Design Matters

Choose the Best Countertop for You

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:37:49 -0600

Countertops are exposed to everything from knife slices to scalding hot pans and need to be durable, waterproof and easy to clean. Here is a look at the pros and cons of the most common types of countertop materials, as well as some of the lesser-known alternatives that are worth considering, from Coral Nafie, former About.com Guide.

Granite Counters

Granite is the countertop material of choice when there are no other things to think about - like money. It defines elegance in a kitchen. As the use of granite becomes more widespread, the price comes down. The beauty of the stone contributes to the beauty of even the most modest kitchen. 
Pros: holds up to heat; comes in a range of almost 3000 colors; looks permanent and substantial; will last a lifetime; new sealers are almost maintenance-free; 2nd highest hardness rating after diamonds; has a high value to home buyers. Cons: expensive, but becoming more affordable; requires some maintenance; some stones absorbs stains if not sealed; knives can become dull if you cut on it; can crack if stressed or improperly installed.

Engineered Stone

Engineered stone is composed of 93% quartz particles. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists scratches. It's easy to maintain, without the annual sealing required by natural stone. Some brands on the market include DuPont Zodiaq®, LG Viatera®, Cambria Quartz, and Silestone®. 
Pros: Resistant to stain and acid; easy care.  Cons: Expensive.

Solid Surface

Because solid surface counters are just what they're called, solid, any scratches can be sanded out. The countertops are custom-made to your specifications by companies such as Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone. 
Pros: comes in a rainbow of colors and patterns; seamless; stain resistant. Cons vulnerable to hot pans and stains which can damage the surface; can be moderately expensive.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is durable and easy to clean. Add to that inexpensive and you've got a really good choice for countertops for the average home. Because it's installed a section at a time, it can be done by most resourceful homeowners. 
Pros: takes hot pans; easy to clean; wide range of price, color, texture and design. Cons: counter surface is uneven; tiles can easily chip or crack; grout lines become stained; custom-designed tiles are very expensive.

Laminates

Laminate counters bear trademarks such as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart. They're made of plastic-coated synthetics with a smooth surface that's easy to clean. The pieces are cut to size and finished on the ends. 
Pros: you can buy laminates in lots of colors; easy to maintain; durable; inexpensive. Cons: scratches and chips are almost impossible to repair; seans show; end finishing and front edge choices can be pricey.

Wood or Butcher Block

Wood countertops offer a beautiful warm look and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Hardwoods such as maple and oak are most often used as countertop woods. 
Pros: easy to clean; smooth; can be sanded and resealed as needed.  Cons: can be damaged by water and stains over time; scratches must be oiled or sealed according to manufacturer's instructions.

Stainless Steel Counters

For a really contemporary and industrial look for your kitchen, stainless steel is a good choice. They are heat resistant and durable. Because they're constructed to your specifications, you can have a seamless countertop. 
Pros: takes hot pans; easy to clean.  Cons: Expensive; noisy; may dent; fabrication is expensive; you can't cut on it.

Soapstone Counters
Soapstone is generally dark gray in color and has a smooth feel. It is often seen in historic homes but is also used in modern homes as both a countertop and sink material.  
Pros: rich, deep color; smooth feel; somewhat stain resistant. Cons: requires regular maintenance with applications of mineral oil; may crack and darken over time.

Marble
Because of it's extremely high price tag, marble is not often seen on the countertops of whole kitchens. To get the luxurious look, use it on an island or inset at a baking center. Marble requires constant maintenance, as it easily stains. Some new sealers retard staining. 
Pros: waterproof; heatproof; beautiful.  Cons: expensive; porous; stains easily unless professionally sealed; can scratch; may need resealing periodically as per manufacturer.

Concrete Counters

If you have countertops in unusual shapes, concrete may be a good choice, as they're often cast right in your kitchen. The high price tag may be beyond most people's budget. 
Pros: heat and scratch resistant; can be color-tinted; looks exotic and unusual; new treatments eliminate cracking; additives reduce porosity; new finishes are more decorative. Cons: mid to high range on cost due to custom work; cracking is possible; can look somewhat industrial; porous

Granicrete

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:08:49 -0600

In 2006 Granicrete, a product that offers the look of granite and stone, was introduced at the Home and Garden Show in Phoenix, Arizona. Granicrete concrete is a polymer modified cementations mix designed to decorate new or existing substrates to simulate stone, tile, brick, slate, and other exotic surfaces. Any look for granite, marble or stone can be achieved and it can be applied directly over existing countertops and vanities. Granicrete is scratch and heat resistant, easy to maintain and costs $35 to $75 per square foot.

Safety with Style

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:53:53 -0500

Schloegel Design Remodel’s Megan Lynch spoke with Kitchen and Bath Business about her product recommendations for attractive and safe bathrooms.

Excerpt:

With water, electricity and hard surfaces meeting in a relatively small space, a bathroom has the potential to be a dangerous place. Luckily, kitchen and bath designers make safety a priority when planning a room for their clients. "With more than 70 percent of home accidents occurring in the bath, designers must specify the appropriate materials and finishes to create an environment that is as safe as possible," said Megan Lynch, AKBD, GCP, of Schloegel Design Remodel in Kansas City, MO.

Read the full article at the K+BB website.

