My first experiment was frying a couple of eggs for my Saturday breakfast. My kitchen has severely limited counter space, so I set up the induction cooktop on a kitchen cart next to my built-in gas cooktop. As usual, I used an old cast iron skillet, as the eggs seem to taste better this way. Ordinarily, it takes several minutes for the gas cooktop to heat the skillet hot enough to cook eggs; however, with the induction cooktop, I turned on the unit to a medium setting, pored some oil onto it, and in the time it took me to get a couple of eggs out of the refrigerator, the pan was hot enough to cook the eggs. I was totally surprised that when I dropped the first egg onto the pan it sizzled and firmed up immediately; I had expected it to sit there unchanged for a minute or two while the pan heated up.
I conducted a more dramatic experiment that night. My fiancé Laura and a couple of friends had come over for a late dinner of steaks cooked on the grill. The weather was good, so we ate the steaks outside on the back deck. For dessert, I made bananas Foster. Making bananas Foster requires melting brown sugar in butter, which must be done at a fairly low heat. Maintaining that heat with a gas cooktop is tricky; however it was a snap with the induction cooker. Then, for the final step, I wheeled the cart out onto the deck, turned off the outside lights and, using the induction cooker with an outside outlet, brought the bananas Foster up to temperature, added the rum and flamed it off with a match right in front of the guests! The flickering blue flame added an impressive flair to an elegant dessert.
I was completely surprised and impressed that a portable unit could heat up a pan much faster and provide better low-level temperature control than my built-in gas cooktop.
Granite Sinks
Granite sinks are the most durable on the market today. They have been the most popular of the composite sinks in Europe for many years, and are now gaining popularity in the United States. Granite sinks are scratch, chip and heat resistant. If you drop a hot pan, heavy object, or food into the sink, you don’t have to worry. Granite can handle temperatures up to 535 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, stains can be cleaned up easily.
Marble Sinks
Marble is naturally occurring rock comprised of calcium carbonate. No two pieces of marble, or any natural stone, are the same. All natural stone will have color variations. Marble is a soft limestone, as a result, is not as durable as granite. With proper care, marble sinks will continue to add beauty to any home.
Tips From the Stone Care Professionals:
• Clean spills as soon as possible. Blot, don’t wipe.
• Do not use plain dish soap as it leaves streaks and a residue that quickly attracts dirt.
• Never use everyday household cleaners, which contain ammonia and other harmful chemicals that break down the protective sealer, making surfaces more susceptible to staining and fading over time, which can cause expensive repairs or replacement.
• Protect natural stone by sealing every 12-18 months using Granite Gold Sealer.
• Use Granite Gold Polish on the sinks weekly to help prevent soap scum and water spots.
]]>Because of copper’s “Living Finish” properties, your copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bathtub will quite literally ‘heal’ itself!
Simply go about your normal daily routine and within a very short period of time you’ll notice the scratch begin to darken and slowly blend back in with the original patina!
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Here is a A True Story I want to share with you Shortly after installing her gorgeous, copper farmhouse kitchen sink, a customer called to ask what she could do about a problem with the sink. She told me that within a week of installing the sink, her 5 year old son left a fully ‘drenched’ glass of lemonade sitting in it. By the time she discovered it, the lemonade had left a bright, shiny ring on the bottom of her brand new, dark patina, copper kitchen sink! Fearing the sink’s finish was ruined, she wanted to know if there was anything she could do to restore the patina and eliminate the shiny ring. You can imagine her dismay, when I responded that the best thing to do was to… do nothing! At this point, doing nothing was really the only option. I then reminded her about the “living finish” properties of copper and suggested she be patient and let nature take its course. I assured her that her copper sink would eventually ‘recover’ and that the shiny ring would soon begin to darken and blend in with the rest of the sink’s dark patina finish. Although I’m sure she only half believed me, she resigned herself to leaving the sink alone and agreed to allow her copper kitchen sink to ‘heal’ itself! After about 3 or 4 weeks she called to let me know that the shiny ring in her sink had almost immediately begun to change color and was indeed on it’s way to blending in with the original patina! About a year later, she called to inquire about purchasing a copper bath tub. When I asked about the ring in her copper kitchen sink, she told me that it was now barely noticeable and that she had completely forgotten about it! |
What a great testament to copper’s natural ability to right, or ‘heal’ itself! You’ve got to admit, that’s pretty cool!
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if you have a square /rectangular / zen / oval / boulder sink then you are basically “stuck” with the above counter mounting method. The other method, which is effectively known as “recessing” allows you to lower the sink partially into the cabinet so only a fraction of the sink is above countertop level.
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Alternatively, consider to install your stone sink over an Iron Stand. Furthermore, you also have a choice for wall mount for certain stone vessel sinks. Wall mount would give your bath or powder room a unique feeling; this might also work out when you have limited space.
You can find such beautiful Wall Mount Iron Stands from online stores such as www.MyLuxuryKitchenandBath.com. |
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Alternatively, consider to install your stone vessel sink over an Iron Stand, this dramatically adds visual appealing and elegance to your bath décor.Online stores such as www.MyLuxuryKitchenandBath.com offer a unique selection of such Iron Stands to match Stone Vessel Sinks at a very affordable price. Those stands would even go nicely with Copper Vessel Sinks. |
Granite Boulder Sink
Approaching the powder room project as a two day installation will allow plenty of online shopping for stunning vessel sinks. Many online stores such as www.MyLuxuryKitchenandBath.com offer a diverse selection of granite and stone vessel sinks that add a real touch of warmth and luxury any home owner would welcome.
