Innovative Surfaces Partners with Century College to Provide Severely Disabled Residents Remodeled Homes Through Homeward Bound

Santa Cecilia granite kitchen for Homeward Bound project.

Innovative Surfaces team installing the granite countertops for Homeward Bound

Innovative Surfaces team at Homeward Bound installation

For the fourth consecutive year, Innovative Surfaces in Hastings has donated the granite countertop fabrication and installation for the Homeward Bound project, in conjunction with Century College. Homeward Bound is a nonprofit organization that houses severely disabled individuals, with around-the-clock caregivers. Century College Kitchen and Bath Design Students design the spaces and then the students at St. Paul College do the carpentry work, build cabinets and install. Architectural Granite & Marble provided the granite countertop slabs for the project.

“It is always a rewarding project,” says Margaret Krohn CKD, ASID, Faculty Century College. “We design the kitchens and other spaces to be more functional for the staff and residents. They buy site homes integrated into neighborhoods. We have many items donated for the spaces that need work, such as flooring, countertops, appliances, etc., and are grateful to have sponsors such as Innovative Surfaces. Innovative Surfaces does a lot for our Kitchen and Bath Design program as well.”

Century College is a local community college with highly regarded Kitchen and Bath Design Program, accredited by the NKBA.

“We feel strongly about the goodwill of this organization and the impact it has on the lives of those who otherwise may not be able to afford such modifications to their homes
says Kellie Akins, Marketing Manager, Innovative Surfaces. “The project provides us a platform to work along with, and gain exposure to, students working to receive certification in the Kitchen & Bath industry.”

This year’s design project consisted of the kitchen and medical/work area. This area is where the staff can store and prepare all medications for the residents. There also is a desk for the residents to use. The kitchen design provided a peninsula for the residents to use for various activities, including entertaining, when the residents’ families come to visit. The students each had their own design for the space, as a part of their final project for their Basic Kitchen and Bath Design class. Students also presented their project and ideas to the Homeward Bound representatives. The team at Homeward Bound then selected the components they liked from all of the designs, and final kitchen plans were drafted. The students at St. Paul College built and installed the cabinetry.

Innovative Surfaces
Innovative Surfaces, located at 2620 Industrial Court Hastings, MN 55033, is a wholesale selection center open M-F 8 am to 4:30pm, by appointment. Visit them online at http://www.innovativesurfaces.com.

Homeward Bound
Homeward Bound is a non-profit organization that houses severely disabled individuals, with around-the-clock caregivers. Photos of the kitchen remodel can be seen here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homewardboundmn/sets/72157632652384516/page4/

Majestic “Kitchen & Bath Creations” Debuts New Raleigh Showroom

The gorgeous new selection center at Majestic Marble & Glass in Raleigh.

There are some beautiful countertop choices at the new Majestic Marble & Glass showroom in Raleigh.

Artisan Group member Majestic Marble & Glass Co. and Constrata Surface Innovations has opened its new Raleigh location showroom/selection center. The new selection center features Artisan Stone Collection granite & marble, Heritage Wood, Saratoga Soapstone, as well as cast polymer countertops. In addition, visitors will find cultured marble shower pans, tubs, wall surrounds, custom glass shower enclosures, and mirrors as well as sinks, faucets and bath accessories.

“We have revamped our selection center with larger slabs, and shower and tub configurations, to allow our customers to come in and enjoy the selection process,” says Danny Cox, co-owner, Majestic Marble and Glass Co.

The Majestic “Kitchen & Bath Creations” selection center, located at 6210 Plantation Center Drive in Raleigh, is open to the public, builders, remodelers and homeowners. Showroom hours are Mon.-Friday, 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm.

About Majestic “Kitchen & Bath Creations”
Majestic “Kitchen & Bath Creations” is located in Youngsville, near Raleigh, NC, and provides manufacturing and installation of quality kitchen, bath, and commercial products in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Services are available to developers, contractors, homeowners, designers, and fabricators. Founded in 1990, as Majestic Marble and Glass Co., the company specializes in the manufacturing and installation of cultured marble products, shower enclosures and mirrors, as well as granite, quartz, and solid surface countertop fabrication and installation. Majestic has showrooms in Raleigh, Youngsville and Wilmington. For more information, visit http://www.gomajestic.com.

Artisan Stone Collection Granite and Wood Countertops on DIY’s “Run My Renovation”

Look at this gorgeous “after” shot with Artisan Stone Collection Bianco Antico Granite and a wine cart out of Heritage Wood Black Walnut.

