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​​How to Choose a Casket

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Casket

Choosing a casket for burial services is an emotional decision that comes during a time of grief. Whether you’re planning a funeral for a loved one who passed or pre-planning your own final arrangements, understanding your options can help you make a thoughtful and informed choice. Caskets come in a many materials, styles, and price ranges, and each choice carries different meanings and practical considerations.

1. Understanding the Materials

The material of a casket significantly influences its look, durability, and price. Most caskets are made from either wood or metal, and each type offers its own aesthetic and functional benefits.

Wood Caskets

Wood caskets have a warm, traditional feel and are available in a wide range of wood types and finishes. Popular choices include:

  • Mahogany – Known for its deep color and elegance, mahogany is among the most expensive wood options.
  • Cherry and Walnut – These offer rich tones and beautiful grain patterns, often used for higher-end models.
  • Oak and Maple – Strong and durable, these are mid-range options that offer a classic look.
  • Pine or Poplar – More affordable options that still provide a natural, rustic appearance.

Wood caskets are typically lined with fabric and can be either solid wood or veneer (a thin layer of quality wood over a more economical base).

Metal Caskets

Metal caskets tend to be more durable than wood and are often chosen for their sleek, modern appearance. They come in a few main varieties:

  • Steel (18-gauge or 20-gauge) – The most common and budget-friendly metal caskets. The lower the gauge, the thicker and more durable the metal.
  • Stainless Steel – Offers increased resistance to rust and corrosion, typically at a mid-range price point.
  • Copper or Bronze – Premium metals that do not rust and offer a luxurious appearance. These are among the most expensive caskets available.

Many metal caskets also come with a rubber gasket or “sealer” that helps delay the entry of moisture and air.

2. Choosing a Style

Caskets come in various styles and designs, and your choice may depend on the personality of the deceased, religious or cultural preferences, or simply personal taste.

Half-Couch vs. Full-Couch

  • Half-couch caskets have a lid that opens in two sections, commonly used for viewings where only the upper half of the body is visible.
  • Full-couch caskets open the full length of the lid and are less common but still available for those who prefer it.

Interior Lining

Caskets are lined with materials such as velvet, crepe, or satin. While the choice is mostly aesthetic, the color and fabric can reflect personal preferences or match the theme of a memorial service. Some people also opt for custom embroidery or themed interiors that represent hobbies, faith, or military service.

Personalization Options

Modern caskets can be personalized in many ways. Some have panels where photographs or keepsakes can be displayed. Others feature religious symbols, hobby-themed accents, or military insignias. These details offer a way to honor the unique life of the deceased.

3. What to Expect with Pricing

Casket prices can vary significantly based on material, craftsmanship, and design. Here’s a general breakdown to give you an idea:

  • Economy Range ($700–$1,500): Typically made from fiberboard, veneer wood, or 20-gauge steel. These are simple but dignified options.
  • Mid-Range ($1,500–$4,000): Includes solid hardwoods like oak and maple or 18-gauge steel. These often have nicer finishes and more interior customization.
  • High-End ($4,000–$10,000+): Premium wood caskets (like mahogany or walnut) and non-rusting metals (bronze or copper) fall into this category. They feature superior craftsmanship and customization options.

It’s also important to note that the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule allows you to purchase a casket from a third-party seller and bring it to the funeral home without being charged an additional handling fee. This can provide cost-saving opportunities.

4. Practical Tips When Making Your Decision

  • Set a Budget: Funerals can be expensive, so it’s helpful to know your budget before exploring casket options.
  • Compare Options: Visit a few funeral homes or browse online to compare prices and styles. Don’t feel pressured to make a quick decision.
  • Ask About Green Caskets: If you or your loved one preferred environmentally friendly choices, consider biodegradable or natural caskets made from wicker, bamboo, or untreated wood.
  • Pre-Plan if Possible: Making these decisions ahead of time can relieve your family of the burden during an emotional period and ensure your wishes are honored.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a casket is about more than just materials and price—it’s a meaningful part of saying goodbye. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless beauty of wood, the strength of metal, or a unique personalized touch, the right casket should reflect the life and legacy of the person it honors. Take your time, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to look at all your options. It’s one of the last gifts you can give or receive, and it should feel right.

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Quartz Countertops and Color Psychology: Matching Mood with Material

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Color

Color is more than a visual detail—it’s an emotional language that shapes the way we experience a space. In kitchen and bathroom design, surfaces speak volumes. And when it comes to quartz countertops, color choices do more than complement cabinets—they shape mood, affect behavior, and influence how people feel in the heart of the home.