 Onyx Sink – Hannah |
A shallow stone vessel sink such as the “Hannah” model can be combined with a waterfall faucet and secured over the existing cabinets for an quick and attractive accent to the existing décor. Above the new fixtures a simple framed mirror can complete the new look to end the weekend beautification project. This method of bathroom remodeling brings warmth and elegance on even the most modest budgets. |
Onyx is an agate-like stone often translucent with a layered appearance. It is formed in cold mineral springs by calcite precipitation. This unique natural stone product is an expression of luxury and charm. It has beautiful, translucent, and contrasting colors.
Marble has several types, including calcites, dolomites, serpentines (typically green marbles) and travertines (sedimentary limestone). Each of these is similar in their composition, that being predominantly calcium carbonate, and their capability to take a polish. They are all equally beautiful.
Granite is one of the most popular natural stone on the market. Sources of granite can be found worldwide. About two-thirds that are seen in the market come from Brazil, China and India. Granite is typically heat resistant. Studies of bacteria retention on common countertop surfaces and sinks have proven granite to be superior to the majority of surfaces employed for that purposes.
Travertine is limestone that has been formed over a long period of time. The product is porous with many visible holes. Travertine comes in several shades of creme/beige, brown, pink and gold, and is available in a number of different tile sizes and slab thicknesses. Some of the largest travertine deposits in North America are located in New Mexico.
With the popularity of going green and going natural, Stone Kitchen Sinks and Stone Vessel Sinks have been among the hot topics in kitchen and home decor.
Granite Sink has been an exceptional choice for a kitchen and/or a bathroom sinks. Granite vessels are highly durable and easily cleaned leaving a look of nothing but beauty behind. With its hardness and the harsh origins that make it very resistant to certain types of wear, many of the things you would have to worry about with a lesser material, is simply not an issue.
Travertine Sink, with its shades and color, it has been a great addition for bathroom sinks.
Onyx Sink, meticulously carved by the experts, and treated as a piece of fine art, you can never go wrong with our onyx sinks. With its translucent property combined with carefully polished finish, a magical glow is inspired from light that strikes from behind the vessel. Having this translucent beauty offers more than just aesthetics to your home, but superior functional decoration.
Marble Sink, no portion of this stone product is the same, and with this feature a one of a kind sink in your kitchen or bathroom is absolutely made just for you. The wide variety of designs that are artistically created -simple, yet elegant, will definitely give your choices for your preference for your kitchen and bathrooms.
Weigh the characteristics of various stones, find your desired Stone Kitchen Sinks and Stone Vessel Sinks at www.myluxurykitchenandbath.com, where you can find affordable luxury and natural beauty at your finger tip.
]]>Using only the highest quality, natural material, our copper bathtubs are constructed of 100%, 16 gauge copper. Each tub is individually hand crafted, which is lovingly and skillfully hammered, molded, shaped and transformed for hours from a plain sheet of raw copper into a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind bathtub that demonstrates a warmth, an identity and a beauty, uniquely its own.
For those with discriminating taste and an avant-garde sense of style, our copper tubs are “‘elegant-yet-rustic” looking with plenty of “old world” personality and tons of “modern-day” appeal. If you’ve been dreaming of a bathtub big enough to move around in… deep enough to completely submerge in… and comfortable enough to kick back and relax in… this extraordinary copper bath tub was made especially for you!
Most of our copper tubs come in two very spacious sizes, roomy enough for you… and, your favorite other! They are also deeper than normal so they easily double as a spacious soaking tub… the perfect answer to your home spa needs! Simply supply the soft music, candles and your favorite wine… and you’ll have all the ingredients in place to pamper yourself at the end of a hectic day! Aside from its charm and ‘over the top’ style, one of the beauties of a copper bathtub is its natural ability to retain heat much longer than its cast iron and claw foot tub cousins. Or, any other bathtub for that matter! From the moment you sink into the warm, soothing water, your bathroom will be transformed into a magical ‘spa-like’ essence… look no further. This luxurious copper bath tub was definitely made for you!
Nothing quite compares to a copper bath tub! An elegant, low maintenance tub of timeless beauty, a copper bathtub is an incredible value and a wise investment that will give you years… and years… and years of pure enjoyment.
The perfect solution to bath remodeling and new home projects alike, if you really want to make a statement (and, be the envy of your friends and neighbors!)… or, if you simply want to indulge yourself with an incredible gift of luxury… a copper bathtub is the right choice for you!
Don’t forget to check out our extensive collections of Copper Bathtubs, as well as Copper Kitchen Sinks , Copper/Bronze Vanity Sinks and Copper Bar/Prep Sinks to explore the right Copper Sink to match your desired bathtub
]]>Copper is naturally antibacterial!
Recent studies have shown that bacteria only lives for hours on copper, as compared to living for days on stainless steel and longer still on all other types of kitchen and bath surfaces!
You can toss out all those disinfectants and antibacterial products you’ve got stashed under your kitchen sink! Bacteria will simply not live on copper!
For more info, you may want to read these online articles about copper’s antibacterial properties. (To read the articles, click on the links then use your browser’s back button to return to this page).
“A greater use of copper benches and sinks in kitchens could help combat dangerous bacteria such as E.coli, say researchers.” ‘Copper Answer to Food Poisoning” – BBC Online ~ Health Article, 20 August 2001
The truth is… pure copper is naturally hygienic, making it ideal for your kitchen and bathroom.
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