45°
Is your kitchen crying out for a make-over? Greg Pia, owner of Marani Marble might have a simple solution which wont wipe out your bank account.
If youre still living with an old formica counter, consider replacing it with natural stone, like granite or marble. Granite is extremely durable, lasts forever and is easy to keep clean. It comes in a wide range of colors, from the rather pricey Blue Bahias to the much more affordable New Venetian Golds. Marble is a softer stone. Since the colors are lighter, steer away from Carraras and the other pretty marbles if you have small children or tend to spill red wine!
Changing your counter is not as complicated as you might think. First youll need to pick your stone, and Marani on Black Rock Turnpike is a good place to start. If they dont have what youre looking for, Marylu, the manage, will steer you to a local stone importers, like AKDO in Bridgeport. Youll be making a lot of decisions, so here are some things youll need to think about:
Do you want your counter polished (shiny) or honed (matte)? The slabs come polished from the stone yards so expect a slight upcharge if you want the shine sanded off.
What sort of an edge do you want? The simplest and least expensive is called an eased edge. Other options are half bull-nose, full bull-nose and ogee.
Do you want a backsplash in the same stone, or will you be installing tile?
Will you be getting a new sink and/or faucet? Make sure a new sink will fit into your cabinet. Measure the inside width and buy a sink that is slightly smaller.
Once youve picked your slab and made these decisions, Greg or Alex Esmeraldo, his long-time assistant, will come out to your house and make a template of the counter space. A couple of weeks later, youll be admiring your brand new look - and wondering why you waited so long!
Marani Marble, 764 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, (203) 335 6001.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
