Toronto-based Designer Ramsin Khachi in the Cambria Design Home Kitchen

Cambria quartz countertops are proud to announce their featured designer for Winter 2012, celebrated interior designer Ramsin Khachi. Khachi spearheads the Toronto-based Khachi Design Group, which he grew from a one-man construction company into a full service Design/Build firm. Khachi often appears on CTV’s Marilyn Denis Show and has also served as an expert for Benjamin Moore paints.

Khachi used Cambria as the unifying force in a recent design job that resurrected a 23-year-old split level in Oakville, a suburb west of Toronto. He chose Cambria because, in his own words, “I’m not interested in following trends. I like to use classical details with a contemporary twist, and materials like Cambria that will stand the test of time.” The home is fully upgraded for each room to function ideally as possible. Every room is also upgraded with state-of-the-art technology like biometric locks, sensors to automatically control amenities like the radiant heated floors and more, which are masterfully concealed among the classical details so that they don’t overpower the space.

In the heart of the home, the kitchen, Khachi showed off the intricate beauty that is possible with Cambria. A jaw-dropping custom inlaid mural above the range shows off Cambria’s “Torquay” and Emperador marble, cut into an ornate pattern with the same water-jet cutting technology we use in the Construction Resources fabrication facilities. In addition, the kitchen features composting options for eco-friendly cleanup, hygienic pull-out trash cans, custom walnut butcher block for carving aficionados and all manner of space-saving techniques.

Cambria is also used included throughout the home, from the garage to the patio to the master bathroom, standing out among the luxurious but comfortable living supported by technical marvels. If this home of the future appeals to you, be sure to check out the Khachi-designed home for inspiration, then come and visit one of our design studios where we can join you in creating the best home for you.

Saratoga Soapstone is an all-natural surface, quarried naturally with no synthetics and composed primarily of talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnetite. The surface doesn’t need to be sealed with harsh chemicals, and can be waxed instead. Waxing the soapstone deepens the color and protects the surface for years to come.

Saratoga Soapstone is not only beautiful – it is durable. It is heat resistant, avoiding damage when hot pans are placed on the surface; it is stain resistant, or acids or alkalies will not hurt the surface; and it is nonporous.

Whether your kitchen has a rustic, classic or modern design, there is a shade of soapstone perfect for you. Get started on your kitchen remodel by visiting the Construction Resources showroom in Decatur at 224 Rio Circle, or visit Construction Resources on the web.

If you don’t already receive each issue of Cambria Style magazine, be sure to sign up. The magazine is packed with home design and lifestyle tips as well as celebrity interviews. In the latest issue, Summer 2011, Cambria urges homeowners to think more Nicole Kidman (classic) and less Lady Gaga (extremely trendy) when designing their ideal kitchens.

What are some of the kitchen trends you are noticing? Cambria has noticed an emphasis on dark wood and steamlined design, more open spaces where family and friends can congregate, distinctive materials and a desire for environmentally sustainable products.

With 100 colors offered, some even mimicking other surfaces like marble or granite, Cambria quartz offers a terrific surface solution for any kitchen remodel. Not only is the product eco-friendly, it is 100 percent manufactured in the United States – the only quartz company that can boast that fact.

Construction Resources offers all of the colors of Cambria, and has full slabs available to select from in the Slab Gallery and Yard located near the Decatur showroom and design center. For more information, visit the Construction Resources website.

If you are remodeling your kitchen or bathrooms, Vetrazzo offers unique countertops that each tell their own story. Vetrazzo is a unique surface comprised of glass and concrete. All glass is recycled and makes up about 83 percent of the final material by weight. Each shard of glass in the countertops tells a story. The largest proportion of glass comes from curbside recycling programs, but glass also comes from post industrial usage, dinnerware, stemware, automotive windshields, stained glass, laboratory glass and other unusual sources such as decommissioned traffic lights. When a buyer purchases Vetrazzo, a Certificate of Transformation is provided, revealing exactly where the glass in the countertop came from.