With quartz, homeowners are no longer limited by what nature provides. Since it’s engineered, quartz can be crafted in virtually any hue, tone, or pattern. This opens the door for color to become a primary design element—not just a backdrop, but a driver of atmosphere.

Whether you’re creating a space that energizes, soothes, or inspires, selecting the right quartz color is about more than personal taste—it’s about aligning your space with the feeling you want to evoke.

Calm and Collected: Cool Grays and Soft Whites

For those who seek a peaceful, stress-free environment, cool-toned quartz is the ideal choice. Soft grays, light taupes, and creamy whites have a calming effect on the brain, reducing visual noise and promoting a sense of clarity.

These tones are perfect for minimalist kitchens or spa-like bathrooms. Their neutrality allows other design features to stand out, such as bold hardware or textured backsplashes, without overwhelming the eye.

The non-porous nature of quartz countertops makes them easy to clean and maintain—an added benefit in spaces where serenity is the goal. Less clutter, fewer stains, more simplicity.

Design consultants at BNJ Granite & Cabinets often recommend these soothing shades for homeowners who prioritize organization, mindfulness, and light-filled environments.

Energizing and Bold: Rich Charcoal and Deep Blue

Want your kitchen to make a statement? Deeper hues like navy blue, black, and charcoal gray bring energy and boldness to a space. These colors convey confidence and sophistication and are often used to anchor large, open floor plans.

Dark quartz works well on kitchen islands or accent surfaces—contrasted against light cabinetry or paired with warm wood textures for balance. In smaller spaces, these colors add drama and definition.

Psychologically, darker tones are grounding. They lend weight to a space, suggesting formality and intention. For homeowners who love entertaining or cooking with flair, darker quartz is both practical and impactful.

At BNJ Granite & Cabinets, dark quartz surfaces are frequently recommended in contemporary designs where visual impact is as important as function.

Warm and Welcoming: Beige, Sand, and Honey Tones

Warm tones create a sense of approachability. Kitchens with beige or honey-colored quartz feel cozy and lived-in, without being rustic or dated. These colors work well with wood cabinetry, copper fixtures, and earth-toned textiles.

They evoke comfort—making them ideal for family kitchens where meals are shared and life happens around the counter.

Psychologists have long associated warm tones with social connection and hospitality. If your goal is to design a space that welcomes guests, encourages conversation, and invites people to stay awhile, these hues create the right backdrop.

The versatility of quartz countertops means these warmer tones don’t just come in flat colors—they can feature subtle veining, speckling, or marbling that adds depth and dimension to your surface.

Refreshing and Organic: Green and Natural Earth Tones

For those inspired by nature, quartz options in sage green, olive, or other organic hues bring the outdoors in. These colors suggest growth, vitality, and renewal—ideal for eco-conscious homeowners or anyone drawn to biophilic design.

Green quartz pairs beautifully with matte black or brass hardware, live-edge wood, and plants. It makes a statement while staying grounded.

This palette promotes balance and well-being. It also feels timeless in both traditional and modern settings. You don’t have to commit to fully colored slabs—many quartz designs use green as a subtle undertone or veining accent within neutral bases.

Design teams like BNJ Granite & Cabinets help clients choose these nature-inspired tones not just for visual appeal, but to align with a lifestyle rooted in wellness and sustainability.

Versatility Through Veining

Beyond solid colors, quartz also offers endless veining and pattern variations. These designs mimic natural stone—like marble or granite—but offer more control and consistency.

Veining can be soft and wispy, adding elegance, or bold and graphic, making the countertop a visual centerpiece. Some patterns create movement; others provide texture.

What makes this important in color psychology is how pattern contributes to mood. Busy patterns create energy, while soft, consistent veining promotes calm. Quartz allows homeowners to dial in that energy with precision—choosing not just the base color, but the rhythm of the pattern itself.

Light Matters

It’s worth noting that color perception is heavily influenced by lighting. A slab that feels warm under incandescent lighting might appear cooler in natural daylight. That’s why viewing quartz countertops in your home—or under similar lighting conditions—is essential.

Natural light enhances subtle tones, while artificial light can cast unexpected hues. What looks beige in a showroom might skew yellow under your kitchen’s pendant bulbs.

When working with suppliers like BNJ Granite & Cabinets, homeowners are encouraged to bring samples home and test them at different times of day. This ensures the final choice feels right not just visually, but emotionally.

