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Countertops

Dec 17 2022

Which Styles of Sink Look Good with Stone Countertops in the Bathroom?

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home, which means you should put extra care into it while doing a remodel.

When you renovate your bathroom, you’re most likely looking to update your fixtures—and that includes the bathroom sink. There are plenty of details to consider while choosing a sink, such as the material, shape, and finish—which should complement your existing decor or the decor you plan on adding to the room when you redo it.

Many people love using stone countertops in their bathrooms because of the benefits they come with. They’re durable, they last for many years, and they’re hygienic too. Another great thing about stone countertops is the fact that they’re so versatile! They work well with almost any sink design.

We understand that choosing a sink that goes with your stone bathroom countertop can be overwhelming, which is why we put together this guide.

Choosing the Best Sink for Your Bathroom

Here are some details you should consider when you’re choosing the best sink to go with your stone bathroom countertop:

Sink bowl depth / faucet combination
For your stone countertop, you can choose a sink with either a shallow bowl or a deep one. It all depends on what you personally prefer—and the physical health of the people who will be using the sink. For example, if you live with someone who can’t do much leaning, you might want to err toward a shallower sink and one with a single handle.

Size
Even the trendiest sink isn’t going to look right in your bathroom if it’s not the right size for your stone countertop. Whether your sink has a vanity or not, it must be placed in reach of the water supply connection, so it’s vital to map out where the sink will fit and how much room you have before you make a purchase.

Sink bowls
The number of bowls you choose depends on your preferences and the needs of your household. Some people prefer to have one large sink bowl, while others enjoy having their own personal sink. It also comes down to the size of your bathroom and how many sink bowls the space can accommodate.

Mount Installation for Your Bathroom Sink

After you’ve figured out those details, it’s time to figure out the mount type that you’re going for. There are a handful of mount types for bathroom sinks:

Under-mount sink
An under-mount sink is not always common, but it’s very stylish and looks great with a stone countertop. It’s secured beneath the countertop, which allows the stone to flow smoothly and without interruption. This type of sink also provides extra countertop space, and it’s extremely easy to clean! All you have to do is wipe the debris into the sink—and there will be nothing in your way to catch the crumbs.

Drop-in sinks
Drop-in sinks are known for their ease of installation. They have a sink lip resting on top of the countertop, with metal clips that offer added stability placed underneath.

Top-mount sink
A top-mount sink is easy to replace and has a finished edge that sits on top of the countertop. The only problem with this sink is that sometimes dirt and grime find ways to build up along its edges.

Apron-front sink
An apron-front sink protrudes from the countertop edges and looks great in a rustic, traditional home. If you’ve got a farmhouse design going, we recommend an apron-front sink.

Bathroom Sink Styles

Style is another important factor as you consider your bathroom sink. No matter your taste, you’ll surely find something that suits it. Choose between the following:

  • Traditional sinks—utilitarian and old-style architecture
  • Antique sinks—ornate or curved sinks that incorporate hand-etched decorative details
  • Modern sinks—smooth, rounded, straight edges cut into ovals or squares

Choosing Your Sink

With all of this information in mind, you can now choose the best type of sink to pair with your stone bathroom countertop. For more bathroom remodel advice, reach out to us at Bellezza Artisan Stone Surfaces today.

Written by Support · Categorized: Countertops

Oct 27 2022

The Easiest Countertops to Clean for Someone Who Loves to Cook

Those who love to cook want to concentrate on one thing while they get down to business in the kitchen—the food they’re making. You don’t want to have the quality of your countertop lingering at the back of your mind, and you don’t want to be constantly worrying about how the ingredients you’re using might harm it.

Most likely, you’ll gravitate toward a countertop material that is low maintenance and easy to take care of. Luckily, at Bellezza Artisan Stone Surfaces, we have just what you’re looking for.

Man-Made vs. Natural

While man-made countertops like laminate or stainless steel are the easiest countertops to maintain in the short term, they don’t have the same lasting power as their natural stone competitors. If you factor in the cost of countertop replacement vs. the amount you pay up front, cheaper options like laminate may not be in your best interest.

But don’t worry—at Bellezza Artisan Stone Surfaces, we have partially man-made and natural stone options, and both of these come with an ease of maintenance.

The Easiest Countertops to Clean

While all of the materials in our showroom make beautiful options for countertops, some are easier to care for than others. But no matter the aesthetic you have in mind, we’re sure to have something that fits your vision and your desired maintenance level too.

