Guiding Light
Colonial Marble & Granite takes a step-by-step approach to turning homeowners’ renovation dreams into reality.
For a lot of homeowners, renovations can be overwhelming. In fact, the entire process is mired by what can seem like an unending number of decisions that need to be made. As a result, many homeowners experience what psychologists have termed “over-choice”—that is, the feeling of being overwhelmed by options.
For a couple in Delaware County, that was exactly what was happening. The homeowners, who asked to remain anonymous, say they knew they didn’t want their kitchen and bath renovation to look like every other one they’d seen. They also were not sure where to start. Turning to Colonial Marble & Granite, these homeowners say that they found a guide who helped them make decisions that were best for their kitchen and bathroom.
In the process of trying to select the best countertop for their kitchen and vanity top for their master bath, the homeowners had looked through numerous slabs. They perused Colonial’s slab yard of more than 5,000 slabs, in excess of 500 different colors—allowing something for everyone. A particular piece of marble drew them in: an exotic marble from Italy that had been hand selected by Nikos Papadopoulos, president of Colonial Marble & Granite.
“It is a very exotic white marble from the Carrara Mountains in Tuscany,” Papadopoulos explains. “Because we are not only a fabricator, but we also act as a supplier and distributor direct to our customers, it allows our customers to have visibility to really unique products that they couldn’t get anywhere else. These homeowners wanted something truly one-of-a-kind and we were able to offer that.”
The homeowners say the stone’s intricate veining very much appealed to them. They used the honed marble to create a mitered island for the home’s farmhouse sink. In addition to using marble for a stunning countertop, they utilized it to frame the kitchen windows—a novel idea they credit to the informed guidance of Papadopoulos and his team.
“Going through a large home renovation like this, we were so grateful for the ideas that Nikos offered us,” says the wife. “We never would have thought to frame the windows with marble, but it’s so unique and so beautiful. Nikos was at our house and helping us make decisions. He suggested the island be honed as opposed to polished, and we are so happy with the results. These are the types of things we wouldn’t have known to do on our own.”
Without a doubt, the ability to be a helpful guide is what makes Colonial Marble & Granite unique. The company’s numerous design specialists are always available to help homeowners make decisions. After all, as these homeowners point out, “oftentimes, it’s the smallest details that matter most.” For that reason, it’s so important to find a design center that cares about the details.
Papadopoulos says that the marble countertop and framed windows add a “delicate touch” to the kitchen. The marble is a showpiece, but it doesn’t overpower the room. Instead, it enhances the kitchen in a thoughtful way.
In addition to the kitchen, Colonial Marble & Granite assisted in selecting a slab for the couple’s master bathroom. With the help of Papadopoulos, they chose another marble slab, but this time decided to have it “leathered.” Instead of being reflective and shiny, leathered marble has unique depth and gives the appearance greater texture.
“We absolutely love the leathered stone,” says the wife. “Again, that’s something we never knew was even an option. One of the things that we loved most about Colonial was all of the guidance and recommendations they made.”
Papadopoulos suggests Colonial Marble & Granite strives to offer the same excellent customer service to every customer. He believes it’s the secret to the company’s success.
“We’re here to offer attention to detail and guidance wherever the homeowner might need it,” he says. “When you’re investing in a kitchen or bathroom renovation, these are changes that you’re going to live with for a long time—maybe forever. You want to feel confident that you’re making wise choices. We’re here to help.”
In the process, the experts at Colonial Marble & Granite help homeowners gain peace of mind, a prized commodity when in the midst of a complex home renovation. For these Delaware County homeowners, the entire renovation process took more than a year, but the kitchen and bath part of the process went smoothly thanks to Colonial Marble & Granite.
“I feel like they really went above and beyond for us,” the wife says. “They gave us so many ideas we would not have thought of.”
In recent years, Colonial Marble & Granite has gone even further to create an immersive experience for customers. While homeowners can start dreaming at home using the company’s Kitchen and/or Bathroom Visualizer tools, the company also has a state-of-the-art design center in which customers can see and touch materials before making purchase decisions. Over the years, Papadopoulos has continued to bring in more and more incredibly unique materials, including some that are exclusive to the company—namely, petrified wood countertops, shell stone countertops, and other luxury products that have been hand selected from abroad.
“Whatever it is that you’re looking for, it’s our job to take your vision and help you get there,” Papadopoulos says. “We listen to your ideas and then we make suggestions and combine it with our own expertise. In the end, we want all of our customers to feel that they got the space of their dreams.”
Colonial Marble & Granite
475 S. Henderson Road
King of Prussia, PA
(610) 994-2222
768 Corporate Circle
New Cumberland, PA
(717) 774-2110
2000 Washington Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 732-7800
240 S. DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
(302) 947-3000
Photography by Jody Robinson
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, November 2020.
