Neolith

Today I want to talk countertops.

White marble is still one of the most popular countertop selections in the kitchen and bath market despite the fact that it is porous and does require upkeep and maintenance. Over the years countless companies have come out with  man-made options some of which I have talked about here on the blog, however when it came time to pick the countertops for my first kitchen, what did I choose? Marble. But maybe not next time for me...why? Well, there is a new (to me) kid on the block and he is putting all of the other options to shame. His name: Neolith.

This name may ring a bell as I talked a lot about it during a few instastories surrounding my  Luxury Living Show Bath at Phipps Plaza earlier this year. I selected the Calacatta Gold for the shower walls and was blown away by the finished results.

Photo by David Christensen for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

Can you believe this is not real marble? I had seen the marble - esque slabs in person at Stone Center, but seeing the product installed in this shower application just blew me away. It really looks like marble. The veining, the colors, even the feel..... 

Photo by David Christensen for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

It's a looker that's for sure, bur even more importantly, it is virtually indestructible.

Yes you read that right, this product is....

• UV Resistant - making it great for outdoor applications.
• Waterproof - No etching!!!
• Freeze/Thaw resistant - another great attribute for an outdoor surface
• Hygienic - meaning it is suitable for food contact. In fact it's just as good as stainless steel.
• Easy to Clean - No household material will hurt it. 
• Heat resistant up to 500 degrees celsius
• Stain Resistant

To prove the last two points Leo Chuahy, owner of Stone Center brought a few props into our showroom last week to showcase the toughness of this stone. Up first - a blow torch.....yes, a BLOW TORCH. 

A lot of quartz surfaces say you can put hot plates and pans right out of the oven on their surfaces, but most of them can only withstand up to 350 - 390 degrees. Neolith is heat resistant up to 500 degrees celsius (932 degrees farenheight!), so there is nothing you could cook in your kitchen that would be hot enough to hurt these countertops.

Next he pulled out a sharpie and a can of spray paint. He let me write on the stone with the sharpie and then wiped it right off with rubbing alcohol.

Next, he sprayed this smiley face on the stone using spray paint.....

     

..... let it dry and again, it wiped right up. For me, this is so cool because I think of all the activities that happen on our countertops, specifically our island. While you can get (and I did) natural stone surfaces like marble sealed against food and beverage stains, I would of never feel comfortable enough to let Croix color with sharpies or Brent paint something on my old marble countertops. They were just too fragile in my mind. It would be really cool to have a surface that not only looks the way you want it to, but is care-free enough you can actually use it and enjoy it worry free.

Ok, ok, you get it..Neolith is cool, but what exactly is Neolith? Neolith is a sintered compact surface made with 100% natural material. Quartz, silicon and clay are mixed together and brought to solid form using high pressure, high temperatures or both, which is exactly how the earth makes natural stones like granite or marble. It is a 100% recyclable material that comes in a lot of different patterns and finishes, from matte to polished and a few in between. One of the coolest things about this product is it's size. It's light weight and can get as small as 1/8"(3mm) thick which is what you would use for cabinet cladding. The next size up is 1/4" (6mm), perfect for walls and flooring (this is the size we used for the walls of the shower in the photos above). And finally 1/2" (12mm) which is the size used for the countertops. The shower wall application is especially nice because you will be able to create drama and beauty with no grout!

As you can see, Neolith has a lot of good points, however, like anything, it has it's limitations. It is not chip resistant. No stone countertop is, but there can be the misconception that because this stone is SO easy to care for and worry free that it is indestructible. But this not true, like any stone, it can crack or chip if it's hit at the right angle with the right pressure. The good news.... chips and cracks can be repaired.

As I think about my next kitchen remodel, it excites me that there is finally a product like Neolith that will allow me to get the look I want without sacrificing my sanity down the road.  It's funny because when we bought our first house, the kitchen was the very first thing we tackled, but now that I'm a Mom, I'm thankful almost every day that I do not have a brand new kitchen in this house as I watch Croix slam into cabinets and spill anything and everything on the countertops. Kids change things and while I know he will grow out of this specific phase, he is going to live here, eat here, play here, do homework here, etc. for the next 16 1/2 years, so the idea of having a surface in the most used room of my house that he can actually use without me worrying sounds pretty good.

