Slate can provide an elegance and sophistication to kitchen countertops. Slate is one natural material that has both the strength and durability of granite and marble but without the constant maintenance and care these other surfaces require.

Many kitchen design professionals regard slate as an even better natural stone surface than marble or granite, since slate kitchen countertops have a low porosity this surface requires no sealing.  Most slate countertops are considered to be stain-free. Slate countertops look great. By selecting slate for kitchen countertops, you are getting a material that has the feel and natural beauty of a natural stone.

Rarely marketed to kitchen and bath designers, slate is, one of the strongest, if not the strongest, materials you can use as a kitchen countertop, even exceeding the properties of granite. Slate, as a countertop material, has numerous properties that we need in a hard working countertop surface.

Slate kitchen countertops can be honed to a smooth, matte (that is, not shiny) finish. This honing process produces a warm, durable surface that is long lasting, strong, simplistic, and natural. Slate kitchen countertops can also be oiled to create a glossier look.

Slate kitchen countertops are available in different shapes, colors and sizes that go well with  many kitchen design styles.

Today I was listening to The Splendid Table on NPR in the car while running errands. When Lynne Rosetto Kasper mentioned her bedside table was full of design magazines, my ears perked. I have a folder full of home improvement ideas for every room in my house!

If you’re ready to put your design ideas into action, you’ll find this home improvement business directory a great place to start your research.

The categories include:

• Home Theaters
• Kitchen and Bath
• Remodeling
• Outdoor Living and Landscape
• Lighting

The directory also offers a savings guide and a calendar of events.
Move your project from the bedside table to reality today.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out just how to bring an outdoor room together to make it a peaceful spot to relax or enjoy quality time with friends and family. But if you think of it as yet another room to decorate and furnish, the space will come together more easily.

In order to create a comfortable space with pleasant atmosphere it is important to consider these details:

• Circulation – How will people walk through the space? Position a sitting area in a location where circulation will not pass directly through the space.
• Seating – Where will people be sitting? Create comfortable seating for conversation, orient chairs, sofas, and gliders towards each other, 6 to 8 feet apart; this is a comfortable distance for talking without feeling too close.
• Views – What will people be looking at when sitting? you can create focal points with trees and shrubs in the distance, or planters and ornaments closer by.

Creating a sense of enclosure is a great way to make your outdoor space more intimate; it is also a great way to create separation and privacy from your neighbors.

Add shrubs, trees, arbors, trellises, or pergolas to improve the atmosphere of your patio space and create shade.