Blog

As visitors explore our showroom they often find their “favorite” stone and choose it for their home or project. At Boston Granite Exchange, we get to see scores of stone slabs arrive in our showrooms each week. It is exciting to see old favorites come back into...

The calendar still says summer, but these cool September nights have us thinking about getting the fireplace going. As the nights get cooler, we naturally turn our attention to our living spaces and think about what needs attention to bring us joy as more time is...

Food insecurity is a major world problem. Globally, 1 in 10 people does not have enough to eat and this number is growing. In addition, approximately 1/3 of food on the planet is lost or wasted each year (according to Feeding America, in the US we waste 40% of the...

Inventing the Machinery to Make the Finest Porcelain Surfaces Laminam porcelain has a unique story. In the 20 years since Laminam began making porcelain surfaces, it has become the global market leader for porcelain. That was not the original intent. Gruppo System was...

Most people are familiar with Habitat for Humanity, a global organization that helps families in need secure affordable permanent housing by partnering with them and the community to build their own home. This gives the homeowners a sense of self-reliance and...

The swirling patterns that appear in beautiful stone can be mesmerizing. This veining adds to the beauty and uniqueness of the stone and is stunning when it is transformed into an accent wall, countertop or other prominent feature in the home. Continuous veining is...

For the past year and a half, people have used their bathrooms as sanctuaries, from a weekly spa night in order to create some distance and alone time from loved ones, to the only-in-a-pandemic story we read about a therapist who rearranged her bathroom into an office...

There many choices to be considered when you begin to plan for a new kitchen. Choosing cabinets, flooring, appliances and countertops can feel overwhelming, and you need to do your homework on all of them. When you are looking for your countertop surface, you’re...

Boston Granite Exchange is an importer, wholesaler and distributor of natural stone, quartz and porcelain. We are leaders in identifying and importing stone from all over the world and have built our business by establishing great relationships with select suppliers...

Three Considerations that May Help You Find the Answer The kitchen is one of the most heavily trafficked rooms in your home. Day-to-day meal prep and cooking, a place for the kids to do their homework, the hub of entertaining guests – your kitchen is the busy heart of...

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Brazil’s natural stone industry grew in size, talent and innovation. Today, Brazil’s best-known exports are marble, quartzite and granite, and Boston Granite Exchange imports them to offer their beauty to you. Beautiful,...

As you have begun exploring the choices for a new kitchen, you’ve learned about the different types of natural stones and you’ve probably heard the term “exotic stone,” but what does that mean? Very simply, an exotic stone is unique – in one or more ways – and rare....

We’re noticing a trend this spring. As homeowners visit our showroom looking to find the right surface for their project, we’re finding more and more of them drawn to the beauty and durability of Laminam porcelain. Porcelain had long been popular in Europe not just...

Her Fire Damaged Home is Restored on This Old House® When Carol Wideman and her family planned their Fourth of July celebration in 2019, they had no idea how that day would change their life. Fireworks from the neighborhood set the house next door on fire. The fire...

We are in awe of the beauty that comes from nature. Every day, we are struck by the beauty of a marble or the rich color and design of a stunning granite. All from nature. It truly is amazing. If you’re thinking about updating your kitchen or planning an outdoor...

Boston Granite Exchange is thrilled to announce that we have chosen to import and distribute Laminam, the finest porcelain surface available, sourced from Italy. We’re not talking about your Grandma’s fancy porcelain tea set – you know the one we mean: everyone was...

We Continue to Expand The BGE Quartz Collection We are delighted to announce the introduction of two beautiful new quartz designs from Quantra for 2021: Quantra Calacatta Statuario with gorgeous grey and gold veining and Quantra Calacatta Viola with elegant blue-grey...

COMPAC was the first Spanish company to specialize in the manufacture and distribution of marble and quartz surfaces. From their founding in 1975 to today, they have grown into a multi-national corporation. They are deeply embedded in the communities where they have...

Quartz has become a popular choice for kitchen countertops, and now homeowners planning a kitchen remodel or bathroom upgrade have an additional fabulous design feature that has not been possible until now! We’re thrilled to be expanding The BGE Quartz Collection with...

Working in the stone industry, we occasionally find ourselves learning things that are very interesting, but aren’t exactly in our wheelhouse. Curling is one of these things. Curling, is a winter sport that was originally played in medieval Scotland. You’ve probably...

