Category: Interior Design

How to Choose the Perfect Stone Slab for Your Kitchen Island

In your Tampa kitchen remodel, the island truly is the heart of the room. It’s a coffee spot, gathering hub, and even a conversation starter. And the stone slab you choose? It sets the entire tone. But picking the right slab takes some thought. Beyond style considerations, you need to balance function and maintenance—all in one perfect piece. Here’s how to choose a stone slab for your kitchen island that looks stunning and works beautifully in your daily life.

Top Stone Slab Options

First things first: what’s the rock star of your kitchen going to be? Each stone has its own personality—strengths, weaknesses, and even quirks. Some classic choices include:

• Quartz:It’s durable, non-porous, and very stain-resistant. Quartz is truly a low-maintenance dream. Perfect for busy families or anyone who knows they’ll spill wine at some point.
• Granite: Heat-resistant. Each slab is one-of-a-kind, so if you fall in love with a piece, claim it.
• Marble: Luxurious. But soft. Expect etching and stains—it ages like leather, beautifully but with character.

Looking for a stone slab with a little more pizazz? Some popular options right now include:

• Quartzite:Looks like marble but acts like granite. Natural, durable, and ready for anything you throw at it.
• Soapstone:Soft to the touch, rich in character, and develops a stunning patina over time. Perfect if you love a lived-in look.
• Onyx:The standout of stones. It’s gorgeous and dramatic, but high-maintenance. Best for showpiece islands where style leads over function.

Learn More: Why Colorful Stone Is One of the Hottest Design Trends for Kitchens & Bathrooms

Size Considerations

Kitchen islands are big. Your slab needs to be bigger. A single, seamless slab without joints or seams gives that “wow” factor. But remember: large slabs are heavy (we’re talking really heavy), so your cabinets—and your floor—need to be ready to support it. And let’s talk thickness.

• 25 inches (standard):Sleek, classic, and works for almost any style.
• 2 inches:A step up. Thicker, bolder, and adds presence.
• 3 inches:The power move. Thick, dramatic, and impossible to ignore.

Our tip: If you want the look of a chunky island without the weight (or cost), consider a mitered edge—where the stone is cut and joined to look thicker than it is.

Edges

Edges aren’t just details. They’re personality. And they affect both the style and the safety of your island. The most popular edge styles include:

• Straight Edge:Clean, modern, minimal. Works with almost any design.
• Beveled Edge:A subtle angle that adds elegance without being too ornate.
• Ogee Edge:Curved and classic. Best for traditional or formal kitchens.
• Waterfall Edge: Bold. The stone flows down the sides, making your island a true centerpiece.

And if you have kids running around? Softer, rounded edges are a must. No sharp corners, fewer bruises.

Always Consider Maintenance

Love the look of marble but live with three kids and a golden retriever? Be honest about your lifestyle. Remember: no stone is completely carefree. Use cutting boards. Wipe up spills. And reseal when needed. Here’s a simple maintenance breakdown:

• Low Maintenance:Quartz, soapstone.
• Moderate Maintenance:Granite, quartzite (requires sealing).
• High Maintenance:Marble, onyx (stains and etches easily).

Learn More: What Is the Most Durable Vanity and Countertop Material?

Plan for Lighting

A stunning slab under bad lighting is a crime. Lighting brings out the colors, patterns, and textures in your stone. Pendant lights, recessed lights, or under-cabinet lighting can transform how your island looks and feels.

Our tip: If you’re going with a dramatic stone (like onyx), consider backlighting. Yes—backlighting. It can make translucent stones glow from within, turning your island into a literal centerpiece.

Create the Focal Point of Your Kitchen—We Can Help

Choosing the perfect stone for your kitchen island should go far beyond looks. Consider how it feels. How it works for your life. And how it becomes part of your space’s story. At Revive Design and Renovation, we help you pick a slab that becomes a centerpiece—one that you’ll love every day, in every light, with every touch. Ready to start your Tampa kitchen remodel with an unforgettable island? It all starts with choosing the perfect stone—stop by our Tampa showroom today or call us at (813) 328-7935 to get started!

It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere: 5 Features Every Wine Enthusiast Should Add To Their Kitchen

If you’re a wine enthusiast, then you already have a taste for the finer things in life. You deserve to have your own special area for partaking in a glass whenever you want! Consider these specialized kitchen features that are designed for wine lovers and make your wishes come true when you reach out to Revive Design and Renovation:

1. Chilled Wine Makes For a Great Time

Some wines are best enjoyed chilled, but pulling a bottle out of your regular fridge can make the experience feel underwhelming. Small wine fridges are made to proudly display your collection while blending into your existing kitchen cabinetry for a seamless look. If your wine collection is a bit on the larger side, wine fridges can be made tall just like any other refrigerator but with a glass front and tilted cubbies for an easy view of your bottles.

2. Your Wine Collection Is a Masterpiece. Display It Like One!

For wine to be enjoyed at room temperature like fine reds, custom wine racks keep your bottles within reach while turning your collection into an artsy display. There’s a wine rack for every type of connoisseur. Classic homebodies can find comfort in beautiful lattice shelves while the more practical enjoyer may opt for a simple scalloped display. Modern homeowners are going for recessed or built-in smart storage that maintains an open atmosphere while offering a place to store multiple wine bottles.

