We have such an abundance of showrooms, boutiques, art galleries and design centers filled with luxury and quality furniture as well as antiques, fabrics, rugs, linens, flooring, tile, cabinetry, outdoor living and so much more in the Atlanta area. We could literally take a "field trip" every week for a year and never see it all!.

Kelly and I are extremely lucky to live in an area that is brimming with a healthy design community and numerous resources.

STATUARIO EXTRA TECH

Speaking of field trips, we recently visited Construction Resources, a one stop shop in Atlanta that carries a huge line of products of more than 60 brands across 11 product categories.

We visited the massive showroom a couple of months ago and could not believe the selection of products. We were really impressed with the variety of options for natural stone such as marble, granite, quartz, solid surface and ultra-compact surfaces. For those that don't know "ultra-compact" surface is used to describe a countertop material that is made by putting raw materials found in glass, porcelain and quartz, under extreme heat and pressure to create an almost indestructible material.

A big plus was that we were able to view the large quantity of slabs in a climate controlled area, not outdoors or in a hot/cold warehouse (depending on the time of year). It was a pleasure to browse! These were our favorites:

CALCATTA CEILO QUARTZITE

CALCATTA RETRO MARBLE

Left - Sequoia Brown (leathered finish) Quartzite

Right - Fusion Light (polished finish) Quartzite

Fantasy Brown Marble

Choosing countertops can be very confusing. There are many different looks, styles, characteristics and price ranges to take into account. Here are some options to consider based on appearance, lifestyle and budget.

MARBLE - This is considered a "classic". It is a soft stone and is susceptible to etching and staining. A polished finish is what most people are used to but a "honed" or "leathered" finish is considered to be the best option for marble counters. This means the surface of the stone has been ground to a smooth, flat consistent surface giving it a more "matte" look. It also can be lower maintenance - fingerprints and watermarks are less conspicuous than on a shiny, polished finish. - $75-$250 per square foot

QUARTZITE - A metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure. This is not to be confused with Quartz. $70-$120 per square foot

QUARTZ - A synthetic material that's made in a factory out of stone chips, resins and pigments. Great qualities of quartz is its attractive appearance and durability. It does not have the weaknesses of natural stone. It is non-porous so it resists staining and for cleanliness, it means that it will not harbor bacteria. There is a much wider range of colors as well. $60-$100 per square foot

GRANITE - Granite is harder than marble so it is more resistant to chips and scratches. It can be quite durable but must be properly sealed every one or two years. Granite is still a viable option, but not as popular as marble or quartz. $45-$200 per square foo

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LIMESTONE - A natural stone generally pure white to off-white with some color variation but typically neutral. This is one that is porous and soft so maintenance and care is very important. The best option to avoid stains is to protect the surface with a protective sealer. $55-$125 per square foot

SOAPSTONE - An attractive alternative for those that want a natural stone instead of granite. It's appearance is somewhat more rustic and casual. Mottled white, off-white and gray tones are predominant. It is heat resistant, non-porous and doesn't need to be sealed. Excellent durability and low maintenance. $60-$185 per square foot.

One of the advantages of shopping for countertops at Construction Resources was the huge selection of slabs, and of course, the great lighting in the showroom. As I mentioned, there are so many design resources in Atlanta and what I loved about Construction Resources is that it is a one stop shop. Once you selected a countertop, you could take your sample to the other parts of the showroom to select tile, cabinets, lighting, etc. - no running around in the crazy Atlanta traffic!

I only touched on the countertops but this is what else you can find there:

Appliances, cabinets, lighting, tile and flooring, fireplaces, garage doors, sinks and faucets, outdoor living and closet systems.

Speaking of fireplaces, check out this one:

CALCATTA BORGO TECH

A new build or remodeling project can be very daunting if you try to do it on your own. A lot of the selections go hand in hand and so the beauty of doing it all in one place is awesome!!

Here are two Kandrac & Kole designed kitchens:

photo credit

We love the use of the marble as the backsplash (very popular these days)

photo credit

The client maintained their current cabinets with a fresh coat of paint and replaced the sink, faucet, hardware, countertop (fantasy brown) and backsplash

Making selections for a new space or a renovation can be overwhelming, but it can also be really fun. Making the decision to work with trained professionals in the field can simplify the process and save you stress, time and money!

Click here to go to the Construction Resources site and here for their blog where they share lots of inspiration and tips!

Joann