Ryan Culicerto | Quality Stone Concepts

Top 5 White Marble Countertops

The other day, I was watching one of those political talk shows and they were talking about marketing to the "Millennial Generation." The show was saying that Millennials value the "unique" and "authentic" things in life. I learned that if it's not "authentic" you might as well not even waste your time trying to market someone reaching adulthood around early 2000's. This struck me as interesting because we have a lot of people come to our showroom and ask for white marble countertops. As someone who was introduced to the granite industry in 2006, general consensus was that marble is just not a good option as a countertop because of it's tendency to scratch and stain. However, I could never understand why White Carrara was [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00February 8th, 2016|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|4 Comments

Top 5 White Granite Countertops – Virginia Beach

In the countertop industry, as Bob Dylan once said, "the times they are a changin." 5 years ago most granite sold contained color patterns that were gold, brown, tan and taupe. Today, the trend seems to be changing to more blues, grays and whites. With this being said, numerous people will come to our showroom and ask the questions: "Is there a white granite that looks like marble that doesn't scratch and stain the way that marble does?" And the Answer is a resounding maybe. Below are the 5 most popular "white granite" options: Fantasy Brown - This is a Low/Mid price granite and definitely the most popular granite at the moment. Fantasy Brown exhibits many characteristics of exotic marble, but has a more [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00February 4th, 2016|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|1 Comment

QSC vs Home Depot or Lowes

When buying new granite or quartz countertops should you use a big box store like a Home Depot or Lowes or a smaller local fabricator? On the market for new countertops? If so you've probably made a trip to one of the big box stores to see what's available. If you've gotten a quote, you've probably quickly realized that the $35 granite countertops that they advertise outside of the store don't really exist. Once you've tacked on the additional charges, taxes, trip fees, under mount sink cut outs, back splashes, edge detail and the "free" sink, the price that you've been quoted is typically consistent with other smaller, local fabricators. Usually when you deal with a Home Depot or Lowes, their incredible buying power allows [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00December 23rd, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|1 Comment

My Eminent Domain Part 2 of ?

My Eminent Domain By Ryan Culicerto Quality Stone Concepts 113A S. Witchduck Road, VA Beach, VA Part 2 of? When I look back at these blog posts, I hope that it ends up being the biggest waste of time in my life. I hope there ends up being no story, and nothing to report. If that is the case, I’m planning on making sure everyone involved gets the credit that they deserve. I’d like to say that I have faith, but lately my confidence has been shaken. On Feb 20, 2015, we were made aware that “The official decision was made for Parcel 1 to move from a partial acquisition to a total acquisitions in May 2014. The requirements for an additional storm water management [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00November 23rd, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|0 Comments

My Eminent Domain

by Ryan Culicerto - Quality Stone Concepts 113A S. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 In the last month alone, the City of Virginia Beach hasn’t received a lot of good press. In the VA Pilot alone, there have been allegations of an unfair bid process for the Cavalier Hotel project, Mayoral and City Council investigations, budget shortfalls and one of my business neighbors is even accusing the City of not making good on the promises to help him relocate as a result of the city’s Witchduck expansion project. If you were to also include the polarizing topics of the light rail and the city’s most recent stadium proposal, it’s never been a tougher time to say “I work for the city of Virginia Beach.” [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00November 18th, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|1 Comment

QSC and VBEF – 2016 Projects

This has been our 6th year supporting the Virginia Beach Education Foundation and my first year supporting them while also having a child in the Virginia Beach Public School system. My association with the Virginia Beach Education just went from hobby to real. :) Hopefully, both of my children will one day benefit from one of these wonderful Grants. Thanks to all of this years sponsors. The 3 grants that QSC were involved in underwriting were: DIAMOND SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Lego's Lego's Lego's. Director Rebecca Rawls, and first graders will use Legos to increase understanding of basic math concepts, complete performance tasks and write --- all the while staying engaged in the learning process. BAYSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Mindcraft 3-D House Design Challenge Director Steven [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2015-11-18T17:26:50+00:00November 18th, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|0 Comments

True Southern Kitchen Boasting Windermere Quartz by Cambria

HOMEOWNER SPOTLIGHT SERIES: Representing the Heart of Charlottesville, VA by Caroline at Marva Marble This southern kitchen represents the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia and will have your heart swooning. More captivating than other quartz countertops, Cambria’s Windermere design is absolutely breathtaking. A true home cooked meal in a kitchen that is reminiscent of the south?! We can’t wait to share our next Homeowner Spotlight Series with you! Now this is a homeowner who understands what true southern charm is all about! This kitchen’s design met a few imperative requirements: A desire for kitchen countertops that would provide durability while cooking, yet bring the family together in the evenings for a home-style meal. The kitchen is the heart of any southern family’s home. A functional yet [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00November 2nd, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Best Reviewed Granite Company in Hampton Roads

Wanted to share another another review that was emailed to us today: Terry, I just wanted to thank you for re-doing the seam in our kitchen. From start to finish we have had a great experience with your company. Rob, Danny and yourself have made us feel that our satisfaction was a priority. The installation guys were professional and courteous and we appreciate not only the quality of the granite but the customer experience was exceptional. Many thanks to you and your great team! Josie D.

By Ryan Culicerto|2015-10-15T18:14:47+00:00October 15th, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Dekton – Surfaces and Exterior Facades

Dekton is a brand new product brought to you by Cosentino. If you watch HDTV, most people recognize Consentino's Silestone brand. Cosentino has recently launched and partnered with QSC to bring this innovative product to your home or commercial property. What is it? Dekton is a sophisticated mixture of raw material which includes glass, the latest generation porcelain tiles and quartz surfaces. For exterior applications, Dekton is highly UV, abrasion and stain resistant. It has high resistance to fire and heat and low water absorption. Book matched, this product looks incredible on exterior walls, stairs, indoor and bathroom walls as well as bathroom and pool floors. The fact that it's highly scratch resistant, suitable for contact with water, resistant to freezing and thawing and has incredible [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2016-11-02T20:26:07+00:00September 28th, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|2 Comments

The Truth(iness) about *$35 Granite Countertops

Does anyone know what this (*) this is? Correct, it's an asterisk. It allows a company to say one thing, and mean the other. The asterisk is what allows the big box stores the legal bait you at the front door and then switch your price at the register. Granite "Starting at $35 *per square foot" means that it generally starts at $35 when you walk in, and when it's time to pay it has additional charges which generally make your $35 dollar granite, more like $60 a square foot. Additional charges that generally apply to "*$35 granite" are the following: sink cut out - (i.e. - $325 per sink cut out) edge polishing - (i.e. - $1 a linear inch for standard edge) 4" backsplashes [...]

By Ryan Culicerto|2015-09-14T19:09:30+00:00September 14th, 2015|Blog, Recent Projects, Uncategorized|1 Comment

About Ryan Culicerto