This is the couple’s kitchen “before” the DIY Network “Run My Renovation” episode.

This couple was so happy to get their new kitchen and Artisan Group is so proud to be a part of that transformation.

Here is the couple at Artisan Group member Smokey Mountain Tops in Knoxville, seeing how their countertop is cut.

Check our granite out on DIY Network’s “Run My Renovation” again! Love DIY and Steve Lawler!

Innovative Surfaces Opens New Selection Center

Even with the threat of 12″ of snow, Innovative Surfaces in Hastings, MN had an excellent turn out at its 5,500 square-foot showroom grand opening event.  Innovative Surfaces formally debuted the new space to its loyal customers with help from extremely supportive vendor partners. “This new Selection Center is a space full of warmth and inspiration where wholesale customers can send, or bring their homeowners for a comprehensive selection experience,” said Kellie Akins, Marketing Manager at Innovative Surfaces. She added, “We have an engaging showroom where customers can be educated on premium surfacing options, with custom sales tools to guide them through their selection experience.  We are seeing some awe-inspired reactions from our customers as they first experience it.”

This showroom offers a more spacious display area with both residential and commercial fabrication techniques and ideas, as well as a training room. Display products include: Artisan Stone Collection granite & marble, Heritage Wood, Cambria Quartz, and Corian. There also is a great variety in plumbing fixtures including Elkay and Kohler sinks and faucets.

Innovative Surfaces provides dual screen, photographic slab layout for its exotic stone line, allowing the homeowner to truly experience how their selected stone will look in their specific countertop layout.

 

The Innovative Surfaces showroom has expanded to include many more selection tools.

 

Artisan Group Executive Director Chad Seiders was on hand to celebrate Innovative Surfaces new showroom with owner Bruce Akins.

Innovative Surfaces, located at 2620 Industrial Court Hastings, MN 55033, is a wholesale selection center open M-F 8 am to 4:30pm, by appointment. Visit them online at http://www.innovativesurfaces.com.

Artisan Group granite and Wood countertops featured at K/BIS

What a gorgeous booth!

Artisan Group was honored to have our Golden Crystal granite and Heritage Wood countertops featured in the 2013 Wellborn Cabinets booth at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in New Orleans.

More than a half century of progress | 2013-04-01 | Stone World

More than a half century of progress | 2013-04-01 | Stone World.

Gorgeous White Marble and Distressed Wood Countertop Photos

Wow! Check out this stunning kitchen with Artisan Stone Collection in Calacatta Gold White Marble mixed with Heritage Wood Distressed Black Walnute. What a beautiful fabrication and installation by Artisan Group member company, Construction Resources/Atlanta Kitchen. If you are in Georgia, Florida or Alabama visit http://crhomeusa.com. For anywhere else in North America, visit http://www.artisan-counters.com to find a store near you!

Artisan Stone Collection Calacatta Gold Marble

Heritage Wood Distresses Black Walnut countertops by Artisan Group

Calacatta Gold Marble & Heritage Wood Distressed Black Walnut kitchen

Calacatta Gold Marble

Rocky Mountain Stone Shows Support By Going Bald

Rocky Mountain Stone (Albuquerque) Customer Service Manager Diane Santiago was diagnosed with cancer about 3 months ago and started chemo about 6 weeks ago. Rocky Mountain Stone President Scott Lardner and some fellow employees shaved their heads in support of Diane during this very challenging time. From left to right, CAD Tech Gabe Armijo, Shop Foreman Leonel Payen, President Scott Lardner, Diane Santiago, and Template Tech Nash Lujan. Way to Go Rocky Mountain Stone! Diane, Artisan Group sends our thoughts and prayers.

Blume’s Solid Surface Products in Pittsburgh Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Blume’s Solid Surface Products in Pittsburgh is proud to celebrate 25 years of business. Gus Blume and his wife, Dorothy, started a laminate countertop fabrication shop in 1972 (Topcraft), sold that business in 1988 and started Blume’s Solid Surface Products. Blume’s added their current stone operation in 2004 and since have been a full-service solid surface, granite and quartz fabrication shop located just outside Pittsburgh and servicing western Pennsylvania, and eastern Ohio. Blume’s offers Artisan Stone Collection granite and marble, Heritage Wood and Saratoga Soapstone, as well as solid surface and quartz countertop products.

Blume’s was the first stone fabricator in Pennsylvania and the 18th in the world to achieve accreditation from the Marble Institute of America (MIA). MIA Accreditation for natural stone fabricators recognizes those companies that meet the industry’s highest standards for business activities, product knowledge, fabrication and installation. 

