Granite Stars in Today's Kitchens

While it's not written in stone, the popularity of granite surfaces in the home is soaring. You don't have to watch too many home-improvement shows on television or look at very many design and decorating books to know that granite is hot, if not hip.

Everything old is new again, and you can't get much older than granite, says James E. Casaccia Sr., president of Casaccia Marble and Granite in Fresno, Calif. "Granite is ancient," he says. "It's indestructible. It's beautiful." He has it in his house. On floors and countertops.

James has been in the stone business since 1947. His father, the late Edward Casaccia, started the business, which specialized in headstones, in 1937.

Countertops and other products such as signs, decorative benches, tables, sculptures, mailboxes, bird baths, bowls and vases were added over the years. "And for the first time, our residential granite use has passed our headstone business," James says from behind his granite desk and computer table.

Business is booming. James Jr., who runs the residential side of the business, says he is not surprised at granite's popularity. "Once you live with the surface and see how it looks and how easy it is to care for, you understand its draw," he says, noting that he recently installed granite countertops in his own kitchen.