To follow are two countertops we stock that are the easiest to clean out of our entire collection:

Engineered Quartz

Engineered quartz countertops, while technically a man-made material, have natural quartz in their composition. Their particles are held together by resin binders, which makes quartz flexible and unlikely to crack.

Quartz is capable of mimicking the look of natural stone, but it comes with a fraction of the maintenance. If you’re in the kitchen often and you want the upscale look without the lengthy cleaning process, quartz can make that happen.

This type of countertop comes in an array of patterns and variations, making it one of the most versatile choices that we’ve got. When it comes to cleaning, all you have to do is wipe it down with a soft cloth, soap, and water.

Quartz countertops are scratch resistant, and because they’re nonporous, they never need to be sealed. Just beware that, while they can handle a certain degree of heat, they are not heat-proof. Extremely hot objects, when set right on quartz’s surface, can melt or warp it.

To clean quartz, remember to

  • wipe up spills as soon as you can;
  • use warm water, mild dish detergent, and a soft cloth or sponge in the event of spills or stains;
  • use a mild degreasing product for grease residue;
  • rinse the surface thoroughly with water to remove any residue left by cleaners;
  • use coasters, cutting boards, trivets, and cooling racks.

Granite

Even though it’s a natural stone that requires sealant, granite is easier to clean than you might think. It’s a very durable option, and it requires very little maintenance in order to keep up its toughness.

Much like quartz, granite comes in a wide variety of colors and designs, all crafted underneath the earth’s surface. It is highly scratch resistant and stain resistant as well, and the cleaning routine is simple and quick. All you need is a soft cloth or a sponge, warm water, and mild dish detergent or natural stone cleaner.

Granite is a top choice for those who love to cook because it gives off a classy and sophisticated vibe while requiring only a small amount of maintenance.

The cleaning routine for granite is straightforward. It involves

  • buying a granite cleaner that is approved for stone surfaces;
  • cleaning up spills in a timely manner;
  • using hot pads, trivets, and cutting boards.

Cooking in Your Kitchen

At Bellezza Artisan Stone Surfaces, we know how important kitchens are for people who love to cook. For more advice on what countertop type is best for you, get in touch with us today.

Written by Support · Categorized: Countertops

Oct 25 2022

Get to Know Our Countertop Stone Types

For most families, the kitchen is the most important room in their house. Almost everything happens there—cooking, eating, bonding, entertaining, to name a few. The kitchen is the focus of the home for many people, and if their kitchen looks nice, they feel good about their entire home.

Since the kitchen is the main focus of the home and the countertop is the main focus of the kitchen, that makes the countertop ultra-important. Luckily, at Bellezza, that’s something we understand very well.

Installing your perfect countertop is about finding a countertop stone type that speaks to you on a deep level. Any of the materials that we offer could bring your kitchen to life in the best way, so let us go into detail so you can get to know them.

Porcelain

Porcelain is an engineered stone that can be used for many different applications. It has a striking, bold look and impressive durability, so if you want something that will stand the test of time and look good while doing it, porcelain is for you.

This stone is heat resistant, so you don’t have to worry about it sustaining damage if it comes into contact with hot pots and pans. It’s also very easy to take care of! It doesn’t need sealant and all you need to clean it with is soap and water.

Granite

Granite is a natural stone that is known for its heat resistance, scratch resistance, and unique colorations.

Since granite is a natural, porous stone, it needs to be sealed regularly in order to keep it looking as beautiful as the day you had it installed. But the great news is that, besides sealant, granite doesn’t ask for much more in the way of upkeep and maintenance.

Marble

Marble is a natural stone that’s known for its striking beauty and classic looks. Using natural light, it can brighten up any room with its stunning aesthetics and unique veining patterns.

Marble is heat resistant, but remember to exercise caution around this stone, since it’s not quite as durable as granite. It does not like acids, as they can cause marble to etch, and you should be careful about scratching your marble too.

Quartz

Much like porcelain, quartz is an engineered stone. It also has a very low degree of required maintenance and never needs to be sealed, but one area where it does differ from porcelain is the fact that it’s not always tough on heat.

Quartz has resins in its composition, and resins are a type of plastic—that means that you should be cautious with hot pots and pans and always use a hot pad to prevent scorching or thermal shock.