So yeah, I'm a fan....can you blame me? 

If you are in the Atlanta area and you are interested in hearing more or would like to see the stone for yourself, Stone Center in Norcross is the place for you. Click this link here for their info. 

Unless otherwise noted all photos are my own.

Bell Cabinetry & Design's New Showroom Sneak Peek

Holy radio silence my people, I'm sorry for the drought over here in blog land but I have been busy with a capital B. Last spring I mentioned that I was heading up the opening of Bell Cabinetry & Design's Buckhead showroom. Since that time I have been working with my team to bring our 3000 square foot space to life.

Over the past few weeks we really stepped on the gas and focused on getting this space finished! Last week we stripped the paper covering off the windows and had a photo shoot with Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle Magazine for their August issue! You will get the chance to see some full shots of the showroom then, but in the meantime I thought I would give you a little sneak peek of the finished product.

Cabinetry can be technical, overwhelming and scary to some but we wanted to create a space that showcases our various cabinetry construction offerings in a way that is relatable and inspiring.

The opportunity to be creative and focus on the custom capabilities of Bell Cabinetry was really fun. Anyone can design a cabinet, but it's fun to think outside of the generic cabinet box and focus on details and elements that truly make a space unique and personal. 

Inspiration was pulled from anywhere and everywhere and it was like Christmas Morning time and time again as all of the little details began to come to life before our eyes. From hardware placement to cabinetry colors, no element or selection was left to chance. 

The Design Studio:

...where all of the magic will happen. 

Our cabinetry is always made even more beautiful thanks to it's surroundings and in this showroom we are excited to have worked with and showcase some of the best in town. Sub-Zero Wolf Appliances, Countertops from Neolith & Construction Resources, Tile from Renaissance Tile & Bath and plumbing from PDI. 

To say this process has been long is an understatement.  It has been  A LOT y'all. From finding the perfect studio location and space planning every square inch to designing, sourcing and styling the various vignettes the journey been equal parts exhausting and exhilarating.

Every last detail has been considered, re-considered, analyzed and talked through no short of 1000 times. There is literally a why behind all the things, big or small. And while I'm a believer that it is that level of heart and consideration that makes any space, home or room go from good to great, the process of getting there on any type of time-line or budget is not easy. The seemingly simple act of pouring your heart and soul into anything can be emotionally and creatively draining, but once you wade through the challenges the end results are so sweet and rewarding. We are located in ADAC West, so come say hi and let's design some cabinetry!

All photos are my own. 

Luxury Living Show 2017

For eight years Bell Cabinetry & Design, the company I work for, has been designing, creating and installing the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine Luxury Living Show Kitchen at Phipps Plaza. For those that have never seen the set up at the mall, there is a "Dream Kitchen" and a "Dream Bath" that sit in Monarch Court for the month and this year Bell is doing both! For the past 3 years I have designed the kitchen (here, here and here), but this year I'm the bath designer!

I was pretty excited to shake things up and try my hand at a bath design because believe it or not, I've never designed a bath that would sit in the middle of a mall.  Regardless, I was pumped for the challenge. As I began considering what I might do, I dug through my archives (my camera roll) to get inspired. I don't know about you, but I'm constantly taking pictures and screen shots of anything and everything that catches my eye, never knowing when I might need to pull them up.

Speaking of, I've had this gem for awhile and just loved the soft and happy vibe.

Photo via Pinterest

I also loved the subtle pop of pink. I knew early on I wanted a blush hue to bring the drama and interest into my design and this photo just sealed the deal for how elegant blush + marble + wood tones could be. After a lot of scheming and about 20,945,029 sketches later, this is what I ended up with:


















There are so many awesome pieces in this bath like the Neolith shower surround, the beautiful MTI tub and the cool flower sconces, but my favorite part is the blush linen cabinets with the splotchy antique mirror, I'm obsessed!!