For residents in the Southeast, Vetrazzo is especially eco-friendly, being manufactured just north of Atlanta in the sleepy town of Tate, Ga.

For more information or to decide if Vetrazzo countertops are right for your eco-remodel, visit the Construction Resources website.

Today’s tour of the Cambria Plant reminded me of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It was like winning a golden ticket to tour the plant. However, because the company’s “recipe” for quartz countertops is a closely guarded family secret, we weren’t allowed to take cameras into the plant. (The photos I’ve attached to this post are from the company’s equally amazing distribution center.) Construction Resources may have Georgia’s largest indoor slab gallery, but the Cambria distribution center certainly has us beat!

What I learned:

Made in America
Cambria is the only quartz surface made in America. This has huge positive implications for buyers and sellers in terms of distribution. Cambria provides super quick order fulfillment, and best of all it is a family owned company.

The Secret Mix
Cambria consists of 93% quartz. Only clear quartz is used and the quartz undergoes strict laboratory testing to ensure that it meets color, size and consistency standards. Resin and color pigment are added to the quartz and the formula is mixed in special proprietary mixers thus creating the beautiful colors and movement that Cambria has become famous for.

Strength in Numbers
Cambria is twice as strong as granite. This is because of the resin in the secret formula. Some other fun numbers from the plant tour that are impressive. Hundreds of Cambria slabs are manufactured a week, two production lines run 24/7, and with all of the plant’s automation only eight people are required to run each line. The favorite number that all the Lexus partners love is that all Cambria products are available for one price point, regardless of the color.

Green
After the slabs are trimmed, the excess is sent to road crews to be recycled into roads. Additionally, there are lots of green attributes of the product itself. You can find out more online at Cambria green.

The Future
New Cambria colors are always in development. Cambria has a special “secret” color laboratory where they mix potions with an eye toward future design trends. If you think that the movement granite is known for can’t be duplicated in quartz surfaces, you will be amazed by the new colors Cambria will be introducing in a few months.

Learn more about Cambria countertops by visiting our Atlanta Kitchens showroom in Decatur, Ga.
224 Rio Circle, Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-378-3132

• 100 percent of the water used in the fabrication plant is recycled
• Construction Resources uses clean-burning, natural gas fork lifts
• Over 85 percent of the company’s scrap granite and quartz is recycled
• Computer equipment, batteries and general office waste are recycled
• Diamond-metal tooling is retooled and reused

For the consumer, Construction Resources offer several eco-friendly products so that customers can go green as well. These products include:

• Cambria Natural Quartz – natural quartz; radon-free; certified by NSF International as safe for use as a food preparation surface
• Heritage Wood Collection – natural; eco-friendly; easy to clean; very sanitary with inherent anti-bacterial properties
• ECO by Cosentino –durable surfaces made from 75% recycled content and bound by an environmentally-friendly resin
• IceStone – durable surfaces made from 100 percent recycled glass and cement; made with no petrochemicals which means they will not fade from direct sun exposure
• ClosetMaid Ventilated Shelving – made from 90 to 100 percent scrap materials; does not contain formaldehyde or significant levels of VOCs

The aforementioned products are just some of the eco-friendly options buyers can choose from when they shop at Construction Resources.

For more information about Construction Resources and their green products, visit http://www.constructionresourcesusa.com.

ECO by Consentino is available in 10 colors and two finishes. The non-porous material is not only beautiful, but high performance, as it resists staining, scratching and scorching. Homeowners or builders striving for LEED Certification can gain points by utilizing this material for countertops. The post-consumer or post-industrial materials dictate the colors. For example, Black Forest is composed of mainly recycled glass and quarried stone, while White Diamond is mostly recycled glass.

The IceStone line is another eco-friendly option, and versatile as well. The surface can be used for countertops, walls and floors alike. IceStone comes in 24 standard colors, but due to the ability to tint the background mix and select from different sizes and colors of glass, the palette is unbound. Combining the strength of granite and heat resistance of stone, the material is very durable. Also, due to the high recycled content, the material can be used for LEED points.

