
There’s something so soothing about bringing bits of nature into our design schemes. From houseplants to fruits and veggies, minerals to natural stone, there are so many ways to incorporate all that Mother Nature has to offer into our homes.

Of all the places that natural surfaces can be incorporated in our homes, we think the kitchen might be our favorite.

But using stone in the kitchen isn’t all that cut and dry. Which surfaces are most durable? Which are best for cutting? What are the pros and cons of each?

So many factors and aspects go into choosing so many of the details of our homes. That’s we are so glad to have found Use Natural Stone, a site that features guides and detailed descriptions of many natural surfaces and their best purposes.

We are especially fond of the fact sheets on the site that break down information about each of the popular stones. Sandstone, for example, is a material we love but didn’t know much about. And all the information was right there!

One of our favorite things about stone in the kitchen is that, no matter what you choose, if it’s natural, it’s going to look fabulous with pretty much any color scheme.

Can’t choose just one stone? No problem! This combination of soapstone and marble is not only aesthetically pleasing but also creates different surfaces for areas that get worked a little harder.

If you love the durability of granite but are tired of seeing the same old countertops, honed granite is a beautiful choice. It’s one of our current favorites, in fact!

Black granite is an easy way to create that enviable, classic black and white color palette. With a little bit of wood mixed in, it’s perfect!

Want a look that’s uniquely yours? We’ve never seen anything quite like this blue honed granite! No matter your style, there’s the right natural stone for any home. If you were remodeling your kitchen, which stone would you pick?
The Slightly South of Simple Tour is heading to Southern California!
I’ll be in Palos Verdes, CA on August 24 and San Diego on August 25. (Event details to follow!) If you live nearby and are interested in the tour coming to your home, shop or book club, please let me know at [email protected] I’d love to meet you!
Thank you Popsugar for including Slightly South of Simple in 10 Books Paired With 10 US Beaches For Ultimate Summer Reading!
– popsugar
And don’t forget to check out the Nordstrom Half Yearly SALE up to 40% off until June 4!
I’ve had marble countertops for 15 years and am very happy with them. As we have a great room with a kitchen open to the dining and living areas, the beautiful local marble (from Caunes-Minervois in the south of France, it’s a deep red with white and gray veins) is a major focal point. No regrets–it’s the pride of my kitchen.
Good Morning Girls,
I am so happy to see designers using more natural counter tops other than the typical granite offered by most builders.
When we moved here we had a choice of the standard granite (no extra cost) or a product called Hi Mac at a slightly extra cost. We went with that extra and are very pleased with our choice. Although it’s not considered “natural” it has worked out perfectly for us. It’s similar to the Corian that appeared on the market years ago but it is a huge upgrade from that original product. If we had had the choice of another natural stone we would have went with it, but unfortunately we were limited to these
xo
Patty
What a great resource, ladies, and we’ll definitely hold on to this post for when the time comes to upgrade our kitchens. So exciting that the book tour will head west this summer and so sorry we’ll miss you in San Diego! We’ll be out there in June moving one of our boys out of his dorm. Hope you’re both having a wonderful week!
xxoo
C + C