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

  • Higher Light: Interior Transom Windows

    Transom windows are a lovely historical detail with an interesting history of practical purpose. Before the advent of air conditioning, transom windows were an innovative design feature that allowed for cross ventilation between rooms. Typically, transom windows could be opened and closed using a long metal rod. There were also styles that opened on a…

  • Chic Simplicity: A Black and White Bathroom

    The black and white bathroom is a design classic that always feels fresh. The simplicity of black and white allows for endless experimentation with color and texture to make your space feel distinct and memorable. The walls in a black and white bathroom are an interesting place to explore the use of patterned wallpaper, particularly…

  • Hot Ideas for the Hearth: Custom Fireplace Designs

    As autumn settles in, the age-old custom of gathering around a glowing fire becomes ever more appealing. The fireplace in your home can be a conversational centerpiece with the right application of design skill and imagination. Your fireplace should reflect the overall look and feel of your home, whether traditional, modern, or somewhere in between….

  • Empty-Nesters Purchase Cottage with Downsizing In Mind

    Interested in downsizing? A soon-to-be empty nester couple fell in love with this delightful cottage and purchased the home with downsizing in mind. As the renovation project started, it turned into a labor of love for the couple as they envisioned it as their beach-style retirement home. The small corner lot on Belle Island in the Rowayton section…