People Improving Instead Of Moving, Census Shows

Earlier this month, the US Census Bureau released its latest findings from its population and trend surveys. The study, which chronicled geographical mobility between 2010 and 2011, found that this year marked the lowest incidence of house moving in the US since the Census began keeping track of population mobility in 1948.

This trend shows that people are choosing to stay in their homes longer, improving on their investments rather than moving to new homes. The US Census Bureau also found that kitchen remodels were the most popular home renovations, with homeowners adding everything from granite countertops and tile backsplashes to new cabinets and flooring.

While kitchens are most popular, the lack of mobility has people considering all rooms in their homes, taking their time making decisions and considering all material options before deciding. In states like Massachusetts and Michigan, contractors are reporting increases in sales, both in kitchen countertop work but in backsplashes, granite and marble fireplaces and new flooring.

When visiting family this holiday season, take a look at the countertops for ideas on how you might be able to improve your kitchen without extending the cost of an entire remodel. A simple countertop or backsplash could put you well on your way to the kitchen you have always wanted without packing up and moving.

Granite Countertops: The Christmas Gift That Keeps On Giving

While the ultimate low-ball Christmas gift for naughty little boys and girls has traditionally been a lump of coal, another type of compressed stone may actually make the perfect holiday present. But this one is only for adults who have been really good all year long. From a simple slab of rock comes granite countertops, the gift that keeps on giving.


A New Kitchen For Less: Number one on most homeowner wish lists is a new kitchen. As the epicenter for food, fun and family, a new kitchen can often be seen as the command center for your homebody harmony. But while a new kitchen may feel like a great investment in the short run, a new study shows that smaller investments like granite countertops or backsplashes may be a safer bet. Remodeling Magazine released their annual Cost versus Value survey this month, finding that homeowners in 2011 only picked up 58 cents in home equity on their remodeling dollar. The survey also found that smaller projects like replacing the front door or putting in new finishes did slightly better, earning 64 percent of their costs back in resale value, Reuters reported earlier this month.


The Hostess With The Mostest: While many are content to show up at a relative's house grab a drink and watch football this holiday, others can't wait to host their own holiday feast. With granite or marble countertop additions, homes create the additional counter and food prep space necessary to make all the best parts of a holiday feast. Mash potatoes, bake pies and stuff turkeys with abandon with extra counter space, more durable counter materials and easy-to-clean prep areas that make granite a popular choice for chefs and hostesses alike.


A Perfect Match: For homeowners with modern, open kitchens looking to increase home décor, redecorate adjacent rooms and connect common areas with popular color schemes, adding the more versatile, colorful patterns of granite can help tie your decorating schemes together. The sweeping bands of color in an onyx counter or the deep greens and natural browns in a granite or marble counter can blend your kitchen into the dining room or family room off the kitchen, allowing you to incorporate new paint colors, pillows and other beautiful home décor items are on your Christmas list this year. This more natural look is sure to match any décor, especially the deep greens and browns of a Christmas tree. This is one compressed stone you will not be upset to get in your stocking.

Designing a Focal Point for Your Kitchen with a Glass Tile Backsplash

The recent U.S. Remodeling Sentiment Report has shown an increase of 13% in homeowners who will be remodeling their home. Over the past few years the most popular home remodeling projects have been kitchen and bathrooms. It's also the perfect time for homeowners to remodel, with costs dropping nearly 20% since 2006. 48% of the participants from the survey stated they were remodeling their kitchens this coming year.

There are a number of popular trends that homeowners have preferred for remodeling. Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances are two of the more popular remodeling features homeowners are remodeling with. There has also been a significant amount of attention given to unique backsplash designs, which help to set off cooking and countertop spaces.

Taking the time to focus on your backsplash design without rushing through the remodeling project is important. Following a mosaic pattern, using tile or glass tile for creating your backsplash are ways to help and create a focal point in your kitchen. Glass tile backsplashes offer various colors and patterns that are easy to work with in almost any kitchen.

Glass tile is as functional as it is beautiful for designing your kitchen backsplash. For chefs and cooking novices who make a mess, a simple cleaning spray and paper towel are all you need to wipe down your backsplash and keep it looking clean. Glass tile comes in a multitude of colors, so if you are looking for an accent to compliment your paint choice or you're going for a reserved yet stylish look, glass tile backsplashes are the perfect choice.

Don't neglect to take time considering how to design your kitchen with an attractive looking backsplash. Your backsplash can become the eye catching focal point for you kitchen space.

Granite countertops vs. marble countertops: which is right for you?

At Discounted Granite, we offer consumers a number of attractive kitchen countertop options, and in many cases, it comes down to a tough choice between granite countertops and marble countertops. Both are natural materials with an elegant appearance. Either choice fits well in nearly any style of kitchen, but each option also has its advantages.

Granite is a material formed long ago deep inside of the earth, when liquid magma made its way underground, slowly cooling and crystallizing. That process is what gave granite the unique and elegant look that so many homeowners desire for their kitchens today. Not only does it look nice, but granite is an extremely tough material, making it ideal for a kitchen countertop. A granite countertop is sure to withstand the inevitable day-to-day beatings in the kitchen from pots, pans, and utensils.

