We may still be in the throws of winter, but spring is right around the corner and with all that arctic chill your mind might start to think about next summer, and maybe even a secondary home investment. If so, you’re not alone. There's been a recent boom in vacation property sales among affluent investors and the baby boomer generation as they begin to reach retirement years. Vacation home sales across the country are soaring, rising by 57% to 1.3 million properties in 2014 compared to 2013 reaching a record high, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In fact, vacation home sales accounted for 21% of all real estate transactions last year. This increase is great for the economy but there are many factors to consider before investing in a secondary home. Here are two key recommendations to keep in mind before taking the plunge.

Although neutrals and greys may have been receiving a lot of attention in color trends lately, images of gleaming all-white kitchens and interiors continue to pervade the pages of design publications and more products are offering their own 50 shades of white. The thought of having one of these pristine, picture-perfect kitchens is enough to make most homeowners glaze over with envy, or for others it may make their skin crawl with all that nerve-wracking perfection just waiting for the kids to come home from school and break out their latest snack concoction. But what about those of us who harbor our own guilty pleasure of incorporating pops of color into our lives while embracing some of that bright aesthetic, are we doomed to suffer at the hands of these white-washers and fade into starkness, how do we add some life to a sterile palette?

Though it might not be immediately apparent, the type of surface material you use is vital to the longevity (or lack thereof) of an outdoor area or commercial surface. You’re sure to notice it in just a few short years when you begin to see chipping, scratches, or fading. Quality surface materials should last much longer than that—and, let’s be honest, be more aesthetically appealing than some of the industrial grade surfaces on the market. When it comes to choosing the right surface for a commercial application or outdoor setting, consider all the factors that may affect its performance. Here are some things to keep in mind when purchasing a countertop material.

With increasing chatter in the media about climate change and global warming, the growing trend among architects and designers has been to use green products in commercial settings.

The modern bathroom is constantly evolving in style and function. A strong, artful material like Vetrazzo's recycled glass countertops has become a popular surface choice for designers and homeowners looking to add color and character to their bathroom designs.

Homes use a lot of energy. According to research by the U.S Energy Information Administration, the annual electricity consumption for the average U.S. residential utility customer was 10,908 kilowatthours (kWh) in 2013. Because of the sheer amount of energy used by homes, they have a huge impact on the environment around them.

To combat the effects of our massive use of energy, there has been a growing movement among architects and designers to create more sustainable homes.

Your local barista isn’t the only one who finds inspiration in a freshly brewed cup of joe. Vetrazzo’s creative team is also captivated by the simple beauty found in a morning latte and the warmth of coffee beans. These subtleties influence the color trends for our recycled glass countertop materials. Inspired by the barista’s world, Vetrazzo introduces its newest sustainable surface – say hello to Coffee House.

At Vetrazzo, our product inspiration can come from just about anywhere. Usually, it starts with, well…trash from last night’s party. But the end product is much more than that. We begin the process with recycling – taking something that people have thrown out, tossed aside, and then, through that magic of technology and design, we take what was once considered garbage and turn it into something that looks a whole lot more like a work of art.

We were thrilled to open this month’s edition of KB+B magazine and see our own Amethystos countertop from our Coastal Collection featured alongside some other amazing brands and products in an article titled “Cooking up Sustainability”.