Cabinets Make All The Difference

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We’ve talked about islands and other countertops in your kitchen.  But now let’s talk about the functionality of cabinets and how it can transform your life. Maximizing your storage space including special add-ons will enhance your cooking experience. With every countertop comes another opportunity for cooking space, storage or seating.

It’s all about having a user friendly design. Pantries are the most popular cabinet in kitchen design. Having one designated area for spices, cans, jars, or dry goods is a huge boost for storage efficiency. Everyone’s favorite is the chef’s pantry. A popular design is a floor to ceiling pull out version with numerous rolling shelves.

A microwave cabinet tucked under the countertop is a convenient way to free up your beautiful new countertop. Above that, at counter height, is an ideal spot for your appliance garage. 

Underneath your island you can put base cabinets with shelves to store plates, placemats or even cookbooks. If you opt for a drop-in stove, you can interact with family and friends while cooking.

A slender tray holder keeps your cookie trays, broil pans and other trays neatly stored.

A relatively new accessory is a garbage holder in a Lazy Susan design.

These are only a few cabinets and accessories used in kitchen design. We carry high quality brands like Cubitac, Hanssem, Wolf, and 21st Century. Different styles are on display in our showroom. Our designers have 10 plus years in custom cabinetry.  Make an appointment today to get started.

A Letter To Our Customers

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Dear Friends,
 
Your kitchen and bath projects are important to us! We are committed to providing you with outstanding service as we have for over 23 years. That is why we are pleased to tell you that we will be open by appointment.
 
We want to assure all of our customers that we are taking extreme measures to protect you and our staff during this time.
 
 
  • Please call ahead to schedule an appointment. We are operating on limited staff and hours so that we may ensure the health and safety of our customers.
  • There are a limited number of appointments per day, so please be as punctual as possible. If a prior appointment is still waiting to exit, please wait in your car until your appointment time and we will call you in.
  • We will be limiting the amount of people per appointment entering our showroom. Please limited the party to 2 people. No children will be permitted.
  • Please ensure you have masks and/or other personal protective equipment for your appointment. Your mask must be worn at all times, this includes the indoor and outdoor slab yard area.
  • Extensive disinfecting and cleaning will be done prior to and after your designated appointment.

We will also continue to give out virtual quotes and make FaceTime appointments as requested.

We truly appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate through these unusual times safely and effectively.

Stay Well,

Progressive Dimensions

Cleaning Your Countertops

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COUNTERTOPS

Cleaning Your Countertops

We’ve been receiving calls asking about how to keep your countertops clean. The good news is that you might already have the items needed in your pantry. 

 

Granite and quartz are naturally resistant to bacteria, which makes it perfect for kitchens. Our team seals your granite at install. This means that it protects your top from staining and makes cleaning easier.  You should seal your countertops every year or purchase our worry-free 15 year sealer.

 

For everyday cleaning of granite and quartz, I recommend good old fashioned dish soap. I like Palmolive Antibacterial soap, which kills 99.9% of bacteria. In a container or a clean sink, run warm water and a couple of drops of soap until it’s nice and sudsy. Soak a clean dishcloth in the solution, wring, and wipe your countertop. If you want, you can take the extra step and wipe the counter, again, with a clean, dry cotton dishcloth or microfiber cloth to prevent streaks or residue.

 

A 50:50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water cleans and disinfects granite and quartz. Spray the counter with this solution every few days and wipe down.

 

To take care of tough stains on granite try a paste made with baking soda. If the stain is water based, use a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.  If the stain is oil based, use a mixture of baking soda and water.  Apply paste on the stained area, and let stand for several hours. As for juice stains, use hydrogen peroxide and water.

 

If you have quartz in your home and are already planning to go to the supermarket,  make sure you get Windex Multisurface Disinfectant Sanitizer (not the window cleaner), which kills 99.9 % of viruses and bacteria. I just spray it down and wipe with a paper towel. Let it sit a bit for tough stains. I use it on my stovetop too. Cleans great.  It’s also available on Amazon.