Tax Tip: Install insulation

Thu, 21 May 2009 11:04:10 -0500

Energy Tax Tips

You can save money on your utility bills and get a tax credit by insulating your home. The insulation must meet the 2000 IECC and have at least a 2 year warranty. Your tax credit is 10% of the cost (not including installation), up to $500. To qualify, the work must be done during 2009 – be sure to get a manufacturer’s certification and use IRS form 5696.

Kitchen and Bath Trends

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:09:50 -0500

This year I attended my first Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. It was amazing. We had only one day to visit the exhibition hall so, after noting on our map some of the “must see” exhibits, we ventured into the world of cutting-edge, innovative, latest and greatest of products for the kitchen and bath industry. Although we were organized, seven hours flew by and we found ourselves racing against the clock to cover ground.

Of course, many manufacturers at the show are using this time to introduce products that will be available within the next year, but there are also those who tease us with concepts that may or may not be available in the future. Here are a few of the innovations that I found particularly exciting and that will be available by the end of this year (hopefully!).

Silestone introduced Silestone Leather (available later this year). All the Silestone colors will be available in Leather. The surface is non-glossy, yet has the level of color and durability you would normally expect with this product. All the Silestone countertops now have Microban antimicrobial protection built into their surfaces to fight the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew for the life of the product. To learn more about Silestone, visit www.silestone.com.

Corian and Zodiac have introduced new colors to their product lines. Corian’s six new colors include Concrete, Fawn, Suede, Serene Sage, Tranquil and Whisper. Zodiac’s new colors are Clay Brown, Sand Beige, Papyrus and Alabaster. These new colors are reflective of color trends moving more towards the brown, green and neutral shades. Visit www.corian.com or www.zodiac.com for more information.

A great new product from Broan is their recessed fan light. These fan lights appear to be recessed can lights, therefore disappearing into the ceiling with other recessed can lights. They solve the problem of placing a standard exhaust fan in the ceiling and upsetting the clean, symmetric layout of the can lighting. What a great idea—finally streamlined bathroom ceilings! Please visit www.broan.com for more information.

Dacor will be coming out with some beautiful and updated products later this year, and there is a product available now for dedicated coffee drinkers.

The Discovery Series, available later this year, presents wall ovens with color-under-glass fronts and “disappearing” control panels. The wonderful colors include Anthracite Grey, Blue Water, Titanium Silver, Sterling Grey and Slate Green. When not in use, the control panel disappears as a solid panel in the same color-under-glass. Control panel display appears at touch of the panel. You can select the background color of the L.E.D. display from a nearly endless number of possible colors, and can change that color at any time.

A couple of other innovations you can expect from Dacor this year—the Millenium series will have the stainless steel on their ovens available in either horizontal or vertical strips of stainless steel over the black glass door. Also, the Preference and Epicure series will be available with stainless steel handles.

Dacor will practically cook your food for you in the future. Favorite recipes can be programmed and, with the push of a button, the oven will automatically cook your favorite lasagna or chocolate chip cookies at the exact temperature and for the exact length time. If you are like me and shy away from roasting particularly special cuts of meat because you are certain to either under-cook or, as in my case, dry them out, you can now program into your Dacor oven the type and cut of meat, the weight of the meat and desired doneness, and it will automatically roast the meat to perfection. I like it!

Are you crazy about coffee? You can invest in the 24-inch, Dacor Coffee System. Not only can you freshly grind, brew and dispense your favorite regular coffee by the cup, the unit also dispenses espresso, cappuccino and hot water. Pre-ground flavored coffees also have their own dispensing button. The unit can be plumbed or unplumbed, and has an integrated milk dispenser for true cappuccino. (P.S., it also accepts taller coffee mugs and travel cups for those on the go.) Visit www.dacor.com and click on “What’s New” for more information.

Kohler was one of the show’s highlights. Their “waterfall” wall was incredible. The water fell in patterned drops coordinated with music—very neat to see. They had a number of new products introduced at the show—you can view them at www.us.kohler.com and then click “New Products for the Kitchen” or “New Products for the Bathroom”.

A few of my personal favorites include—

Performance Shower Water Tile nozzles. These flush-to-the-wall, low profile body sprays and shower heads pivot and are complementary to any décor. They come with either 22 or 54 nozzle head sprays, delivering a soothing hydrotherapy experience every time you shower.

I really liked the look of the new Pinstripe bath and powder room faucets. They provide a balance of elegance with the curved surfaces, geometric forms and symmetrical lines reminiscent with the Art Deco design of the 1930’s.

Everyone was drooling over the new Smart Divide, low-profile basin divider for kitchen sinks. The sink divider is half the height of conventional basin sink dividers.

A new color, Sea Salt, features a three-dimensional, textured color combining neutral Kohler colors and organic materials. This beautiful new color is available for both kitchen and bathroom applications.

I was very pleasantly surprised by KraftMaid Cabinetry. They have been busy developing new innovations moving them to a new level of design and functionality. To pinpoint a few of these innovations:

- 10 new door styles
- 5 new finishes
- New distinctive wall hood designs
- New mullion door designs
- New cabinetry for laundry, media and entertainment applications
- Available soft, self-closing drawer glides
- Cabinetry lighting which automatically turns on when opening cabinet doors to illuminate the dark areas typically found in corner cabinets.

Finally, the new Venecia line of Euro-style, frameless cabinetry features streamlined styling and high-end looks, all at a semi-custom price point—and wait until you see the finishes!