Custom blend of Gun Metal Marble and Misty Gray Marble Dimensional Cut Thin Stone Veneer, with extra rust tones added.

New Home Building Spotlight: The Return of the Cape Cod Style

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Easy to find in just about every state in the lower 48, this style is far from niche and extends well beyond Cape Cod, Massachusetts. At Kafka Granite, we are passionate about the beauty and functionality of natural stone as applied throughout a residential or commercial property. We’d be remiss if we didn’t share the ways that natural stone products can pair with the Cape Cod style, especially in a new build or renovation.

About the Style

While the build gets its origin from around 17th century England, Cape Cod style homes rose significantly in popularity in early-to-mid 1900s America. The architecture that was made famous by the little slice of land in Massachusetts found its way into the designs of American suburbia, and the rest is history. Now, the style’s popularity has returned as younger generations of home buyers seek classic original or new builds for their families.

What Makes Up a Cape Cod Home?

There’s much more than a few dimensional or roofing elements that make up the Cape Cod style house. Browse the interior and exterior of a Cape Cod home and you’ll typically find the following features:

  • Side gables
  • Steep roof
  • A centered front door
  • Shuttered windows
  • 1.5 stories
  • Large living spaces with low ceilings
  • Classic colors complemented with whites and grays
  • Building symmetry

These homes are generally low in square footage yet make the most of the available space, which is why they are popular among first-time homebuyers or empty nesters. Also note that while Cape Cod homes share similar features, there have been a few variations in the architecture. These variations are commonly known as Half Cape, Three-quarter Cape, and Full Cape styles.

Natural Stone and Your Cape Cod Home

As it does with just about any build, natural stone has a way of seamlessly integrating with the Cape Cod style. Both interior and exterior stone applications lend well to this architecture, as do a wide array of products. Especially applicable in the Cape Cod vein are natural thin stone veneer and various natural stone hardscapes.

Natural Thin Stone Veneer

Popular for its convenient installation capabilities and lightweight build, natural thin stone veneer is an non-structural alternative form of natural building stone, which has become increasingly popular for its lower shipping costs, simpler installation, and versatility. Natural Thin Stone Veneer is most often used in exterior facades, but due to its lightweight, can also easily be brought inside for accents. Natural Thin Stone Veneer can be installed throughout a Cape Cod style home in applications such as:

  • Exterior facades
  • Outdoor living areas
  • Fireplaces and chimneys
  • Interior accent walls

Where these two elements mesh well is in their classic visuals. A Cape Cod style home will exhibit a lot of rustic charm and strong, earthy elements – making it a perfect match for natural stone. In other words, thin stone veneer will help you achieve the symmetry, subtlety, or even elegance you’re after in your Cape Cod house.

Natural Stone Hardscapes

Perhaps it’s the timeless design of a Cape Cod home, or maybe it’s the style’s simplicity, but more often than not when you search for images of Cape Cod homes, you’ll find these properties filled out with lush gardens and harmonizing natural stone. Possible Natural Stone Hardscapes applications for a Cape Cod house include:

Vast in their applications and hard to beat in beauty and functionality, natural stone hardscapes are an easy choice for bolstering the value of a property and adding depth to your Cape Cod style home.

Kafka Granite – Over 40 Years of Pairing Beauty and Functionality

Whether you’re a contractor working on a new home build or you’re a homeowner kicking around some ideas with your architect while designing your dream Cape Cod, you can trust that natural stone products do more than provide aesthetic appeal. They bring functional practices to an owner’s home that’s been around since humankind first began laying stones for shelter and protection.

At Kafka Granite, we’ve provided stone products that meet the needs of residential and commercial properties for over four decades. Give us a call or reach out online to learn more about how natural stone hardscapes, thin stone veneer, and other stone products will complement a new or existing home or business.

Platinum Stabilized Pathway Mix

Great Landscaping Ideas: Different Ways to Edge Your Decomposed Granite Paths

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When it comes to your landscaping, the possibilities run as far as your imagination can. Whether you’re planning an entire landscape overhaul or simply want to improve upon existing landscape architecture, Kafka Granite can help with inspiration and the ideal materials for your project. One of our specialties is our broad variety of pathway materials. When creating a decomposed granite pathway, choosing your route, width, material, and color are only a few things to consider. 

Another element that will affect the overall look of your pathway is the edging. Luckily, there are several different viable options available. From blending into the natural surroundings to creating clean, crisp lines, choosing the proper edging for your project will help keep your pathway design looking sharp for years to come.

Why Would You Want Edging for Your Pathway?

