Some Ideas to Consider …

  • Guidelines for Selecting White Marble Counters

    Are you a fan of Italian white marble counters? Italian white marble is one of the most popular countertop and backsplash choices in kitchens today, but, how much do most people really know about it? The gallery images below include a lovely kitchen with a marble countertop from our Country Club Homes, Inc. luxury home portfolio.

    Country Club Homes, Inc. recently uncovered an excellent Cultivate.com article about Italian white marble, with some very interesting and useful guidelines to guide kitchen designers and homeowners through the selection process of Italian white marble for counters. Here are a few helpful facts from the article:

    The three primary types of white marble are Bianco Carrara, Statuary White, and Calacata; all quarried from the Carrara region of Northern Tuscany. All three are noted for their fine qualities of background whiteness and the color and movement of the veins.

    The article states that, “Each marble type has its own special qualities, and the simplest way to tell these materials apart is to use the “Background and Vein Color” rule.” The more expensive grades have the whiter and cleaner background and more evenly distributed veining. The demand for white marble far outstrips the supply. All are a product of nature and no two are alike.  Be sure to spend the time looking at the actual slabs, and once you find the one or ones that you like, mark it and don’t let it go.

    For other important details about the variations between Bianco Carrara, Statuary White, and Calacata marbles; and slab fabrication, read the rest of the Cultivate.com article – it’s interesting reading! If you are planning a new kitchen remodel, or a custom new home design; contact Country Club Homes, Inc. of Fairfield County, CT, for award winning architectural design expertise.

    Images via Cultivate.com and the Country Club Homes, Inc. Portfolio

  • Home Style of the Month: Shingle

    Making its mark between 1880-1900, particularly in New England coastal towns, the Shingle style of architecture is unmistakably American, with influences from Queen Anne and Colonial homes. Shingle style was never a mass building trend. The homes remained high style, architect driven projects, usually for wealthy families building a summer “cottage” home. The style has…

  • Solid Style: Ideas for a Stone Fireplace

    A natural in traditional and rustic homes, a stone fireplace is a solid focal point in any style interior, contributing warmth and character to a space. Multiple options for the size and shape of the fireplace, the type of stone used, and the earthy variations of the material make each stone fireplace truly distinct.  …

  • Fall in Love with Your Home: Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day

    We’re no experts on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other but we do know something about how to show love to your home using these romantic ideas. February is a wonderful opportunity to create a spirit of joy in your environment by focusing on the senses romance inspires. Sight: If January didn’t…

  • A Bright Winter: Lighting Design for Your Home

    During the season of shorter days, the lighting design in your home more strongly influences mood. We all spend more time at home during the winter months and lighting can help us feel comfortable, warm and optimistic even on the coldest days. First, there’s natural light. Allowing as much natural light into your home as…