Welcome to My Kitchen - Paula Deen

Take a look into Food Network - All Star Chef - Paula Deen's Kitchen. Stunning!!! 

Welcome to My Kitchen 

By Gwyn Duggan From Cooking with Paula Deen, November/December 2005

When Paula and Michael built their new home, one of the main priorities was the kitchen. She wanted the kitchen to reflect her Southern heritage and have the feel of an old house. Paula wanted a serious, professional kitchen that didn't feel like one. This contradiction was accomplished using a modern floor plan but incorporating historical elements. The exposed ceiling beams and brick backsplash helped achieve an older feel. Rather than using granite for her countertops, which Paula felt was too modern, the countertops were made from soapstone. Other touches were decidedly modern giving Paula her dream kitchen that could comfortably accommodate family and friends.

After spending so much time in commercial kitchens throughout her restaurant career, Paula had grown accustomed to the amenities of professional kitchens. When she had the opportunity to tailor her own kitchen, one of the first things she required was a deep fat fryer. She had become spoiled with the ease of frying in her restaurants so she had a commercial deep fryer built right into her island. Paula finds that it makes frequent frying “a pleasure, not a chore.”

Paula also loved the convection ovens used in her restaurants. Her commercial double oven is extra large and cooks using fans to move heated air over and around the food. This ensures even baking. The oven can be a little tricky to use, since convection ovens require lower temperatures and lower bake times, but Paula loves the end results.

The family tends to congregate in the kitchen, but Paula didn't want that to impede her cooking. To keep refrigerated items easily accessible, Paula had refrigerator and freezer drawers put on the outside of her island. This way, the hungry people that gather in her kitchen can get a snack and still be out of her way while she's cooking.

To achieve warmth and comfort in her new kitchen, Paula wanted a cooking fireplace. She loves that she can cook in it, but feels the fireplace is just as important because of the welcoming atmosphere it provides. Paula loves that she can have a fire crackling in the kitchen to add a glow during the winter months.

There will be a great deal of cooking and eating going on in such an inviting kitchen and that means only one thing: dirty dishes. Paula's main sink is 48-inches with two faucets to accommodate the mess she and her family make. The sink is the size of a small bathtub and is really convenient because two people can comfortably wash dishes at the same time.

Another interesting aspect of Paula's kitchen is her appliance hutch. Paula wanted her appliances to be at countertop level but also wanted to be able to close them off from view to maintain the older look of the room. This was achieved by building an “appliance hutch.” The hutch has electrical outlets that make it practical but it looks like a piece of antique furniture when closed.

To finish her kitchen, Paula displayed her hanging copper pots and pans above the cook top. She's admitted they are mostly there for their classic look. The cast iron pan, however, is well used because, as Paula says, “Every kitchen needs one or two pieces of good old cast iron!”

Paula's kitchen maintains a homey feel despite its hugeness—the island alone is a hefty 11'x4'—because of the traditional aesthetic pieces. The overall effect is one of comfort and convenience that welcomes cooks and company alike.


http://www.pauladeenmagazine.com/articles.php?id=20


Plus check out Paula Deen's Kitchen on Rachel Ray's "I Want Paula Deen's Kitchen" makeover! 


http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/i-want-paula-deens-kitchen/

In Pursuit of the Cutting Edge

By Wendy Cole, Special to Chicago Tribune Newspapers

In Pursuit of the Cutting edge

Beyond the classic granite countertop, natural stone takes a trendy, dramatic turn

You can't go wrong with a granite countertop. It's durable, low-maintenance and attractive. But, with dramatic slabs of heavily veined marble and other, more exotic natural stones popping up in high-gloss designer kitchens and baths, those familiar tightly-speckled surfaces don't always bring out the oohs and aahs the way they used to. If you're seeking to set your kitchen or bathroom apart, other stone options are catching on that could one day bring America's decades-long infatuation with granite to a grinding halt.