Gus Blume has served on the Artisan Group (association of countertop fabricators) board of directors for a two-year term and also on the ISFA (International Surface Fabricators Association) board of directors for six years. Blume’s is a wholesale only company selling to kitchen dealers, contractors, millwork houses and builders. For the Blume’s dealer nearest you, visit http://www.blumes.net.

Blumes Solid Surface Products
Blume’s, incorporated in 1988, is a full service fabricator of solid surface, quartz and granite countertops. Blume’s was the first MIA Accredited stone fabricator in Pennsylvania. Wholesale only, the company fabricates and installs through independent kitchen and bath dealers in Pennsylvania and Ohio. For the Blume’s dealer nearest you, visit http://www.blumes.net.

Artisan Group
Artisan Group™ is the premier network of stone fabricators in North America. Its extensive network allows the organization to offer the world’s best granite from the best sources around the globe. Utilizing the most technically advanced, automated shops in the industry, highly skilled craftsmen ensure that each and every installation meets exacting standards. In fact, all Artisan Group members have either achieved Marble Institute of America Accreditation, or have begun the process, making it the first group of granite fabricators in the world to be working towards this distinction. From classic to exotic, Artisan Group offers the most extensive array of stone and wood choices in the industry, and is dedicated to the highest level of customer service. For more information or to request a quote, visit http://www.artisan-counters.com.

Artisan Group welcomes AHI Stoneworks in Hot Springs to the Group

AHI Stoneworks Joins Elite Artisan Group

AHI Stoneworks, has been selected as a member of the Artisan Group, a national organization of 36 independent countertop fabricators who have joined together to offer their own brands of premium countertops including: Artisan Stone Collection™ granite and marble and Saratoga Soapstone. The Artisan Stone Collection is the only granite countertop with a residential limited lifetime warranty, available exclusively in Arkansas through AHI Stoneworks.

“AHI Stoneworks was a part of the Granite Buyers Club years ago that has evolved into the Artisan Group,” says Billy Shaw, co-owner, AHI Stoneworks. “We are very glad to a part of an organization with likeminded business people and a consistent quality product line. There are many good fabricators out there, but we really focus on marketing to consumers, and a strict business model. Being a part of the Artisan Group provides us with an entire support system of marketing, sharing of best practices and a sample program so we don’t have to recreate the wheel and can focus on our business. This means that consumers receive an exclusive granite, marble or soapstone product at a reasonable price.”

AHI Stoneworks founder Nick Chaich began fabricating countertops nearly three decades ago, while attending high school. Realizing that the fabrication business had potential to become much more than a beloved craft, Chaich undertook studies in business to gain the fundamental knowledge necessary to run AHI Stoneworks. AHI Stoneworks started in 1998 in a 15’x30’ space, a borrowed table saw, compressor and a Lowe’s credit card. After growing both in expertise and size, AHI now produces residential and commercial countertops at a competitive turnaround time and at the highest quality available in the industry.

Billy Shaw has a countertop background that began in 1970. He started Highland Systems in Memphis, TN in 1987 and sold the company in 2006, after reaching annual sales of $9 million and employing more than 65 people. He became involved with AHI in 2010, becoming a share holder in 2013.

AHI serves retail consumers, dealers, builders and commercial projects. The company fabricates all brands of solid surface, as well as natural stone and quartz.

About AHI Stoneworks
AHI Stoneworks has been in business for nearly 30 years and serves the residential and commercial markets. Products range from solid surface to exclusive granite. The company is the largest in central Arkansas. For more information on AHI Stoneworks, visit http://www.ahistoneworks,com, call 501-262-1622 or visit the showroom at 130 East Highway 171, Hot Springs, AR 71913.

About Artisan Group
Artisan Group is an association of premium countertop fabricators that covers most major markets in the U.S. and Canada. Its members average more than 20 years of fabrication experience in the countertop industry, and all Artisan Group members have achieved, or have begun the process to achieve, full accreditation with the Marble Institute of America–a first among granite fabricators. Brands of the Artisan Stone Collection include Exotic & Classic Granite, Modesto Granite (starting at $35/square foot) and Saratoga Soapstone. It also offers a marble collection as well as Heritage Wood surfacing products. Apart from countertops, the Artisan Group supplies the Firstline collection of granite care products as well as Kohler sinks and faucets through an exclusive specialty dealer program with the Kohler Company.  For more information, visit www.artisan-counters.com.