Hoffman Fixtures shares the way they make great countertops

Oklahoma Artisan Group member, Hoffman Fixtures, shows you what they can do for countertops with their new technology. Watch and learn!

Consolidated Kitchens & Fireplaces has a great sale to benefit Homes For Our Troops

CKF in Omaha recently participated in the Artisan Group Yard Sale, with a portion of the sale benefitting Homes For Our Troops to build specially-adapted homes for injured soldiers.

About Consolidated Kitchens & Fireplaces (CKF)
Founded in 1923 as Consolidated Supply Company, the company has added locations in Des Moines, Iowa and in Lincoln, Nebraska and is now known as the specialty dealer Consolidated Kitchens & Fireplaces. CKF sells directly to dealers, builders, remodelers and consumers in the metropolitan areas of Omaha, Des Moines (Kitchens & Fireplaces), and Lincoln (Consolidated Kitchens). The company has a staff of professional designers ready to help homeowners build their dream kitchen. For additional information about CKF, please call the toll-free number at 1-800-888-2667 or email info@ckfco.com.

Consolidated Kitchens & Fireplaces brought in some real military vehicles at the granite clearance sale benefitting Homes For Our Troops.

Natural Stone Adds Warmth, Richness

After a year of belt-tightening and just “making do,” Americans are again investing in their homes — redecorating, remodeling and generally sprucing up.
The reason is simple: With mortgage money still restricted, consumers are “improving up” rather than moving up.
In the past, many families would trade up to homes that offered appealing amenities like nicer kitchens or baths. This year, consumers are looking for ways to get the appealing kitchen or bath upgrade without the expense of moving.
Homeowners are finding that luxury enhancements like natural stone countertops can be very affordable. The timeless stone is unsurpassed in bringing warmth and richness to any room.
Consider what the experts advise. Each month, HGTV’s FrontDoor.com, in partnership with DIYnetwork.com, identifies “maximum value projects” for improving different areas of the home. For getting the most value out of kitchen and bath renovations, they recommend upgrading countertops to natural stone.
Granite, marble, limestone and soapstone are popular options. The recommendation for bathroom improvement was simpler: Upgrade to granite countertops.
Stone countertops have become more affordable as demand has increased and as new technology has made it easier to cut and polish the stone. And the selection is unparalleled-greater than any other countertop surface.
“Granite countertops are becoming all the rage,” writes KitchenKool.com, an online consumer information guide that does not sell products directly and is not affiliated with any manufacturer. “They’re almost as hard as diamond, easy to maintain, heat resistant and come in a range of over 3,000 colors to enhance the beauty and usefulness of your kitchen or bath forever.”
There are some options that can help you get the most bang for your buck for granite countertops:
•Color-Select a more popular variety of granite and it can be more affordable. Select a more exotic and rare variety and it can cost a bit more.
•Edge Profile – More intricate profiles require more work and can increase the cost of the stone. A simpler style still looks elegant but will cost less.
•Thickness of Slab – The most popular is the 1-1⁄4-inch slab, but check availability of 3⁄4-inch slabs that provide the same beauty and durability but will likely cost less.
The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is the industry’s nonprofit trade group. If you’re looking for a supplier or fabricator of fine granite or have any other questions about natural stone countertops, the MIA’s Website http://www.marble-institute.com is a great place to research stone and stone providers.
—North American Precis Synd., Inc.

Looking for more gorgeous granite countertop information?

Check out more Artisan Group stone countertops at http://www.artisan-counters.com and like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Artisan-Group-Granite-Marble-and-Wood-Countertops/193341558012!

Gorgeous Artisan Stone Collection granite with a lifetime warranty.

Artisan Group & Top Master Give Countertops for Rachael Ray Giveaway

Jeanne and Alex McKenzie of Wamego, KS are the lucky winners of the Rachael Ray Mega Gift Away and received granite countertops from Artisan Group and Top Master in Kansas City. Readers entered through the Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine and the McKenzie’s were notified that they were the winners of new granite kitchen countertops of their choice.  

“We love our new granite countertops and how they make our kitchen look,” says Jeanne McKenzie. “It was so exciting to be chosen by Everyday with Rachael Ray and great working with Top Master.”  

 “The partnership between Artisan and Every Day with Rachael Ray makes perfect sense because the Artisan Group provides the products necessary for an amazing kitchen, and Rachael Ray shares the way to prepare great meals,” says Chad Seiders, Executive Director, Artisan Group.  

The McKenzies chose Giallo San Francisco granite with a 3/8″ roundover edge and topped off the look with a brand new silgranit sink!