We installed both displays last week and I felt like a college student all over again with the late hours.    But as always our Bell crew knocked it out of the park and we are all so proud to have our work on display for the rest of the month. Plan to stop by and check it out in person if you are in or around Atlanta in May! 

Sources:

Cabinetry: Bell Cabinetry & Design | Cabinet Hardware: Atlas | Countertops: Compaq, Color: Absolute Blanc, Installed by Construction Resources | Lighting: Circa | Shower Surround: Neolith, Calcutta Gold From Stone Center, Installed by Construction Resources | Tub, Shower Pan & Sinks: MTI | Glass (Antique Mirror, Mirror Glass & Shower Surround: Atlanta Glass & Mirror | Plumbing: KWC | Styling: Lauren DeLoach Interiors

All photos are my own. 

KBIS 2017 Recap

Last week I was in Orlando for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. I hadn't been to the show in 2 years so I was excited to go and see what was new!

Fellow Bell Designer Melissa Ahrens and I hit the show early on opening day and boy we were glad we did - the show was huge and there was SO much to see. My feet are still recovering. I have my favorite finds of course, but before we jump into that I thought we could talk trends. After walking the show for a day and a half it became glaringly obvious what the big trends for this year were going to be on the Kitchen & Bath front... Let's dig in....

T     R     E     N     D     S

Matte Black

Matte Black EVERYTHING. This finish was everywhere from faucets and hardware to appliances and cabinets. The finish reads as sleek and sophisticated and really looked beautiful on every single item.

Rose Gold

Photo via Kohler's website

We saw a decent amount of Rose Gold finishes, specifically in plumbing, and I really really loved it. The design world has loved on brass, copper and now it's rose gold's turn to steal the show. For me personally, I like how soft it comes across, it's bold without being so in your face which I think may give it the opportunity to feel a bit more timeless than other "it" selections. 

Marble Look-A-Like Countertop Options

Photo via Neolith's website

The world loves marble but as we all know, a lot of people in the world really don't want to worry with it's diva-like qualities (etching, staining, etc.). For years companies have been trying their hand at man-made options that look like marble, without the upkeep. And while they have been successful, the bar continues to rise higher and higher and the options continue to get closer and closer to the real thing. There were a lot of countertop companies at the show and every single one of them showed their best attempt at the natural stone look, specifically marble. 

Light it Up!

Lighting Integration was everywhere! Every time I turned around a simple item like a hanging rod for the laundry room had a light in it. We saw faucets and sinks that light up in addition to the ever popular drawer that illuminates when opened. It's clear that lighting will continue to play a big roll in kitchens and baths. 

Finish Mixing 

Photo via Brizo's website

There was a lot of finish mixing, specifically with the matte black look. This faucet from Brizo was just one of the many faucets, specifically from Brizo that was mixing and matching like crazy and I loved almost every single combination.

F     A     V     O     R     I     T     E     S

Ok, now that we've covered trends let's talk about my favorite finds from the show. Up first....

Formica's Writeable Surfaces

Photo via Formica's website 

I would typically breeze right past the Formica booth but as we walked by I saw all of these people gathered around writing ON THE COUNTERTOPS. This collection is so cool and I could see an option like the grid version pictured above being used in a craft room, a play room or even on a conference room table! 

Kohler's Choreograph Collection

Photo via Pinterest

The marble shower walls in the picture above are not marble. Nay they are made from Serica, a super durable composite material by Kohler. This material comes in a slew of decorative options and can be installed over existing tile! You can even get the look of the classic subway tile without the grout. If you are thinking of re-doing your bathroom this is definitely an option to consider to save some money and cut down on maintenance! Read all about this collection here. 

Coastal Shower Doors' Gridscape Collection 

Photo via Coastal Shower Door's website

If you are a fan of the steel window/door look then you are going to love the new Gridscape Collection offered by Coastal Shower Doors. Now you can incorporate this sleek vibe into your bathroom  through your shower doors. The doors come in a variety of grid patterns and you can opt for a sliding configuration as well as a swing. Love, love, love. 

All in all it was a good show and we truly did leave feeling inspired and excited about so many of the things we saw. The kitchen and bath industry is ever changing and it's fun to be along for the ride!