On The Surface Blog

Featured Image: Calacatta Colorado Bathroom Wall Slabs quarried from a gallery quarry near Aspen, Colorado from Arizona Tile

Marble has been one of the world’s most beloved materials since ancient times, and remains a popular and luxurious choice for home design, from countertops to flooring to tiles. If you’ve seen a slab of marble up close you may be wondering how and where such a beautiful (and heavy) rock was extracted from the earth. Let’s talk about where marble comes from and take a look at the process of marble mining.

Featured Image: Azul Bahia Polished Granite Slab Wall from Arizona Tile

When choosing the best countertops for your kitchen or bathroom remodel, price is an important consideration. Whether you’re working with a tight budget or not, most homeowners prefer to compare prices and factor the expense into their decision one way or another.

When it comes to choosing between quartz and granite—two of the most popular countertop options—you may be wondering what they cost. In this post, we’ll answer the question of what is more expensive: quartz or granite.

Featured Image: Shibusa Grigio Textured Color Body Porcelain Bathroom Tile from Arizona Tile

If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, remember that contrast is one of the fundamental principles of interior design. A design that uses contrast thoughtfully will be visually interesting, striking and cohesive, while one that lacks contrast will seem flat and lifeless.

To include contrast in your bathroom design plan, play with color, shape and texture for a space that will be eye-catching and timeless. Let’s take a look at five stunning bathroom tiles that will bring the texture and contrast your bathroom needs.

Featured Image: Bianco Carrara Polished Marble Kitchen Countertop from Arizona Tile

There’s something about marble that attracts many homeowners, from its timeless style to the artistic veins and patterns that trace across many varieties of this popular natural stone. No matter why you love the look of marble, you may be searching for a way to incorporate it into your latest remodel or home design project. If you’re wondering, “What is marble used for?” we’re here to help you out. Read on for some ideas and inspiration for using marble tile or slab in your home.

Featured Image: Chymia Mix 2 White Porcelain Bathroom Tile from Arizona Tile

Replacing the floor tile in your bathroom is a relatively quick and simple upgrade that can transform the style and ambiance of the space. But when you give your bathroom floor a style update, it can be difficult to choose a tile you love that’s also on-trend…but not too on-trend. If you want your bathroom to stand out with a tile design that’s truly special, read on for some unique bathroom floor tile inspiration.

Featured Image: Calacatta Gold White Marble Natural Stone Kitchen Countertop from Arizona Tile

Marble is a timeless natural stone that makes a beautiful, classic choice for countertops, bathroom tile and more. If you’re considering marble for your next home remodel or upgrade, you might be wondering what this stunning natural stone is made of. Let’s find out more about marble, its origins, where it’s mined and more.

Featured Image: Savannah Honey Wood-Look Color Body Porcelain Bedroom Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

If you’re shopping for porcelain tile for your next home project, you’re likely aware of the huge variety of tile colors, patterns and styles that this category includes. From wood-look floors to gorgeous decorative designs and porcelain that looks like marble, porcelain tile encompasses a vast range of looks that are as practical as they are stunning.

Featured Image: Reside Beige Matte 24” x 24” Porcelain Bathroom Wall Tile with R11 Anti-Slip Finish from Arizona Tile

Planning a remodel for your bathroom? Consider a rustic design to bring warmth, texture and an inviting ambiance to the space. If tile’s on the list of updates you’d like to make, we have plenty of ideas and inspiration for choosing the perfect rustic bathroom tile. From floors to walls to showers, here’s a quick guide to on-trend, rustic tile ideas for your bathroom. 

Featured Image: FW Morocco Imperial Danby Honed, Reside Beige 24” x 24” Marble Kitchen Countertop from Arizona Tile

So you’ve done the research, explored the slab yard and narrowed down your top marble varieties to a favorite one. But there’s still at least one choice to make before that beautiful marble graces your kitchen or bathroom countertops: do you want a polished or honed finish?

Since most people go for the traditional polished countertops, it may be news to you that there’s more than one finish option for some varieties of marble. Depending on the style and aesthetic you’re going for in your upgraded space, the finish of your countertops can make all the difference. Here’s a quick guide to honed marble, what it looks like and how it’s different from polished marble.

Featured Image: Negro Marquina Black Marble Countertop from Arizona Tile

White kitchen countertops may be today’s top trend, but don’t miss out on the beauty and drama of their equally stunning counterpart. Bold, rich and sleek, black countertops are rising in popularity as a way to bring depth, texture and a unique contemporary style to the kitchen.

You can find black color options in a range of countertop materials, including granite, marble, quartz and quartzite. So whether you love the sparkle of granite or those classic sweeping veins in marble, choosing a black stone lets your favorite pattern shine and stand out. If you’re looking for black countertop inspiration, here are our favorite ideas and color palettes for rocking this look in your kitchen.