new and soaring interest in natural stone slabs, a technique has emerged using the same slab material on the backsplash area as the counter itself. This flowing look has given birth to a new term in the design world: Countersplash. When well matched, the look is a modern, seamless take on traditional backsplash treatments—very in and very worth a look.
When You’re Ready.
When you’ve thought it through and you’re ready, let IRG help you choose the right surface for the cabinets that you want. IRG’s experienced staff can give you the personal attention you need to make that choice from an unsurpassed in-stock selection of natural and engineered stone.
With a creamy background and subtle veining resembling marble, IRG’s Mont Blanc Quartzite adds luxury and value to your home immediately upon installation. Unlike marble, however, this lovely Brazilian surfacing material offers practicality as well: it’s classic, versatile, and durable when properly sealed and maintained.
As with many light colored quartzites, your fabricator should pay special attention to sealing during the fabrication process of Mont Blanc and we encourage you to speak with your fabricator before selecting your slab.
IRG’s Mont Blanc Quartzite is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing. Use this material on countertops, countersplashes, kitchens, bars, and fireplaces. It also pairs well with a variety of cabinet colors and woods, and blends effortlessly with many design styles, although it is most popular today in clean, less-rustic applications.
3. How do I care for MONT BLANC QUARTZITE?
Quartzite is heat- and stain-resistant, making it a very durable and practical material. That’s why you can use it on everything from a spectacular waterfall kitchen counter to a minimalist installation. And remember, we highly recommend proper sealing on an 8-month to annual basis to keep out the moisture and bacteria while retaining its magnificent appearance.
4. Where can I find MONT BLANC QUARTZITE?
No one has a better selection of in-stock Quartzite slabs than IRG. Visit an IRG showroom near you (conveniently located in Brisbane, Dublin, and Sacramento) and IRG’s staff of surface experts can take you through Mont Blanc Quartzite’s performance guidelines while you view our inventory. Schedule an appointment today by calling (415) 657-0280.
Q: Why is this stone so unique? A: The intense colorations of Picasso Onyx make it not for the faint of heart; it’s prized for its extreme movement of brown, black, cream and gold swirls. Known as the “sexy” stone, Onyx is quite rare and considered to be a semi-precious stone.
Q: Where can this stone be used? A: Create your own masterpiece by lining the walls of your living room with this breathtaking stone using four book matched slabs. Or make a grand statement by mounting a framed slab over a minimalist fireplace. IRG’s Picasso Onyx truly reflects the art of opulence.
Q: How do I care for this stone? A: Calcereous stones such as Onyx require more maintenance due to their more porous composition. We recommend sealing and cleaning regularly. Onyx Is sensitive to scratching and any liquids should be wiped dry immediately. Keep these points in mind when deciding where to place your slab.
Q: Where can I find Picasso Onyx? A: Picasso Onyx is only one example of the vast in-stock inventory of Onyx slabs at IRG. Visit an IRG showroom near you (conveniently located in Brisbane, Dublin, and Sacramento) and IRG’s staff of surface experts can guide you through your selection. Schedule an appointment today.
The IRG Blog is your resource for stone product information, ideas and inspiration. Use our informational articles, project features, and product spotlights to help create your vision, then come into one of our showrooms to bring your ideas to life!