Keeping with the recycled glass theme, Construction Resources offer Vetrazzo glass surfaces. Made of 85 percent glass (all recycled). The colors continually evolve as difference sources of recycled glass are discovered. The surface is durable and easy to maintain on top of being heat and scratch resistant.

For more information on these eco-friendly options, visit the Construction Resources website, or stop by one of the three Atlanta-area showrooms.

Natural quartz kitchen and bath surfaces by Cambria are a favorite of homebuyers who make their new home selections at Construction Resources’ three Atlanta-area showrooms. Cambria natural quartz surfaces are not only stain resistant and non-porous, but they are also harder, stronger and easier to care for than other stone surfaces. Plus, they’re certifiably safe for families and the environment.

Cambria countertops do not require sealing with chemical-based conditioners, polishes or wax. Certified by NSF International as safe for use as a food preparation surface, Cambria countertops are free of any formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Cambria surfaces have been tested for radon emissions by Air Quality Sciences, Inc., an International Organization for Standard (ISO) 9001:2000 registered and ISO 17025 accredited Indoor Air Quality Company.  The testing confirms that Cambria countertops have no harmful emissions of any type.

Cambria is just as careful to protect the environment as to keeping its products safe for consumers. All water used in the production process is recovered and recycled using advanced settling and filtering techniques.

And who better to install your new Cambria countertops than Construction Resources’ sister company, Atlanta Kitchen? Cambria designated Atlanta Kitchen as a “Lexus Partner” for unsurpassed service and quality. Atlanta Kitchens is not just an innovator when it comes to kitchen design, but they are also reliable installers who work within their promised timelines.

Construction Resources, Inc., showcases samples of Cambria surfaces in showrooms in Alpharetta, Decatur and Lake Oconee. Visit the Construction Resources website for more information.

From Cherry, to Maple, Hickory, Walnut and Oak, the domestic wood species will give your kitchen an all-American feel. Exotic wood species are also available, which include Teak, Zebrawood, Bamboo, Beech and even beautiful checkerboard patterns incorporating two different exotic species. Construction Resources also offers Heritage Wood countertops crafted from reclaimed wood species, such as Douglas Fir, Old Growth Cypress, Heart Pine and much more. The reclaimed wood meets LEED certifications, making this a perfect choice when you want style coupled with environmental sustainability.

A great benefit of having your wood countertops crafted by Construction Resources is the unbelievable customization. A wide variety of edge profiles are available, from basic all the way to intricately ornate. You can even customize faucet-hole configuration, letting you have that under-sink soap dispenser you’ve always wanted.

Wood countertops should be properly maintained to give homeowners satisfaction for years to come. The countertop should never be used as a cutting board, and coasters should be utilized with beverages. To clean them, remove all food and debris on the surface (but never use a scouring pad) and wipe down with warm soapy water. Dry the surface and occasionally oil. Construction Resources can give you all the information you need to ensure lasting enjoyment of your wood countertops.

Have you kitchen join the ranks of country singer Taylor Swift, who chose Heritage Wood from Construction Resources for her Nashville abode. Be sure to visit the Construction Resources website for information and driving directions to the Atlanta kitchen and bath showrooms in the metro area.

Glass, porcelain tile and natural stone tile will come from Daltile and Interceramic among other manufacturers who have proven their commitment to quality. Popular carpet brands such as Mohawk, Beaulieu and Shaw will be available in the most popular colors and styles, including the stylish frieze. Bamboo flooring will also be available, improved in construction and environmentally sustainable, as will other hardwoods from Mohawk and Shaw.

Heading the flooring division is Edwin Marzano and Jeff Anderson. With more than 25 years of combined flooring experience, they will use their expertise to ensure the flooring division measures up to the quality of all of Construction Resources’ other divisions.

Like any other purchase from Construction Resources, homeowners, builders and remodelers have the ability to utilize one of the professional design consultants on staff. Products can also be viewed at Construction Resources’ showroom in Decatur.

For more information on the new division, including directions to the Decatur showroom, visit the Construction Resources website.