Ideas Inspired by More Time at Home Kitchens have been the heroes of our homes for the past year. They’ve served more meals and snacks than normal, and have become our remote classrooms, work-from-home offices, chemistry labs and places of worship. Our kitchens have...

Everything about 2020 is different. Most of us will be home for the holidays, whether that has traditionally been the case or not. It’s been different around here too, but in some strange ways, different was good. The pandemic forced changes in policies including...

How a 17th Century Gold Rush Created a 21st Century Global Industry Brazil, in the late 17th century, suffered years of economic struggle and chaos following wars against Spain and the Netherlands. Then, in the 1690s, gold was discovered, and a gold rush brought...

A Designer Shares her Strategies As an interior designer I have a lot of experience in helping clients plan their renovations. I take a practical approach to planning and budgeting to help my clients, which I outline below. I think it’s important to get to know my...

Part II If you’re looking ahead to 2021 and a new kitchen is in your plans, you’re undoubtedly looking at the latest in kitchen design. Our last Across the Counter blog focused on green trends in kitchen design. In this blog (part 2 of 2), we’re exploring three...

Part 1 Looking forward to turning the calendar to 2021? If a new kitchen is in your plans, you’re likely checking out design magazines and watching some home improvement shows. Top designers like Property Brothers, Jon and Drew Scott, and mother-daughter team Karen...

Three Things that Don’t Belong and Two that Do As you start planning your kitchen renovation project, you’ve promised yourself that rule number one will be that the pile of papers and mail on the kitchen counter is never going to reappear in your new kitchen. It’s not...

Boston Granite Exchange’s Story Behind the Stone takes us to Penobscot Bay off the rugged coast of Maine where the granite industry thrived for more than a century. There are islands scattered throughout the bay and many of them had stone quarries, but Deer Isle...

You moved into a new house, bought a house with a newly remodeled kitchen or you bought a fixer upper. No matter how you got here, you’re ready to remodel your first kitchen and you feel like you have no idea what you are doing. Not to worry, there are logical steps...

As you plan your kitchen renovation, there are many details that you need to think about, including how much money you have in your budget and how best to spend it. If you are planning to stay in your home for a decade or more, you should strive to invest in the...

Designers consider texture to be as important as color, yet texture is often an overlooked element of kitchen design. Texture adds depth and balance to the room, and it can make a room feel bigger or brighter. Without some textural elements your new kitchen might end...

Boston Granite Exchange’s Stories Behind the Stones takes you to a corner of Tuscany, Italy about 80 miles northwest of Florence, where you’ll find the town of Carrara. Nestled in the Italian (Apuan) Alps, the region is known for its marble quarries that have been...

The coronavirus has required all of us to spend more time in our homes. As we do, we’re looking at our living space more critically, looking for ways to make life at home better.   Orderly, Functional Space We’re cooking more often and grocery shopping less...

The beauty and strength of granite have long been admired. From the Egyptians to the Romans to the Renaissance to present day, artists, architects and designers have used granite to add beauty to their work. The Boston Granite Exchange team searches the world for the...

As companies begin to open up again, we are all figuring out what our new normal will be. At the moment, for Boston Granite Exchange, our new normal allows us to be open by appointment only. We’re still here to help you get your kitchen renovation project moving, but...

Like most companies around the world, Boston Granite Exchange has had to shift the way we do business during this Covid-19 pandemic. Our primary concern is, of course, the health and safety of our staff and our customers. In March, we shut our showrooms down and have...

If you were planning to remodel your kitchen this spring and your plans have been slowed by the coronavirus, or if spending so much time at home has made you realize that it’s time for a kitchen remodel, you can start planning – right now – from the comfort of your...

Like your friends, neighbors and coworkers, you’re spending all your time at home, responsibly social distancing yourself and your family. With so much time in the house, you’re spotting the little things that need attention: the latch on the bedroom door with the...

Our Boston Granite Exchange team travels the world, personally visiting stone quarries in search of the most beautiful stone available. We source it and bring it home to our New England showrooms for it to be chosen to become a stunning focal point in homes like...

As you plan your new kitchen, there is a lot to think about. Kitchen islands have grown in popularity when designing new kitchens and for many of us, the shape is typically rectangular. As you plan your new kitchen, the shape of the kitchen island can transform your...