Marble is equally if not more beautiful than granite, but not quite as hard. Its distinctive look comes from thousands of years being subjected to pressure and heat, and its flexibility make it perfect for building. It won't withstand as much as granite, but regardless, it is still the preferred choice of many customers because of its sophisticated appearance. In many cases, a marble countertop is the perfect finishing touch in a well-designed kitchen, as it's hard for another material to compete with the dazzling sheen of a polished marble countertop.

In our opinion, both materials are great choices, so you really can't go wrong. If you are looking for a natural material, chances are you'll end up selecting one or the other – granite or marble – when it comes time to pick a countertop. Feel free to contact us at any time for help creating your dream kitchen, whether it is with a granite countertop, marble countertop, or something else entirely!

Backsplashes a rising kitchen trend

Once an afterthought, backsplashes are becoming a focal centerpiece of many kitchens. According to HGTV – the television and magazine home and decorating authority – backsplashes are an increasingly popular way to spice things up in the kitchen and are now getting the attention they deserve. In the past, backsplashes were an often overlooked kitchen component, but today, homeowners are turning to backsplashes to give their kitchen that modern and elegant look that many desire.

The key to transforming your kitchen from dreary to delightful could be as simple as installing a tile backsplash. Not only will it protect your kitchen's walls, but a backsplash will considerably brighten up your kitchen – and that's a good thing.

This Old House, widely recognized as America's most trusted home improvement brand, recently designated "colorful" as a top-five in kitchen trends. One of the easiest ways to increase the color in your kitchen and make sure you are on the cutting edge of kitchen design is by setting up a glass tile backsplash.

A glass tile backsplash is easy to clean, so it will undoubtedly perform as backsplashes are intended to, but it can also add plenty of flair to your kitchen. If you are after that look you always see as you page through the latest home design magazines, a glass tile backsplash is definitely something to consider. With an array of beautiful colors to choose from and nearly endless design patterns and options, you can be sure that a glass tile backsplash will fit right in to your kitchen, making it the envy of your neighbors.

Times are changing, and according to some of the most respected kitchen connoisseurs, bright and colorful is the way to go. What better choice than a glass tile backsplash?

Granite Countertops for Your Bathroom

From contractors to “do-it yourself” jobs, granite countertops have been one of the most popular choices for kitchen countertop installments. Many homeowners purchasing older homes or who haven't updated their kitchen in a decade or two typically have boring Formica. Replacing your countertops with granite is a way to enhance the beauty and value of your home.

Granite isn't only a popular choice for kitchen countertops, but it works exceptionally well in bathrooms as well. There are a number of reasons why granite works great for countertops. Granite looks aesthetically appealing, is extremely durable, it will increase the value of your home and no two pieces of granite look exactly alike, giving your countertop a unique look.

Bathroom countertops experience a lot of “wear and tear”. Because your countertops get frequent use from brushes, water, soaps, hair dryers and the list continues, it's a smart idea to install a countertop material that can withstand potential scratching, staining and chipping. Granite is a hard stone that is tough to scratch or chip and when sealed properly, is also tough to stain.

Your bathroom can be a place where you can go to relax by taking a warm bath or shower. Designing a bathroom that offers a peaceful retreat, as well as being a functional space is important. Granite comes in many warm and unique colors, while providing the durability that your space requires. Installing granite countertops in your bathroom will help to create a space that is unique, provide a durable countertops solution and even increase the value of your home.

The Granite Fireplace: A Contemporary Look

The heart of a living space, for homes that have them, is the fireplace. Providing both warmth and light, there is something about a fireplace that seems to brighten up the dreariest of days. The “hallmark” look fireplace has the old brick hearth with a wood log burning and an oversized mantle adorned with decorations, a look that's great for many old colonial homes and country design lovers. However, the brick and stone fireplace isn't always the contemporary designers delight. Today homeowners are choosing to install granite fireplaces and converting that old wood burner into a low maintenance gas burning fireplace.

Homeowners have been updating their kitchens with granite countertops because of the stones durability and beauty. Granite also helps add to the value of your home. Not only because of it's durability, but granite is also available in many colors and patterns, which makes it a great material for refacing your old fireplace with. There are many benefits to installing granite to reface your fireplace.

Some of the benefits of using granite are:

• It's durable- Hot objects such as pots or fryer won't burn or leave char marks on it. So when a spark might land on the hearth from the fire, it won't burn. It's also very hard to scratch granite. Granite is harder than knives and tongs, so you won't have to worry about damaging it.

• Easy to maintain- You only need to seal granite once a year in order to make sure it's properly protected. Once sealed, it's hard to take or scratch the sealant off of granite. Granite is often guaranteed to last a lifetime. The stone is also very easy to clean.

• Uniqueness- Each granite countertop slab is different from the rest. Though there are granite slabs of the same color, many vary in pattern, shading and veins. Your granite is unique just like your home. It looks great with both traditional and modern designs.

Whether you are refacing or installing a fireplace in your home, granite is a great stone to give your home an amazing look. Granite looks great in both traditional and modern design homes. You'll be pleased with the value, look and durability of your granite fireplace.