There are many reasons why edging your pathway is not just an additional design element, but is actually a very functional feature. Aesthetically, edging your decomposed granite pathway will give it more structure and a finished look instead of a more natural, irregular edge. If you have an especially winding pathway, edging provides a crisper curve, especially when using metal edging. And natural stone edging delivers a distinct transition between your pathway and the surrounding landscape.

While edging will help your pathway’s structure look more distinct, it will also help keep everything in place. When you construct a decomposed granite pathway, although compacted, the top layer of stone is meant to be a loose, natural layer. Some of the loose aggregate may migrate with heavy foot traffic or natural causes such as wind and rain. While some clients are okay with this natural migration, others may want to prevent the loose top layer of pathway material from shifting to the surrounding landscape.

That’s the beauty in edging options – whether a nature path through a forest or a well manicured courtyard, your edging can play a significant role in the design. Edging just may take your path from natural to sophisticated, or anywhere in between, depending on your client’s preferences.


Imperial Gray Granite Sawn Edging

Natural Stone Sawn Edging

The beauty of Natural Stone Sawn Edging is that it is also produced by Kafka Granite, so you can easily coordinate the edging with your Kafka Granite Pathway Mix.  Sawn to consistent 4” heights, Sawn Edging stone is cut to create a distinct, cohesive aesthetic alongside pathways and gardens. Married well with our stone hardscape selections, this border stone also comes in three sophisticated colors and may be easily matched with a wide range of styles. 

Your client’s vision, whether they’re looking for professional aesthetics on a commercial property or a welcoming border on a residential pathway, is one step closer to fruition with the right stone edging. Kafka’s Sawn Edging is a great choice to help get them there.


Midnight Blue Stabilized Pathway Mix

Natural Edging

Natural edging is a good choice when your landscape design calls for a more rustic solution. While there isn’t a definitive barrier between the pathway material and the surrounding area, keeping a natural edge with clear delineation between the pathway and its surroundings is possible. It’s important to consider your environment when you go with a natural edge. A wooded surrounding, for example, may be a better suited area for this edge should some of the pathway material scatter.


Botticino Stabilized Pathway Mix

Grass Sod Edging

Using grass sod as your pathway’s edging material is a popular option if your goal is to maintain a natural look, but want the path surrounded by a manicured lawn. It’s a great looking edging alternative that butts pathways right up to the grass.


Stabilized Pathway Mix Brooklyn Bridge

Cobble/Boulder Edging

When you’re looking to strike the perfect balance between structure and nature, Kafka’s cobbles could be your ideal solution. Available from smaller sized solutions, 3- to 6-inch cobbles, to large boulders, you have a variety of options to suit the needs and scale of your pathway. If your project is being built into a natural environment—a pathway through a park, a woodsy clearing, or other natural terrain—using cobbles as edging could be just the right transition from pathway to nature’s surroundings while keeping people on the right track.

The mix of materials also creates visual interest. If looking to create more of a barrier between pathway and surroundings, consider larger boulders. They will create a clear demarcation of the pathway while appearing less obtrusive and restrictive than a fence would, for example.


Pathway Standard MCC

Paver Edging

These manufactured concrete pavers are built to connect with one another so that installation is relatively easy and foolproof. Depending on the product you choose, this landscape edging option can be a great budget-friendly option, or offer a high-end decorative finish. While manufactured pavers add a great texture and natural feel to a space, it isn’t as rustic as natural granite cobbles or sawn stone edging.

These stones are also a more substantial and durable option to cheap plastic edging. Be aware that bricks and pavers are not all made equally – and both the decorative finish and durability will be reflected in the quality of product used. If you’re hoping to maintain the curvature and cleanliness of your pathway with a neat stone solution, pavers could be the best choice for you.


Rustic Stabilized Pathway Mix

Metal Edging

When your landscape architecture calls for crisp, precise lines and superior aggregate control, metal edging may be your best option. Typically either steel or aluminum, metal edging will hold its shape and its versatility enables you to create any radius you need when it comes to garden beds or pathway curvature. With its strength, metal edging won’t crack in the cold, shift with maintenance, or erode over time.

How to Find the Perfect Pathway Edging for You

Before starting your pathway project, figure out how much edging you’ll need. And as always, consider your budget and desired finish.

If you are looking for a natural stone solution that will blend seamlessly with your decomposed granite pathway material, Kafka’s Natural Stone Sawn Edging is a great choice and we’d be happy to chat with you about the options! When it comes to landscape architecture and creating a sidewalk, courtyard, or natural trail within your environment, our variety of pathway solutions may be just what you’re looking for. We’d be happy to send you free samples and help you determine how much product is necessary for your area.

So think beyond the basic options of color, material, width, and route. The often overlooked detail in pathways – the right edging –  may add that perfect finishing touch on your next pathway project.