I’m seeing a pattern of change in 2020, so I’m redoing a couple of kitchen displays in my showroom to give people ideas. I’ve started with a palette of soft neutrals, taupe-y and very warm. In one, I’m installing new walnut cabinets for a medium base tone. I’m about...

Many think of neutrals as being white, ivory, beige or greys. But the new decade includes new neutrals to consider including designing a new kitchen. Interior design has changed introducing  “new neutrals” for the new decade. We’re excited for the stunning new looks...

Kitchen design fads come and go – remember those avocado green and sunburst orange kitchens? Timeless looks, however, will always please the eye and make you happy to be in your kitchen. If you’re planning a kitchen renovation this year there are some beautiful,...

At the beginning of the holiday season we wrote about making it the last holiday season in your kitchen. Read the blog here. We outlined practical steps to organizing ideas and making notes to start the process. Now the New Year is here, and it’s the perfect time to...

The holidays are here. Youve been busy decorating and getting the house ready for your own family or for visiting family and friends. In all the hustle and bustle perhaps you’re feeling a bit frustrated with your space. A new kitchen is on your radar, but you haven’t...

By Sarah Battiato, East Coast Marble and Granite In 2016, I traveled to Greece for a wedding. A few days into my trip, while I was having lunch, I heard a voice behind me with the same Boston accent as mine. I introduced myself and found out she lives 20 minutes away...

The holiday season is here, and like most people you are likely cleaning, decorating and preparing your home for the upcoming holidays. As you look around your kitchen it’s tired; and you are tired of it! Do you want this holiday season to be the last one in this...

We recently got the chance to sit Across the Counter with Elisabeth. She was kind enough to invite us to see her fabulous new kitchen with stone chosen at Boston Granite Exchange. Elisabeth and her husband Pat live in a 25-year-old New England colonial with their...

If you’re doing over your kitchen and you have a color you really love and want to feature, I say go for it. A lot of people come in and say they love green or gray or yellow – even purple – and, in the next breath, say they could never do those colors for the sake of...

Family gatherings, holiday celebrations, those fun informal get-togethers for an evening with friends or an afternoon cheering on your favorite team – if you love to entertain, these are the times you enthusiastically anticipate. As you successfully host friends and...

The hearth is the traditional heart of the home. When we start a fire in the fireplace it becomes the focal point of the room with the ability to mesmerize everyone with its peaceful beauty. We are drawn into its welcoming warmth, whether alone or gathered in a group....

As you explore the many options for your kitchen remodeling project, you may be wondering about European kitchen styles and how they differ from the traditional American kitchen. There are a few ways they differ; most notably European kitchens are typically smaller...

Boston Granite Exchange is pleased to announce the addition of Compac to The BGE Quartz Collection. We selected Compac for its quality reputation making it an ideal addition to The BGE Quartz Collection. BGE offers designs from Compac’s Exclusive line which represent...

Your new kitchen is starting to take shape. It’s an exciting time as you anticipate using your wonderful new space. Now, it's time to select the stone for your kitchen countertops. There are many stone options from natural stones to engineered stone such as quartz....

So, you're remodeling your kitchen!  This is an exciting project and we want you to know how we can help given there are many moving parts when renovating a kitchen. Kitchen Countertops, Backsplashes and Accent Walls When it comes to kitchens, think of Boston...

New Englanders love the summer. As soon as the weather warms up, we practically move into the backyard and live there as much as we can – pretending that winter will never return. The backyard becomes an extension of our living space. We want it to be as comfortable...

Remodeling your kitchen is a big job; it’s time consuming and it can be stressful. With the guidance of your general contractor and perhaps your interior designer, you are making multiple decisions about the layout and materials for your new kitchen. At Boston Granite...

The remodel you’re planning is so exciting; you’ve been imagining that beautiful new kitchen for months. You’ve talked to your general contractor or interior designer and you are making choices about flooring, cabinets, appliances, fixtures and countertops. When it...

Quartz is an alternative to natural stone. Quartz is an engineered stone with up to 93% quartz and the remaining percentage made of binder and pigment. It offers a wide variety of designs and colors and many people prefer quartz because the engineering process...

Boston Granite Exchange is pleased to announce the launch of The BGE Quartz Collection. The collection includes a wide selection of colors and designs from Europe, India and the United States. Adding The BGE Quartz Collection expands Boston Granite Exchange's...