In fact Bo Barkley, co-owner of Dorado Soapstone of Texas , is counting on it. When he and his business partner became soapstone wholesalers three years ago, it was admittedly a gamble to specialize in a single stone, particularly one whose last heyday was more than a century ago. "Soapstone was a popular material for counter and sinks in the early 1900s. It fell out of favor after a while but we believed it was going to revive itself when we got into the business." And their efforts have proved correct. In their first year in business, their Austin-Texas-based business was lucky to get four or five kitchen contracts a month. Today, even in this dodgy economy, they average 30 each month, which is even more impressive as this high-end finished product can cost up to $85 a square foot, equivalent to a high-end granite installation.

Still soapstone has something of an image problem which Barkley and his colleagues are working hard to correct though blogging, education forums with builders and other outreach efforts. It "sounds" like it wouldn't be tough. Like soap, the name suggests it could flake off or easily stain. Barkley notes that's not true. "It's non-porous and doesn't need to be sealed with a chemical agent.." As for aesthetics, it's a great alternative to the familiar high gloss look of granite and marble [which do need sealants]. It has a matte finish and is available in a range of colors from grays and black to dark green. "Its long wispy veins resemble marble more than granite," Barley said. And it is strong. "Before it became popular in kitchens, it was best known as a counter or work bench material in science labs. "Soapstone is also excellent as a trim product, where its used in window sills or for backsplash tiles.

Another high-end stone that is turning heads used to be best known for its use in altars and houses of worship. Onyx, considered a semi-precious stone, is a strictly high end product (at least $100 per square foot). It can be used in countertops or more discrete applications such as sinks, or backsplashes. Available in a wide color range from white to green, its translucent appearance gives it an alluring appeal.

Quartz offerings which nearly always include resins or other non-stone components are gaining in popularity as the brand options increase. A quartz product called Cambria is the top choice of StoneTrends, a fabricating company in Chesterfield, Mo. About a quarter of the quartz sold in the U.S. is under the Cambria brand, said StoneTrends owner Ted Liebig. Cambria is touted as being virtually maintenance-free, with no sealing or polishing necessary. It is now available in more than 80 colors from Bala Blue to Cardigan Red with the company adding 21 new hues in the past few months alone. Quartz appeals to people who want a consistent look as opposed to the random patterns of granite or marble.

Limestone is also gaining fans, particularly in bathrooms or around fireplaces, or as tiled backsplashes. "As an accent, limestone is great. It can provide a nice rustic feel if you're interested in that look," said Lynley Serratt, a designer with Palmer Todd Kitchen Interiors in San Antonio, Texas. "Because its edges are often thick, you don't want to use it as a countertop in a small kitchen. It would dwarf the room," she said.

If you remain partial to granite, however, there's more to discover than when you first encountered it 10 or 20 years ago. No longer strictly a luxury item, it's available at every price point with much more variety in styles and textures than in the past. Damar Natural Stone Imports, a wholesaler in Northbrook, Illinois, sells a popular mid-rage granite known as Nordic Black Antique that looks and feels like suede. Though durable as ever, "it feels soft like a puppy's belly," said salesperson Carol Kegel. And the colors are far more varied with more cool tones in the taupey-gray family and warmer ones like honey. "The last five years have really exploded with options in granite," added Kegel.

Whatever stone you choose, don't overlook details like edging in the pursuit of something distinctive. From double bullnose to beveled, edging options are also expanding with more consumers opting for mitered edges up to four inches thick, though the fancier the edge the higher the price. And the edging possibilities go beyond design complexity. One of the hottest phenomenon is mixing mediums in a single room. "Some people are choosing quartz countertops with the edges made from glass," said Serratt. "Or granite can share space with quartz or wood with limestone." Any combination is possible for those who choose to leave no stone unturned.