This stone comes in many uniform patterns that look great in any style of kitchen. It’s scratch resistant and very unlikely to crack, which is a great asset for many kitchens.

Quartzite

Quartzite, not to be confused with quartz, is a natural stone material that is known for being durable and tough. It’s a natural stone that must be sealed periodically in order to maintain its integrity, but it’s a very simple routine that can keep this stone looking good for generations.

Quartzite has the durability level of granite but the aesthetics of marble, which is something that many people are fond of. It is very unlikely to stain, scratch, or chip due to how dense it is, and its unique colorations can bring life to any kitchen.

Exotic Stones

Exotic stones are known for their striking patterns and amazing looks. They are natural stones, but the exotic nature occurs when the process goes a bit differently than normal, which results in an especially distinct stone. Exotic stones will not exist again within a certain period—so you’ll have the only stone that exists with that aesthetic in the entire world.

Choosing Your Countertop

At Bellezza, we have many amazing countertops stone types to choose from. To learn more about our selection, get in touch with us today.

Written by Support · Categorized: Countertops

Oct 24 2022

Choosing the Right Bathroom Countertops

Whether you’re replacing your bathroom countertops or going for a full room remodel, finding the right aesthetic and degree of functionality is important. As you go through the process, keep in mind that bathroom countertops, due to their location, are exposed to more moisture than other countertops. This should be a big player as to which material you choose.

The bathroom is where you and your family spend a significant amount of time. Whether you’re getting ready for the day or winding down at night, your bathroom should be a place where you enjoy relaxing.

Bellezza Artisan Stone Surfaces wants to help choose the perfect bathroom countertops for your unique bathroom. Keep reading to find out how to settle on something that you love.

Countertop Types

Here are the types of countertops for your bathroom:

Regular Countertops

Regular countertops are the most basic style to install. They are slabs of chosen material that are laid on top of a cabinet, which provides space for your toiletries and a convenient place to go through your morning and night routines. Since they’re simple and elegant, many homeowners gravitate toward this style.

Bathroom Sink Countertops

Bathroom sink countertops, as the name would suggest, have sinks embedded. Either an undermount sink or a drop-in sink will adorn this type of countertop, and they offer a high degree of convenience while you’re getting ready in the morning with the sink right where you need it.

Vanity Countertops

A vanity countertop is known for saving space in the bathroom, as it combines a sink and cabinet into a single unit. There are many ways that you can customize your vanity countertop, either with a single-bowl option with one sink, or a double-bowl option with two sinks. If you already have a sink you’d like to use, you can choose a vanity countertop without a sink option.

Material Types

We’re proud of the variety that we stock in our showroom. For your consideration, we have granite, marble, quartzite, quartz, and porcelain, along with our fair share of exotic stones. For bathrooms, we’re partial to granite and quartz—here’s why:

Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are known for being extremely durable. They’re an inherently nonporous material, meaning that the extra moisture in the bathroom won’t do anything to harm them. They’re stain resistant and scratch resistant, and they don’t involve much maintenance at all. In fact, they don’t even require a sealing routine.

Granite Countertops

Granite is one of the toughest natural stones that you can find. It’s incredibly heat resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your hot styling tools doing any damage. It’s scratch resistant too! Granite, since it’s a porous natural stone, does require a sealing routine in order to keep it strong against stains and damage done by liquids.

What to Consider

As you search for the perfect bathroom countertop, here are a few other things to keep in mind:

  • The size of your bathroom and its dimensions: Your bathroom’s height, width, and depth—affect the way your countertops look. Take accurate measurements to make sure that your bathroom has the right dimensions to accommodate the countertop you’re attracted to.
  • The plumbing: If your plumbing system is old and outdated, you should consider updating it before installing a new bathroom countertop. An old plumbing system can slow down and complicate the process of installation, so make sure that everything is functioning properly before focusing on the countertop.
  • The style: Consider the general style of the bathroom you’re looking to create. If you want something in a rustic style, we recommend countertops in warm tones. If you want your bathroom to feel like a spa, choose luxurious, clean colors. By sticking with a design throughout your countertop replacement process, your vision will come to life more accurately.

Your New Bathroom

Updating your bathroom countertops can do wonders for the room, and it can even increase the resale value of your home. To learn more about bathroom countertops, contact Bellezza Surfaces today.

Written by Support · Categorized: Countertops

Dec 30 2021

New Year, New Kitchen & Bathroom? Using Countertops to Modernize Your Home