Final Thought: Let Color Lead the Experience

A countertop is more than a surface—it’s a canvas for the experiences that happen around it. Cooking, gathering, relaxing, and living all unfold around these materials. So why not choose a color that supports the mood you want to create?

With quartz, the design possibilities are nearly endless. And when paired with the emotional power of color, you’re no longer just picking a countertop—you’re designing a feeling.

The right quartz choice won’t just match your kitchen—it will elevate how it feels to be in it.

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A Breakdown of Essential Elevator Components and Their Functions

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Components

Elevators rely on a combination of mechanical and electrical components working seamlessly together. But are you familiar with the different parts that make up an elevator? Here, we’ve outlined the key components to help you understand how they function.

Cabin

It is the part we see and use. It carries persons or cargo from one floor to another.

For safety and comfort, cabins include: 

  • handrails
  • lighting
  • emergency buttons
  • sensors
  • display panels

Some of the more advanced options include audio instructions or touch-screen interfaces for ease of use. Design aesthetics and ergonomics are considered primarily for passenger elevators. You will find them prevalent in modern lifts found in homes, where design is as important as safe operation.

Ropes

Ropes support and move the cabin. They are looped around a sheave and connected to a counterweight. The quality and strength of the ropes determine the weight the elevator can carry and at what speed. 

Traction Machine

It moves the elevator. It serves as a motor to turn the sheave, which pulls the ropes and thereby lifts or lowers the cabin. It is the powerhouse of the elevator. So, it is one of the elevator component parts that needs routine maintenance to forestall mechanical breakdown. When it operates efficiently, the elevator can carry substantial loads with reduced power consumption. 

Drive Unit

The drive unit, also known as the control system, controls the motor’s operation. It has multiple functions. It:

  • controls the acceleration and deceleration
  • ensures the precise stopping of the cabin at each floor level
  • regulates the speed of the elevator

So, the drive unit ensures a smooth and responsive ride by reacting to manual commands given through the control panel.

Counterweight

A counterweight balances against the elevator cabin. It goes down while the cabin goes up, and vice versa. It: 

  • reduces friction on the motor
  • helps save energy
  • minimizes wear on the ropes 

Without a working counterweight system, the elevator will consume excessive power, making it inefficient.

Hoistway

The hoistway or shaft is the vertical encasement along which the cabin and the counterweight move. A steel reinforcement frame is provided with safety clearances to house rails, ropes, and other components. It provides spaces for the actual movement of the elevator, allowing smooth movements along vertical lines from one floor to another.

Guide Rails

These rails are installed either along the inner side of the hoistway or on the hoistway structure and serve to keep the cabin alignment. They are T-shaped and prevent the cabin from swaying or experiencing lateral movement during travel, while also aiding in bringing the elevator to a stop precisely at the selected floor.

Cabin Buffer

It acts as a shock absorber at the bottom of the hoistway. If the cabin were to drop quickly somehow and miss its stop, the buffer would resist the movement by absorbing the kinetic energy and reducing the possibility of injury or structural damage.

Speed Governor

It ensures that the elevator never exceeds the set speed. If it does, the governor triggers the safety brakes, safely stopping the cabin. This makes it one of the most important safety features on the elevator, especially in high-rise buildings.

Safety Systems

The elevators may be equipped with several emergency features to address emergencies, including overload protection (stopping the elevator when weight limits are exceeded), emergency brakes, backup power, and communications. 

These mechanisms are not manually activated. They come into force only when required to ensure passenger safety. Today, elevators are considered one of the safest modes of transportation. It is courtesy of features such as emergency brakes, door sensors, and backup power systems. Modern home elevators are designed with aesthetics and space-saving considerations in mind. 

Together, these components not only facilitate operation but also enhance the standards of safety, efficiency, and reliability in vertical transportation.

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How the World’s Highest Outdoor Infinity Pool Became a Must-Visit Travel Spot

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Infinity Pool

Dubai added a new icon to its skyline, pairing bold design with unbeatable views. On the 77th floor of Address Beach Resort sits the world’s highest outdoor infinity pool. It changed the idea of a rooftop escape. Since opening, thrill seekers and relaxation fans have flocked here. Everyone comes eager to swim in waters that float above the city. The setting feels both daring and serene. You sense the pulse of Dubai below while you glide in crystal‑clear water overhead.

