MONMOUTH COUNTY

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New Trends

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COVID has changed our lives in many different ways. Some homeowners are now working from home permanently and are rethinking how they want to remodel their homes, especially their countertops. Because of that, Progressive Dimensions is seeing design trends that we’d like to share with you.

 

For about a decade, white on white or white with gray kitchens have dominated the industry but now we’re starting to see customers wanting to bring nature and its colors indoors by asking for quartz countertops with pops of cool blues and warm sandy hues. Many homeowners are choosing quartz or engineered stone because it gives you the beauty of natural stone with the added benefit of being highly hygienic. Calacatta Mirragio Cielo delivers those ocean blues and Empire Gold brings in rays of sunshine. Progressive recommends a matching high backsplash to add more character.  Pure white cabinets will always be popular but now some are choosing creamy off white instead. Nautical blue in cabinets is also gaining traction with handleless doors to create a simpler, more streamlined look or you can use interesting hardware to enhance your vision.

 

If you’ve started to bake while in lockdown then marble makes the perfect countertop.  Not only because it stays cool while you are working with dough but also has gorgeous movement that elevates your kitchen with saturated color.

 

Going into 2024, we will see how time and circumstances affect our style choices. Take a walk through our full slab showrooms to unlock the possibilities available to you and bring Mother Nature into your new life.

Hello, Shrewsbury!

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We know that it’s an exciting time when you’re renovating your kitchen and buying countertops is a big part of it. Recently, we welcomed our first customers at our new fourth store in Shrewsbury. They did their homework and had lots of questions. She, however, likes quartz, while he likes granite. So, we were happy to give them a tour of our indoor slab yard filled with both quartz and natural stone. And, as we talked, they learned about stone and we learned about our new community. We couldn’t have asked for better customers. We started with the difference between quartz and granite. Quartz is manmade while granite comes from deep within the earth. Quartz has beautiful, consistent veining that looks a lot like marble, while each slab of granite is unique with pretty variations throughout.

 

Care and maintenance of countertops was a big worry for these homeowners. I always assure my customers that quartz and natural stone are very durable and can definitely hold up to everyday use.  Although you shouldn’t place a hot pot on quartz, it can withstand other sources of heat like a coffee mug, a hot plate or a bowl of soup. Natural stone, on the other hand, can take a hot pot, but we recommend that you don’t make it a habit. If you need to put it on your granite or quartz top, use a trivet or pot holder. As far as stains go, cleaning up spills right away is a good rule of thumb. Natural stone such as granite, quartzite and marble, must be sealed which is why we recommend our 15 year sealer for peace of mind.  Quartz, on the other hand, does not need to be sealed at all. Wiping down your countertops with soap and water is fine or you can use countertop cleaners just as long as it doesn’t have ammonia, bleach, or vinegar. We use Windex Multi Surface on our countertops.

 

As far as colors, she was looking for white with gray veining like Borghini Silver, which is very much on trend. While he preferred a pop of color like Vivid Green which is becoming more popular. Overall, they enjoyed this part the best and were impressed with all the different stone choices.

 

Finally, we told them about our process. Not only do we have expert designers with years of experience, we also digitally template, and fabricate, as well as, install. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you through each and every step. As a family owned company in business for over 25 years, we can confidently say that we are well known in the remodeling industry.

 

They finally agreed on a quartz color called Portrush from the Cambria brand. It is white with blue veining. I guess you can say they met in the middle. 

 

Why not pay us a visit and start your own journey at one of our four locations: Shrewsbury, Toms River, Manahawkin or Egg Harbor Township. We’d love to meet you and show off our showroom and slab yards. We guarantee that we will exceed your expectations!

Cleaning Your Countertops

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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.