 

Remember, do not use harsh scouring pads, or scrubby sponges because granite and quartz can be scratched or become dull. Also, never use bleach, vinegar or ammonia, which are acidic and may eat away at the surface.

 

I hope you can rest easy now knowing that you can have a hygienic kitchen without stress. Enjoy your kitchen and yourselves.

Office Space

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    It looks like many of us will have to change the way we do business and start working from home. Having a space designated for this will help you look forward to each day and promote a productive workflow.

The functionality of your office like desk space, bookcases, and file cabinets blended with art, family photos, and plants will make it one of your favorite rooms. An L top is not only elegant but practical because you have easy access to all the technology you need like your computer and printer.

Office desks should survive everything from big important projects to coffee spills. Using granite or quartz is a good idea.  Tested to stand the test of time, including being scratch resistant, these surfaces also come in many beautiful and unique colors destined to catch your eye. Lighter colors are on trend now because it makes the room seem larger and brighter. It may uplift your mood too.  Earthy, brownish shades are on the rise while a dark top adds elegance. These surfaces are easy to keep clean with a little soap and water and there are disinfectants on the market that are gentle enough to use on a daily basis.

If you still want to add your personal touch, how about decorative molding or pretty cabinet knobs and pulls.

Now’s the time to take advantage of our free consultations and start creating your dream office.  Our designers can recommend what is the best use of space and efficiency. Call 732-244-0109 today.

Pop of Color

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These are difficult times, no doubt. And as we spend more time indoors, our surroundings become so important. Color can affect our mood tremendously, especially in our kitchen where we all gather…it’s our sanctuary.

It’s been a while since the white kitchen has been the most popular in interior design.It’s bright, it’s crisp and it’s clean. It has an “understated elegance” according to Kitchen Designer, Gina Perez, who likes using White Carrara quartz for a white on white color scheme. Yet, slowly but surely, the new trend in kitchen design is adding a pop of color. Yes, you can now go ahead and start dreaming about bringing color into your space. The options are endless.

For Gina, the 2020 color of the year is a rich navy. “Navy is calm, grounded color, perfect for cabinets, that pairs well with gray or white countertops for a clean, sophisticated, marine look.” She explains.

“Also, keep your eye on the deep, rich, organic green cabinets,” she says. “Which when coordinated with Borghini Gold quartz countertops is a great way to add a jolt of energy to an otherwise neutral tone.”

The safest way to play with color and liven up your kitchen is with appliances. Red is incredibly versatile and will really make your kitchen pop. Using a bold color for your backsplash is another way to achieve this look.

Kitchen Designer, Stephanie Chirichillo, loves using a dramatic color with lots of movement on a larger island while keeping the perimeter countertops in a neutral color. She especially likes using Fantasy Brown, which is a popular quartzite countertop choice at the Jersey Shore. It incorporates many of the natural tones one would expect to see along the New Jersey Coast.

Don’t exclude gray, which has been taking center stage lately in many homes. “We recently did a bar top in Borghini Silver and used a leathered Steel Gray for the under counter. It was stunning.” Stephanie recalls. “They tied it all together with Luxury Vinyl Flooring in Whitfield Gray.”

The complimentary color combinations are endless and at Progressive Dimensions, we have a countertop material that can pull it all together. So pick a color scheme and start playing around! Go ahead and reach out to a design consultant virtually. It could be a great way to pass the time and look past these uncertain times.

 

Ready to begin your project? Call 732-244-0109 or 609-622-4001 to speak to a Designer.

LVP: THE NEXT GENERATION OF FLOORING

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LVP or Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring is a budget-friendly way to add the timeless look of hardwood to your home. It’s easy to install, easy to clean and extremely durable. 

LVP comes in many natural wood options, which makes it easy to compliment your home’s decor. This flooring is also water resistant, making it a great choice for both bathrooms and kitchens. In fact, vinyl is better at sealing against water damage than laminate and hardwood. And LVP flooring will last for decades!

Vinyl flooring is great if you have pets and children. It is scratch and stain resistant and easy to clean. It requires only routine cleaning; sweep, vacuum, and mop your floors as you would normally do. Most of the time, a mixture of water and vinegar works well but you can also clean with a solution formulated for vinyl floors.

