Using Granite in Different Ways

Granite can be used to make any area of the home stand out. Granite comes in many different beautiful colors, and can be fabricated almost any way you’d like. Using granite in different ways throughout your home can add value — not to mention aesthetical design – to your house.

Many people are now using granite for more than just their kitchen or bathroom countertops. Many homeowners use granite pieces that they have left over from a larger granite project to create a unique design within their homes.  Some ideas for using granite around the house include using granite remnants for:

• A granite bathroom vanity – it’s easy to tie a home together when the bathroom vanity matches the kitchen counter.
• A granite cutting board – using granite for a matching cutting board will not only look lovely, but help protect your new granite countertop and keep it looking new longer.
• Outdoor living spaces – using granite in the yard can create a beautiful and unique set of pathway stones.  Granite remnants can even be used as accents in a poured concrete walkway.
• A granite fireplace — the mantel and surround of a fireplace acts as the focal point of a room.  Using granite (polished or raw) can create a rich and visually interesting fireplace.
• Repairs — holding on to any granite remnants left over from your kitchen countertop is helpful if there is ever an area that needs to be repaired or replaced.

Using granite remnants from a kitchen or bathroom remodel not only offers you a variety of new design ideas, but can help save you money.  Just make sure that you will have enough granite to finish the whole project; you might not be able to find a close match to that granite again. But, of course, you can always mix and match granite colors and styles to create a unique look.

The following article from EHow.com offers three other creative ideas when it comes to using granite for your home.

Design Ideas for Granite or Marble Tile

Granite tiles are a way to increase your home’s value.

Upgrading the value of your home is easy when using luxurious granite or marble tiles. Not only do they enhance the beauty and enjoyment of your home, but granite or marble floors and countertops also are a “must have” for many people when shopping for a new home. However, the best news is that you can purchase these tiles at your local home improvement store or a flooring business and easily install them yourself; thus saving yourself a significant amount of money.

•  Exquisite Patterned Floor

When looking for a way to upgrade a small space such as a hall, foyer or floor of a powder room, consider granite and marble tiles. You can use them to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece by selecting various sizes and colors of granite and/or marble tiles that you lay in a pattern. Create the look of a beautiful rug with a solid marble or granite center and a beautiful basket weave or Greek key styled border. Or, you can either make your own or purchase a pre-made decorative floor medallion made of granite and marble tiles that serve as a stunning focal point.

If the above ideas seem to lavish for your needs, the classic checkerboard pattern of black and white granite tiles will always be popular. If you want to add some interest when installing a checkerboard pattern, installing your tile on the diagonal can make a small space look larger, according to HGTV.com

• Modern Mosaic Backsplashes

According to HGTV.com, backsplashes used to be a standard 4 inches high and were used to prevent water and grease from damaging the area behind a stove or sink. However, they are now decorative focal points in both bathrooms and kitchens.

One creative idea is to create a mosaic backsplash using random broken marble and granite tile pieces. Not only does this look deliver a high-end designer style, but it also can save you a significant amount of money. When shopping for granite and marble tiles, ask if the store has any broken or damaged tiles that you can purchase at a drastically reduced price. Many times the stores will give you a great deal as most shoppers view these tiles as not usable.

• Tile Trivet

Another innovative idea for using granite tile is to take inspiration from one of those “as seen on TV” products—a granite food warmer—and make your own handcrafted version for yourself or to give as a gift. Because granite and marble are excellent conductors of heat, you can heat it in your microwave when you need a trivet that will keep food warm. However, make certain you do not heat your tile for too long and glue on some rubber bumpers so that you do not damage your countertops or furniture. You can also use 100 percent wool felt bumpers.

And according to lumberjocks.com, this can make for great housewarming gift for a friends or family who are remodeling their kitchen. Just politely ask for a single tile, make your trivet with a beautiful wood frame, and return it to them for a trivet that will perfectly match their new countertop.

Using granite will not only add a decoritive touch and value to your home, but finding creative uses for granite will also benefit you in the long run. Granite is extremely durable. Along with durability, using granite around your house can infuse beautiful colors and patterns into your existing design; no two granite pieces are the same, and you therefore have many options when it comes to using granite creatively throughout your home.

If you are having any problems installing or laying out the granite that you choose around your house, don’t be afraid to contact The Stone Cobblers. We will be happy to help you create a beautiful home masterpiece using granite!