Arrival at ZETA Seventy Seven

Start at the rooftop lounge, ZETA Seventy Seven, home to the world’s highest infinity pool, which is located 293.9 meters above the ground. Enter a serene outdoor area surrounded by gentle palm trees. A quick drive or tram ride will get you to the resort at Jumeirah Beach Residences. You are greeted by staff with a refreshing welcome drink and a cooled towel. You are led to the pool by smooth stone floors. Inside, a calm ambiance is created by soft lighting and soothing music.

Guinness World Record Magic

Start at ZETA Seventy Seven, a rooftop pool that is 293.9 meters high. You enter a serene outdoor area with gentle palm trees around you. Jumeirah Beach Residences is a short drive or tram ride from the resort. The staff welcomes you with a refreshing welcome drink and a cooled towel. 

The pool is accessible via smooth stone flooring. A calm ambiance is created inside with soft lighting and soothing music. You are guided effortlessly into your swim by every element, including the understated décor and the whispering foliage in the air.

Design and Dimensions

This pool is more than a high perch. It stretches 94.84 meters long and spans 16.50 meters wide. The water seems to pour straight into the Arabian Gulf. Floor‑to‑ceiling glass disappears at the rim. Only sky, sea, and Dubai’s skyline fill your sight. Beneath the surface, LED lights diffuse softly after dark. 

These lights trace the pool’s lines, creating a floating ribbon of aqua against the night. Even the pool’s stone coping was chosen to stay cool under the midday sun.

Morning Tranquility to Evening Glow

From dawn to dusk, the pool shows a different mood. Morning light dances on gentle waves. Early birds lap through calm waters while the city wakes below. Baristas prepare coffee and smoothies just steps away. As the sun climbs, the space warms but never feels crowded. At sunset, the sky turns orange behind Palm Jumeirah and Ain Dubai. 

Photographers plan visits for that perfect golden hour. Others drift on floats, soaking up the view. After the sun dips, the skyline lights sparkle like jewels, and the pool’s reflection doubles the magic.

Tailored Guest Experiences

This adults‑only retreat runs on reservations. You pick sunbeds for solo time, gazebos for two, or private cabanas for up to seven. Each cabana has its own bathroom, shower, TV, seating area, and closet. 

Air conditioning keeps you cool between swims. Dedicated hosts check in without intruding. They refill drinks and ensure your towel never runs out. Packages offer flexible hours. You can choose a morning session, an afternoon stretch, or an all‑day pass when you want the full experience.

Culinary Delights by the Water

Pool packages include generous food and drink credits. Bartenders serve signature cocktails, premium pours, and light bites right at your spot. Chefs prepare fresh sushi, mezze shares, and gourmet sandwiches. You dine while gazing over the water’s edge. 

Seasonal specials appear throughout the year. In summer, tropical fruit bowls and chilled soups arrive. In cooler months, warm flatbreads and spiced pastries find their way poolside. Every dish matches the relaxed vibe but speaks of refined taste.

Night Swim Atmosphere

As afternoon fades, ZETA Seventy Seven shifts to Night Swim. From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., DJs play chill tunes. City lights sparkle beneath you. Guests sip cocktails and relax on loungers. Some float in the pool under the stars. Glass walls reflect the skyline. Neon lights and soft uplighting set a warm mood. Staff bring late-night snacks like sliders and flatbreads. The scene feels both fun and cozy.

The Infinity Brunch Experience

On Saturdays, The Infinity Brunch brings an Asian fusion menu to the poolside. Diners enjoy dim sum, poke bowls, and creative mocktails. Upbeat music keeps the vibe lively as laughter drifts across the water. 

Families and friends share dishes and stories while taking in the unmatched vista. Children stay back in the indoor play area, so adult guests relax freely. The brunch runs late into the afternoon, giving plenty of time to swim, snack, and soak up the atmosphere.

Why It Matters

In just a few seasons, this rooftop pool has come to symbolize Dubai’s fearless spirit. It pairs breathtaking height with refined design and curated experiences. It raises the bar for what a hotel rooftop can achieve. Whether you crave a quiet swim at dawn or a vibrant evening gathering, this spot delivers. It feels safe yet thrilling, exclusive yet welcoming.

Final Thoughts

This infinity pool is more than a view. It’s an experience that plays on every sense. Book your slot, slip into those cool waters, and feel your heart race as you look down on Dubai’s glittering streets. Here, every moment sparkles a bit brighter. Dive in and make a memory that truly soars.

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