Holy Renovations!
July 7th, 2008 categories: Interesting Tidbits
Can I confess my recent revelation to the renovation world? Watching HGTV and all their wonderful makeovers is fun, actually going through a makeover ISN’T!! For the past several weeks we’ve been going through a total kitchen reno. For those of you out there going through this, we belong to a club: “I renovated and survived”!  There are only two “fun” parts to a renovation, when you get to order all the new stuff, and the end result when everything is in place. In between is nothing but the blood, sweat & tears! We gutted everything ourselves, kitchen cabinets, tile counters, vinyl flooring and the subfloor beneath it. I’ve been lucky through, I haven’t had to live without the use of a sink for more than a couple days, thanks to my husband Gary. I’ve been living in an inside dustbowl reminiscent of the wild west, complete with tumbleweeds! Just when I get everything relatively clean, with an emphasis on “relatively” because the clean doesn’t last long before the next batch of dust comes . . . It’s time to install the granite!Â
 I really did my research on our granite purchase, and ended up going to Travelers Rest, S.C. for the best selection at Slabco. I’ve never seen such beauty in stone, I commented to the Slabco employee assisting me that each slab looked like a piece of art. I chose a Brazilian Granite named Juparana Vesper, lovely shades of chestnut, blue grey and cream with some movement to it. My choice of installers was Asheville company Alpha Stone, owned by Sergey Shtempel. Sergey was recommended to me by my cabinet man, Barry Gardner of Lowe’s. Sergey was the best price and quickest turnaround time that I found, he got it done in two weeks, all the others I contacted quoted me 5-6 weeks. Timing is critical when your kitchen is torn up and living in complete upheaval. So, with fingers crossed that my granite would be installed when promised, I entrusted the job to Alpha Stone and was never disappointed! Sergey was upbeat, on time, did a beautiful installation and answered his cell phone every time I called him!!! If he doesn’t deserve an “Atta Boy” for his superb customer service, I don’t know who does. GREAT JOB Sergey!! I highly recommend Alpha Stone for your stone needs, give Sergey a call, he’ll answer!! 828-777-1965.