A Stone for Every Budget

Lower end

$20-$40 sq. ft.( installed)

Slate-good for backsplashes, fire places and other accents

Granites (familiar tightly speckled, prefabricated counters)

Medium Budget

$40-$80 sq. ft. (installed)

Soapstone

Marble

Limestone (undulating surface can make it expensive to fabricate for large pieces like countertops)

Quartz products such as Cambria

More exotic granite (design has vivid movement and flow)

High-End Budget

$80-$250 sq. ft. (installed)

Onyx

Glass (Recycled such as Vetrazzo or non-recycled)

Rare granite with highly unusual veining

Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune

Review: Soapstone versus Granite and Quartz

Fazzolri Custom Homes and Renovation, recently finished a kitchen remodel in Vancouver using Soapstone. Originally they were attracted to its old world style and functional qualities. After having such great success with this project and having great reviews from the home owners, the Fazzolari decided to do a cost/benefit analysis of Soapstone in comparison to Granite and Quartz.  Look at the comparisons and see what makes Soapstone such a unique product. 

Review: Soapstone versus Granite and Quartz

As Fazzolari Custom Homes and Renovation,  the granite countertop trend continues to slowly ebb in high-end homes, other alternatives are starting to pick up in popularity. The National Kitchen & Bath Association recently conducted its 2010 survey of designers and found that although granite was still the number one choice for new countertops, quartz was closing the gap.

While granite and quartz are the overwhelming choice for most homeowners, we just completed a kitchen remodel in Vancouver, WA where we installed soapstone countertops in the kitchen. The homeowners, Jim and Liz Luce, loved the understated look of the material in contrast to the flashier polished granite and quartz. We thought we’d take our recent experience and compare soapstone with the other two familiar products:

Granite
Granite has been popular for many years because of the wide variety of styles that can be found and because it has depth and when polished has a lot of sparkle from crystals embedded in the stone. Although these “inclusions” are the bane of good diamonds, they give polished granite depth, interest, and a randomness that can be hard to replicate in man-made materials. But these inclusions also give granite it’s main weakness: it’s porous, which means it needs to be maintained regularly and can harbor bacteria. I have it in my home and do not maintain it according to the “recommended rules”. I don’t seal it, I use Windex to clean it (which is a no-no), and I don’t worry about it. I have a family with kids, so I’m not going to lose sleep over maintaining my granite countertops!

Quartz
In the meantime, quartz countertops are engineered from natural quartz crystals that are joined using a resin and then formed into slabs by the manufacturers. This means that unlike granite, quartz is not porous. But it also means it can’t take the same heat as granite, so you will need to keep the hottest pots and pans on trivets. The engineering process also means that quartz can be chosen in specific colors, giving designers more control over the finished look. This is a material that can withstand neglect.

Soapstone
Soapstone is coming back into popularity. It was used as an old-world building material and often found in older American homes. It features a matte finish and is really only available in dark grey. It’s very durable, not particularly absorbent and stains stay on the surface of the stone and can be scrubbed off. In fact, it can be completely refinished to look new, even after 100 years of use. Another option is to oil the soapstone. This will provide a darker look, but will require a little work at least in the early years of your counter. Owners also tend to love it or hate it after living with it for a few years because it gets darker and develops a patina after a lot of use.

Here are some things to consider:

	Granite	Quartz	Soapstone
General Cost (not including installation)	$70-$100 per sq. ft.	$70-$100 per sq ft.	$70-$100 per sq ft.
Choices	Many natural and random colors and styles.	Many colors, fewer random patters than granite.	Most often found in dark grey, with light gray veins.
Installation	Can be expensive to install in slab form, brittle, and can break during installation.	Pre-determined slab sizes can lead to more seams in installation. Easier to install than granite.	About the same installation difficulty as granite.
Care	Mild soap and water only, NO abrasives, reseal every 6 months to a year.	No sealing, soap and water or glass cleaner	No sealing. Can use mineral oil regularly to darken. A patina develop over time. Can be cleaned with household cleaners.
Durability/use	Since it’s porous, granite can harbor bacteria. Extremely hard. It can chip and stain, but it is scratch resistant. Hot pots and pans can be placed directly on the surface.	Very hard and durable, not prone to staining or scratching. Not as heat resistant as granite. VERY difficult to repair.	Feels soft to the touch but is very durable. Scratches easily but also easy to repair. Resistant to acids and alkalies. Absorbs heat – hot pans can be placed on it. Gets darker in color as it ages and oxidizes.
Longevity*	Personally, I like granite but think it suffers from overuse. Some styles, if maintained, will stand the test of time while others, such as some solids and granite tiles, will date many high-end homes built during this era. But it is my favorite for easy care and daily use.	Since it is an engineered product, I think quartz will have its moment in the kitchen then go the way of the Dodo. But if you have your heart set on a particular color – it may be your best bet.	Because of its limited colors, won’t see very wide use and therefore is a good choice for a timeless look. Its use in early American history also helps. I love the oiled soapstone, but don’t know that I would like the labor involved. Many people love it or hate it when it develops a patina. Finally, it’s rough finish can, over the years, scratch your glasses, dishes and pans.

* Remember, this is just my opinion.

Which to choose
Each of these materials costs about the same per square foot and have similar installation costs. Each brings something different to the countertop party. If you like the randomness and variety of natural stone and don’t mind occasional maintenance, granite is a great option. If you want a low-maintenance countertop that has consistent coloration and can be chosen quite precisely to match other colors in your design, choose quartz. If you want something old-world yet unique in modern construction, like the color, and don’t mind its maintenance or tendency to change in shade over time, then soapstone will be a great option.

Review: Soapstone versus Granite and Quartz

Practical Luxury

(SUMMER 2008) - Louise Negri can't remember the exact instant she was introduced to soapstone but says it seems like forever she had dreamed of installing it in her kitchen. When she recently built a ranch outside Austin, her dream became reality.

Previously owning and operating an interior design franchise, Negri fell in love with the rich colors and rustic appeal of soapstone.

"Soapstone's combination of functionality and beauty gives it a unique character that surpasses other natural stones," says Negri.

A dense, non-porous metamorphic rock, soapstone is virtually indestructible due to its inert and thermal characteristics. Its integrity and beauty are steadfast, uncompromised by chemicals, food spills or heat, making soapstone the perfect medium for kitchen countertops.

Negri contacted Dorado Soapstone, an importer and wholesaler of authentic Brazilian soapstone varieties, including Beleza, Beleza Leathered and Minas, to learn more about its unique offerings."Dorado imports stone from a number of quarries all over Brazil. Our Beleza slabs are very unique because they're excavated approximately 1,000 kilometers from the coast, making them harder and larger with more intense colors compared to other soapstone varieties on the market," says Bo Barkley, co-owner of Dorado Soapstone.

Beleza soapstone is deep gray to black with dramatic veining. Beleza Leathered has been wire brushed to create rustic appeal, and Minas is black with white veining throughout. Limited edition seasonal stones are available when unique samples are unearthed.

Soapstone does not require sealers. Its non-porous surface impedes bacteria growth, and imperfections are easily removed with light sanding and mineral oil, which also can be applied for aesthetic enhancement. "Many homeowners oil their soapstone to enrich the depth of color and movement throughout the stone," says Ashley Larrick, co-owner of Dorado Soapstone. "However, some prefer the stone's natural finish, which will patina with time."

Through its constant supply chain, Dorado is the reliable soapstone source for homeowners and contractors looking to impart timeless appeal to their homes. Negri was pleased with Dorado's expertise and customer-centric process that enabled her to personally select a deep black slab for her island countertop at a competitive price.

"Soapstone was the practical choice for my high-traffic kitchen," says Negri. "Its durable beauty means freedom from endless maintenance, and that makes life easier."

To add practical luxury to your home, visit the Austin showroom at 118 E. Alpine St, call 512-444-8600 or go online to http://www.doradosoapstone.com/.

Austin Urban Home - Summer 2008