3. Stellar Cellars Keep Wine Lovers Happy

When kitchen shelves alone aren’t enough to hold your extensive wine collection, walk-in wine cellars are every enthusiast’s dream. Include a hidden pantry layout in your kitchen remodel or carve out a cellar underneath a nearby staircase for expansive storage that can hold countless bottles. Equip your new wine cellar with temperature control for preservation and accent lighting to set the mood for optimal enjoyment and a space to show off when hosting.

4. Raise Your Glass to Some Good Wine

There’s more to being a dedicated wine enthusiast than having a place to keep your bottles. A good glass of wine also needs, well, a glass. Keep your wine glasses within reach and display them proudly with hanging wine glass racks that glisten in the light. Proper storage can also help you find the right type of glass with a clear view of your entire glassware set without having to dig deep into your cabinets.

5. Be the Best Bartender You Know, Right At Home!

Rummaging through your junk drawer for a corkscrew is anything but fancy. Show that you are a true connoisseur by having a dedicated bar with all of the tools you need to indulge in a glass of wine with ease. Use this bar to entertain guests during parties and get-togethers as a testament to your incredible hosting skills!

Revive Design and Renovation Shares a Toast to Your Brand-New Kitchen

Share your love for wine with us and we’ll hook you up with all of the essentials in your new kitchen remodel! Live in luxury with a dedicated wine fridge, walk-in wine cellar, or bar area so you can enjoy your next glass in the best way possible. Schedule a consultation with Revive Design and Renovation today to start dreaming of your wine-centered kitchen space!

Sustainable & Versatile: 6 Kitchen Design Features That Just Make Sense

Spray a banana peel with gold paint and what do you get? Glorified trash. That’s not how you want others to perceive your new kitchen, but that’s what you’ll end up with if you go all-in with the aesthetics and forgo practical options. You can avoid disaster by incorporating sustainable and versatile kitchen features that help the functionality of your kitchen in the style you crave.

Take a look at these examples of sustainable and versatile kitchen features that just make sense before sharing your ideas with the expert kitchen designers at Revive Design and Renovation:

1. Curated Stations For Your Favorite Indulgences

Do you have a favorite ritual that you do in your kitchen every single day? Why not have everything you need all in one spot? Designated areas for specific indulgences like making coffee or pouring a glass of wine can keep you from making unnecessary rounds in the kitchen. This option is definitely for you if you find yourself grabbing a mug over here and reaching for a spoon over there every single morning. The best part? You can adapt this area to fit your changing fixations as time flies!

2. An All-In-One Kitchen Island With a Can-Do Attitude

Kitchen islands that do nothing but add an extra counter to your space are nothing but untapped potential. Make it more useful by adding cabinets and outlets, or transform it into a mini prep station by adding a small sink and a single burner off to the side.

3. Hidden Pull-Out Stools When You Need a Lift

Every cook who’s smaller in stature knows how tedious it can be to whip out the stool anytime you need to get into the upper cabinets. Save yourself the trouble by installing a pull-out step stool that blends in with your cabinetry! If you don’t need a stool, this bottom-level pull-out can also be used for hidden pet bowls to be kept out of sight until it’s feeding time.

4. Water-Conscious Faucets For Every Use

The best upgrades are the ones with a return on investment. If you find yourself gawking at the price of your water bill every month, it might be time to swap out your kitchen faucet for a newer model. Modern kitchen faucets are built for optimal water consumption, offering a variety of gentle spray settings for different uses.

5. Smart Cabinet Features to Spark Your “Eureka” Moment

Curated cabinet features designed to hold certain kitchen essentials will never go out of style, adding to your home’s property value while making life easier in the moment. Minimize your total walking distance by knowing exactly where everything is at all times, right where you need them most!

Take a look at the most popular internal cabinet accessories for inspiration when designing your revamped kitchen space.

6. LED Lighting Is Obvious But Underestimated

A great way to save energy and adapt your kitchen’s lighting at will is by upgrading to LED bulbs. You might be thinking that this isn’t anything new, but people often underestimate just how much they could be saving on electricity with this simple swap. Most LED lights can be controlled via remote control or smartphone app to dim or increase the brightness or change the tone according to the mood you want to set.

Get a Kitchen That’ll Last You a Lifetime. Reach Out to Revive Design and Renovation Today!

Do any of these upgrades stand out to you? Just let our design team know and we’ll make it happen! Reach out to Revive Design and Renovation today to get started on planning out your new kitchen remodel complete with sustainable upgrades and valuable versatility in your everyday life.

The Kitchen Work Triangle: Timeless Or Outdated?

There are endless ways to design a kitchen, and one concept that may come up during a remodel is that of the kitchen work triangle. Homeowners often wonder if this tactic is still relevant to this day, and any busy cook will tell you “yes” without hesitation. Find out why the kitchen work triangle is timeless and why you should ask the professional home designers at Revive Design and Renovation Brandon to use it in your kitchen remodel!

