For nearly 20 years, the Gruber family’s Chippewa Stone has been that unexpected gem for homeowners stressed by the kitchen or bath remodel process
By Bill Yurgen
Done correctly, few activities are as fun and engaging as a major remodeling project. Even more so if it’s a kitchen remodel. No other activity generates such drastic change in such short order. After all, you’re changing the backdrop for many family events and the photos that often accompany the fun of cooking, family visiting and celebrating the holidays. It’s important to get it right. “It” being the color and design selections that will appear in all those photos.
And that leaves some people intimidated by the process.
Buying with Confidence
Oskar Gruber, president and co-owner of Chippewa Stone, and Courtney Gruber, vice president and co-owner, completely understand. The pair contrasted their experience as a family with their business. “We used to be in the remodeling business ourselves until we found our true niche selling and fabricating kitchen and bath countertops,” Oskar explains. “So like many families, we made a change in our course. We learned a lot about the challenges that always seem to accompany a remodeling project, and we learned one of those challenges can be the accuracy of the stone countertop fabrication where the perfect fit and finish is demanded.
“What you live with every day depends on the people who measure the job for an accurate fit, and the fabricators who transform those measurements—and an incredibly heavy slab of stone—into a countertop that looks like nature made it for your kitchen. Then there are the installers, who carefully do the final installation of your project, and the salespeople who coordinate it all. This is why we have invested in the newest technologies and excellent people for very precise, beautiful results.”
Getting to Know You
Courtney, who manages Chippewa Stone’s sales staff, agrees. “We love what we do,” she says.
“Every day we reflect our family values in the way we do business. On your first visit to Chippewa Stone, you’ll be greeted by our staff members, who are eager to hear your story. What is your project? What is the color palette of your home? What are your tastes and preferences? Over the years, we’ve figured out exactly what to ask our customers and how to get to know them quickly. Making our customers happy is what we enjoy most. After we have gone through the selection process together, we’re confident that you in turn will feel confident and excited about your choices.
“What many people don’t realize is that we service design professionals as well as the retail consumer. Believe it or not, when those designers do their own homes, they can freeze up when making selections, too. That’s why everyone receives an honest opinion from our staff. Our cumulative knowledge makes the selection process as easy as possible for everyone. As we work together, our customers frequently become a part of our family. We love trading remodeling stories and ideas with them.”
Chippewa is well known for having a broad selection of in-stock stone. “For those with a small project that needs a lot of visual punch, our rotating selection of remnants is a terrific way to make any project stand out no matter how modest,” Courtney adds. “Those needing a large quantity of stone are glad they chose us because of our abundant selection.”
Overwhelmed by So Many Choices? Don’t Be
So how do Chippewa Stone’s techniques make for a better remodeling experience and better results? First, let’s go back to the basics. Your remodeling project is important to you, so take photos at home shows, cut photos of styling elements and colors that catch your eye out of magazines or save them on Pinterest. Maybe there’s a certain type of beveled edge you are attracted to, or you like a contrast between light and dark tops in the same installation.
According to Courtney, collecting ideas can be an important part of the process. “Some retailers will only offer you a limited selection of materials and color choices,” she says. “This keeps the customer from getting bogged down in trying to select their ideal combination. But few people want to live with limited options. As a specialty stone retailer, we offer a wide selection of in-stock natural stone and an extensive selection of engineered stone. This is why we’re building this new, expanded showroom where our customers will leave inspired, not confused.
“That said, however, we don’t want to overwhelm you. Yes, we have breadth of product, but as your guides to all things stone, we can help you distill your dream kitchen into something you will enjoy for decades to come.”
The newly expanded Chippewa Stone is located in the former location with a new address at 4930 Chippewa Road, in Medina. You may reach them at 330-662-4202 or by emailing courtney@mychippewastone.com. For additional information and lots of customer kitchen photos visit MyChippewaStone.com.