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What is the countertop in Barefoot Contessa's new Barn Kitchen?

14 years ago

Can anyone tell what the countertop in Ina Garten's new kitchen is? It's picture #5... I really like it but haven't been able to figure it out!

http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/ina-garten-barn-1108

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firstmmo

14 years ago

I love her new barn kitchen too. The long island counter is so gorgeous!

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Comments (15)

shannonplus2
14 years ago
Her kitchen counter looks like soapstone to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ina Garten's Kitchen in House Beautiful
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Her show makes me sleepy, the pacing is so slow. The food looks basic but good. The kitchen is the standard TV cooking show kitchen - a fancy range in the background, a cooktop in front where the actual cooking happens - camera-convenient - with no apparent vent hood. When you think about it, TV kitchens are bizarre - the prep and cooking zones are both on the same peninsula or island, everything happens in a 3 foot prep space, in which there's no ''parallel processing'' - only one dish is prepped at a time, even if the show presents multiple dishes. If you or I had 8 hours to prep and cook a main, a couple sides, and a dessert, that would work fine - heck we could do it in a canoe. The Laura Calder kitchen is beautiful, it is an actual home as far as I know, and the kitchen looks large enough to actually work in. My favorite cooking show kitchen is the one from ''Chuck's Day Off'' - it is not the standard TV kitchen.
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I do love colored cabinets. Sorry you're not getting what you want. I wanted white too, but we are just too dirty around here. What I wanted to say is that if I'm not mistaken, svelte sage is the closest match to Farrow and ball's French gray. There is a kitchen that all of us love with a french gray island. This is one of my favorite kitchens ever and if there is even a remote chance that yours looks similar. I think you'll be very happy! They used wood (not sure if you're interested in that) and it looks beautiful. That thick wood top is sooo pretty! Actually, the other wood doors are very similar in color to the ones you picked out with a golden something or other granite on the tops. I think that marble would be gorgeous if you can handle the pressure if it. :) There are some quartz tops that look very similar. You might try that. I'm not sure if I'd do soapstone (though would be pretty too) if you're worried about darkness in the kitchen. Try not to worry too much. I know the whole process isn't the greatest. But, the decisions you've made are very pretty and classic to your home. It will be stunning when it's done! Here is a link that might be useful: french gray- allison's
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How to calculate your ideal counter height (it takes two people for this): Hold your arms straight down next to your body. Now, bend your elbow 90 degrees Have someone else measure the distance b/w the floor and your elbow (you can't do this yourself and get a precise enough measurement) Subtract 6" This gives you your "ideal" working counter height. Standard base cabinets are 34.5" tall, including the toekick. The thickness of your counter material will determine the final "height" of your counters. If you want taller, consider a thicker counter material or perhaps building up the cabinets b/f installing the counters. However, be aware that raising the counters usually means raising the upper cabinets the same amount. Why? Because standard backsplash height is 18" b/w the counters and the upper cabinets (or light rail if you have a light rail on the bottom of the upper cabinets). I know some are going to say it doesn't matter - but it does matter if the only workspace you have is under upper cabinets. Manufacturers of small appliances work to the "standard" 18", so often you need that space if you have a coffeemaker, mixer, or other small appliance on the counter (or if you use them on the counter) under uppers. If your primary workspace (prep) is on a peninsula or island - with a water source - then it might not matter. However, if that island or peninsula does not have a water source on it, you will most likely end up prepping next to whatever water source you do have - so be sure that counterspace has an 18-inch backsplach space.
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User
14 years ago
petit fossil belgian stone is what the article says it is. certainly one of the most beautiful kitchens/grounds I have ever seen. Really a gorgeous mantle too and I love the clean simple lines of everything....metro shelving too. c
marg42
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you, thank you!! Has anyone heard if Petit Fossil Belgian stone is more or less durable than say, granite or soapstone?
shannonplus2
14 years ago
I've never heard of "Petit Fossil Belgian stone", and I've been on this forum for years. So I googled it. Came up with nothing. I am now, of course, very curious. Is that a made-up name for something else, just to sound more fancy LOL? Or did the magazine have a misprint? Does anyone know what Petit Fossil Belgian stone is?
chris45ny
14 years ago
Goggle Belgian stone and then click on link to At Home With The Barefoot Contessa-AOL Home. Takes you to her Manhattan home where she decribes the countertop there as Belgian stone that has tiny fossils in it-petit fossil granit.

Or could type in:

home.aol.com/decorating/photo-gallery/hb/_a/at-home-with-the-barefoot-contessa/2008022614300999001 ( Whew!!)
warmfridge
14 years ago
http://www.stoneply.com/stones/petitgranit

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/445799.html
lisaslists2000
14 years ago
I bet it's something like belgian bluestone which is a limestone. I LOVE IT. I would have had it for my countertops, but when you put on some lemon juice it immediately starts to fizz. It's dark brown.
Lisa
lascatx
14 years ago
I looked at a Belgian Bluestone. What I looked at seemed different -- didn't see any fossils in it for one thing. I thought it looked like it could be Cambrian black with the ice crystals you get in it. I think 18 feet of any stone makes a real statement. Love it.
inspired_nest_gmail_com
13 years ago
She used Caesarstone -http://www.caesarstoneus.com/products/
catjackabby
8 years ago
i know this is an old link but did anyone ever find what her barn counter really is? I may contact the designer because I can't find it anywhere and I am getting ready for a major kitchen overhaul. The House Beautiful design house used Caesarstone but in her own kitchen in her new barn it was the Petit Fossil Belgian stone. I am a huge cook and looking for something natural that does not require a ton of maintenance that is a natural stone. I had costa esmarelda in my old kitchen and loved it. It was granite but had veining and movement like marble. Love Love love the warm tones of Calacatta gold but the price tag and having to baby it scares me. I may do a carrera or a calacatta carrera because at a lower price point if i don't like it I can replace it and use the stone for a table top.
beachem
8 years ago
It's a limestone. Stones that have actual fossils in it are limestone. My floor is full of fossils. The stone yard recommended that I not use limestone for countertop especially one that has a lot of limestone but they are beautiful. He said that it is very porous and the fossils can get chipped out.

i.e. high maintenance unless you have someone paid to take care of it.
somersetlass
8 years ago
Totally agree with beachem, it is 100% a limestone with a fancy invented name that's all. It will not weather well or stand the test of time on a worktop in a kitchen. It is MORE reactive than any marble is to acids and being a deeper gray etc the etches will be white and very visible. Only way to get it and not have to baby it would be to out some toughened glass on it but that may affect the look and you won't be able to stroke it at all which for me is part of the beauty. I'd really look for an alternative is what I'm trying to say unless all you do in your kitchen is make cups of tea!

my floor is limestone in my kitchen and has fossils, pits etc. it is stunning and as hard as nails but I confined it's use to the floor. Better to have some of the beauty that not at all!
nosoccermom
8 years ago
???
http://www.stonecontact.com/petit-granit-limestone/s1469
Candace Pepenelli
3 years ago
It's Caesarstone brand in color "Raven". Enjoy!

https://www.caesarstoneus.com/collections/classico/raven-4120/

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