The Kitchen Work Triangle Has Been Timeless Since the Roaring ’20s

The kitchen work triangle originated in the 1920s, and it’s even better than a juicy love triangle in a romance novel. Each point of the triangle signifies a vital aspect of the kitchen, those being the stove, sink, and fridge. Maintaining a kitchen work triangle ensures that your most important tasks can be done with exceptional flow and minimal disruptions. It’s rather genius and has stayed true to this day a hundred years later.

The Recipe to Making the Best Kitchen Work Triangle

Unlike the Bermuda Triangle, there are no mysteries shrouding the kitchen work triangle layout. The rules are very straightforward and easy enough to follow:

1. Each side of the triangle must stay within 4-9 feet long.
2. The perimeter of the triangle should remain within 13-26 feet.
3. The triangle should not cross any solid fixtures.

The point of these rules is to ensure that you can navigate the triangle with ease, allowing you to experience the functionality and convenience that this layout aims to uphold. If you have too many cabinets in the way of a flawless kitchen work triangle, smart storage solutions incorporate versatile designs that can clear a path for an unobstructed triangle.

Almost every kitchen type can utilize the kitchen work triangle, including parallel, L-shaped, U-shaped, and G-shaped counters or kitchens with separate islands.

Other factors that can determine how well your kitchen work triangle operates may depend on the amount of space you have to work within your kitchen, the number of people who occupy the kitchen at any given time to help cook, and the presence of additional appliances like dishwashers, microwaves, wine storage, and so on.

When deciding if an island makes sense for your kitchen, it might help to know that it can be easier to design a kitchen work triangle with the added counter space of an island.

Bottom Line – Kitchen Work Triangles Will Never Be Outdated. Here’s Why:

The short answer is no, kitchen work triangles are not outdated. There’s too much value in peak functionality that solidifies the kitchen work triangle as an untouchable staple in home design. Modern homeowners may want to stay away from the triangle to prioritize making space for socializing over actual cooking, but this can prove cumbersome during rare homemade meals and can ultimately hurt property value.

Envision Your Own Kitchen Work Triangle With Revive Design and Renovation!

Revive Design and Renovation Brandon knows everything about creating the perfect kitchen work triangle for your new space. Reach out to us today to ask about our kitchen remodel services and start witnessing the power of a beautiful kitchen work triangle!

How To Tell Whether You Should Replace vs Reface Your Kitchen Cabinetry

Are your kitchen cabinets nothing but an eyesore? You don’t have to subject yourself to the painfully ordinary when there are so many ways to touch up your cabinets! Find out whether replacing or refacing your cabinets is best for your kitchen. Whatever you decide, Revive Design and Renovation is here to make your dream kitchen a reality!

The Difference Between Replacing and Refacing Cabinets

“Replace” is, unfortunately, used often as a catch-all term for upgrading kitchen cabinets. But when you replace your kitchen cabinets, that includes everything from the door to the box. Refacing your cabinet only involves swapping out the doors and leaving the box as-is. Think of a reface as changing the “face” of your cabinet. The difference between a replacement and a refacing is like the difference between a remodel and a refresh in the sense that both terms seem similar but the finer details are nothing alike.

The Perks of Simply Refacing Your Kitchen Cabinets

Many homeowners consider refacing their cabinets because it’s a more affordable choice that leads to drastic results. If you’re satisfied with your cabinet boxes just how they are, then a reface may be all you need for that glow-up you desire. Refacing your kitchen cabinets also takes less time to implement which can save you more money on labor.

Here are some excellent reasons for going with a kitchen cabinet refacing:

• Undergoing a full kitchen refresh
• Changing up your kitchen’s theme or aesthetic
• Replacing worn-out cabinet doors

Refacing your kitchen cabinets will allow you to customize your cabinet doors with endless style combinations. Choose from exciting color palettes, modern hardware pieces, authentic wood materials, and unique frame styles!

Times When You’ll Have to Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets

When you can achieve the desired effect at a lower price and less construction, it can be hard to imagine choosing a cabinet replacement over a reface. Depending on the demands of your kitchen remodel, however, there’s a chance you’ll have no choice but to tear down your existing cabinet boxes.

A kitchen cabinet replacement may be unavoidable in these scenarios:

• Changing the structural layout of the kitchen
• Taking down walls for an open-space floor plan
• Updating the cabinet boxes to support modern cabinet features

With the many ways cabinets transform your kitchen space, having to replace them is sometimes the only way to achieve your remodeling goals. Your home designer will be able to tell you if replacing your cabinets is absolutely necessary for the look you’re going for.

Making the Right Choice For Your Kitchen Remodel

Choosing between having to replace or reface your kitchen cabinets comes down to countless factors. Begin by picking out your biggest priorities and figuring out which option best aligns with them. If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen on a budget, refacing your cabinets can give your space an all-new look while keeping more cash in your pocket. For full-scale kitchen transformations, replacing your cabinets can lead to more impactful results.

Imagine Your New Kitchen With Revive Design and Renovation!

Schedule a consultation with Revive Design and Renovation to come up with the best solution for your kitchen remodel. Just tell us what you want and we’ll help you decide whether replacing or refacing your kitchen cabinets is the best way to go!