They say that first impressions count. When three sibling homeowners visited the CRL Stone showroom for inspiration for their kitchen renovation and spotted CRL Quartz Palermo, there was an instant attraction. And now that the surface is fitted in the completed room, it’s the first thing people notice when they visit. The project in question was a bungalow extension, with an open-plan kitchen diner. With the aim of creating a modern space that looked and felt bigger, the homeowners called in their son/nephew and owner of Jones Developments Ryan, to project manage the refurb. And the family affair didn’t stop there, with Ryan’s wife Demi on hand to help supply their dream kitchen through her role at Howdens Burnley, his in laws from Stewkley Stone recommending, supplying and fabricating the CRL Quartz surfaces and Ryan’s brother-in-laws Ewan & Harrison taking care of the installation. Choosing a quartz surface was an important element of the design, with the homeowners keen to opt for a surface that worked well with the new furniture in Fairford Pebble. “The colours work perfectly together and the rusty orange veining adds an ideal colour to the kitchen to make it look very classy and elegant,” comments Ryan. In fact, it was the colour of the veining that attracted the siblings to CRL Quartz Palermo as soon as they saw it. The crisp white background is the perfect backdrop for the bold veining, that adds instant character and an eye-catching level of detail. “It’s something of a marmite choice to many, but we’re so happy we went with it. Being able to vein match the surface just adds to the sense of flow within the large space. The result is a very modern looking kitchen, with lots of space and storage,” Ryan explains. Easy on the eye, installation of the surfaces was straightforward too, with all the fabrication done in advance to ensure the perfect, seamless fit. Quartz is the perfect choice for a busy family life on a practical level too, being water, heat, scratch and stain resistant and with no requirement for sealing at any stage. Palermo’s bold marble-inspired veining lends itself so well to being vein matched that Stewkley Stone were only too happy to oblige, despite the request not being part of the original brief for the project. “The finished look is very elegant and classy, with the colour of the kitchen doors perfectly complementing the veining of Palermo,” comments Ryan. With quirky features including a Quooker tap and pull-out accessories to future-proof the space, the comfort levels are high in the completed kitchen. But the homeowners’ favourite element of the new look? “100% the quartz; it’s the first thing you see when you enter the room,” concludes Ryan.