Lastly, vinyl plank flooring is made for the do-it-yourselfers. Those who have no experience in installing floors will find that it’s easy and relatively fast to lay down; no special tools needed.

Countertops: It’s All About The Finish

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If you’re looking for something different for your kitchen and bath countertops, look no further. New finishes have come to light in the past several years that will truly make your countertops unique.These finishes will make a big difference in the way your countertops look, feel, and perform.

Honed is a matte countertop that has a smooth surface without any gloss or high shine. This finish is particularly popular among homeowners wanting a casual look.

Brushed or leathered finish features a soft sheen that is less intense than a polished granite but includes a textured appearance giving your countertop a contemporary look.

Iced finish gives the granite a beautiful sheen and an elegant yet rugged appearance. It’s created by taking a leathered finish countertop and adding a high polish.

Have more questions about finishes?  Come in and talk to one of our design consultants.  You can also see samples firsthand of the different finishes on our granite colors in Manahawkin and Toms River today.

Beautiful Kitchen in Luxury Home with Island, Hardwood Floors, and Stainless Steel Refrigerator

Kitchen Countertops: Choosing Quartzite Countertops For Your Kitchen

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Perhaps you’ve just moved into a new home and would like to add your own personal touch or perhaps you own an existing home and it needs some remodeling. Whatever the case may be, it may be time to look at those old kitchen countertops and give them a fresh new look. There are several options you can consider when trying to decide which countertop is best for you. Quartzite is a very popular choice for kitchen countertops because it has the look of marble but is more durable and also has a high resistance to heat. It is also highly UV resistant, so there will never be a worry of fading or sun damage.

What is Quartzite?

Quartzite started it’s life as sandstone and forms when it’s joined with quartz under tremendous amounts of heat and pressure.  This process makes the quartzite harder than quartz. Some Quartzites have a more durable surface than granite, yet some quartzites have a softer surface than granite.  The surface durability varies from slab to slab.

There are many quartzite colors to suit your taste. A top seller, Fantasy Brown, is a beach toned quartzite. Another favorite Mother of Pearl has a look that’s similar to marble with veins of green, gold, and gray, and Taj Mahal has a translucent quality to it.

Benefits of Quartzite

Cost

There is a vast range in price when it comes to quartzite, depending on how exotic it is.  The thicker the slab or the more it resembles marble, the higher the price may be. Fortunately, the more common quartzite becomes, the more the price goes down.

Low Maintenance

There is not much fuss when it comes to cleaning quartzite countertops. Just soap and water will suffice as long as any spill is cleaned up immediately. There is no need for any special cleaning products.

Open Kitchen

Why Are Granite Kitchen Countertops So Popular?

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Granite has been in existence for thousands of years, but it’s only been a few decades since homeowners started using it as a decorative stone. It’s beauty and properties have revolutionized kitchens everywhere . We are going to highlight a few benefits of granite and why it has gradually become the  popular choice for home renovations.

Digital Fabrication

Our shop is fully digitized.  The templators use laser technology,  our machinists program the C&C saws and routers to cut out the specific tops, sink cut outs, and custom edges.  

15 YEAR SEALER

Granite countertops come with a standard sealer, but we also offer a 15 year sealer that gets applied once after it has been installed and for the next 15 years you will not have to worry about sealing it.  And the best part is, that it comes with a warranty against staining!

Environmentally Friendly

Here at Progressive Dimensions, we recycle our water from cutting and polishing the countertops.  

Durability and Heat Resistance

Granite can withstand years of wear and tear and will last a lifetime.  Natural stone is formed by lava and is naturally resistant to extreme temperatures. You can comfortably place a hot pan on the kitchen counter without causing any damages.

Another good thing about granite is that it’s tough enough to resist scratching. Even if you don’t use a cutting board, you will actually dull your knife and not damage the surface.

Unique Options

If you are searching for something exotic with a unique touch of style for your kitchen, granite should be your number one option.  Progressive Dimensions has hundreds of slabs, with a wide selection of colors and patterns to choose from.

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