Granite: Color, Movement and Design

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

    Granite has been used as a building material for thousands of years. It is one of the strongest stones in the world, second only to diamonds, sure to outlast whatever dwelling in which it has been installed. It is a natural stone that forms in the earth’s interior as liquid magma. Heat and pressure take materials such as quartz, mica, feldspar, and other natural elements, and form them into this ultra-hard, dense structure, called granite. The way granite is created makes it luminescent, with an intrinsic, three-dimensional appearance. Each piece of granite is unique, even in the stone’s range of some 3,000 different colors.
    “Movement” refers to the variations in granite’s color, tone, granularity, pattern, etc. Movement is really what makes each stone so attractive and one-of-a-kind. Depending upon the look you want in your bathroom or kitchen, you can mix and match movements, or keep it uniform. It’s more than likely you will have at least a 4-inch granite backsplash where your counter meets your wall. Play with color here, going light or dark, or both. Movement in granite allows you to be creative with your countertops, without losing the extravagant feel. There are metallic swirls in some stones, dignified and tight grain patterns in others. Some have a pebbled, flecked look. Others are unvarying. It all depends on the combination of quartz, crystals and minerals in the piece of stone. It’s all an igneous formula from underground. It’s polished, sized and chosen for the specific look you want in your bathroom or kitchen countertop.
    The colors are vast, from light to dark. At the moment, blue granite is creating quite a trend. If you’re looking to brighten a room, think lighter colors with patterns less dense, and don’t be afraid of metallic flecks and accents. It will compliment any lighting or other color scheme on your floor, walls, or artwork. Monotone black, grey, or white is appropriate for a more modern look and geometric feel. Some contemporary kitchens have finished wood cabinetry with clear panels. Darker granite offers a cool contrast.
    Granite is extravagant, yet it’s also the most expensive countertop option out there. Some homeowners opt for a less expensive, partial granite counter space. Maybe half of your kitchen island is regal butcher-block wood, and the other half is modern black granite. Contrast looks like this are growing more popular with today’s dynamic homeowner. Mix match themes, and a granite counter is a strong and ever-suitable foundation with optimal function. Modern cooks swear by the hardness factor in granite, as well as its ability to withstand the high heat of a pan direct from the oven. Granite won’t blister or damage. It is simply your best, most versatile, handsome, and elegant countertop option out there.

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