Countertop Ideas
Countertop Ideas
Looking for some fresh countertop ideas? Think there's more to life than a slab of granite?
It's new stuff from that Granddaddy of laminate surfaces, Formica Corporation.
Except it's called Formica 180fx, and it's a laminate pattern that recreates the visual chaos of real granite. 180fx™ reproduces the look of natural granite without the repetition of pattern found in most laminates.
An innovative twist on good ol' fashioned laminate countertops.
However, it's still laminate, and prejudices linger among homebuyers when it comes to this material. Thus, lower resale value.
Countertop Ideas:Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has risen to the upper rank of countertop ideas in the last ten years, as "foodies" has striven to duplicate restaurant-quality kitchens in their own homes.
Impress friends and relatives with your extremely non-porous and beautiful kitchen countertop.
On the downside, going this route is a good way to chop out a big slice of your wallet with this ultra-expensive, hard-to-fabricate material.
Countertop Ideas:Concrete
Concrete allows for a truly infinite range of design possibilities: color, size, thickness, etc.
This is the only countertop material that will adapt to your kitchen, rather than your kitchen adapting to the countertop.
More expensive than you might imagine, concrete also can crack and scorch.
Countertop Ideas:Wrapped Edge Laminate Countertop
As the name aptly describes, wrapped edge laminate countertop brings the top side of the laminate around the edge, for a seamless surface. Also called rolled edge laminate.
This means no more square laminate edges that easily chip.
But it's still laminate--with all the usual laminate limitations. It's just a better looking, better performing version of the old stuff.
Countertop Ideas:Modular Granite
Modular granite is one of the best countertop ideas to roll around recently: bigger than tile granite, smaller than slab granite. Modular granite is a great compromise.
These super-sized granite tiles minimize the annoying seams you would get with conventional 12" x 12" or 6" x 6" granite tiles.
But if you're unsure of your DIY skills, modular granite can still be an iffy proposition due to the weight of the granite pieces.
Countertop Ideas:Reclaimed Wood
Would you believe wood? Not just that, but reclaimed, recycled, salvaged--or whatever you care to call it--wood. This is hardwood such as maple, ash, and oak from old barns and commercial properties.
Reclaimed wood is absolutely gorgeous and it verifies your "green" credentials.
But wood requires a high degree of maintenance that non-organic materials such as solid-surface do not need.
Countertop Ideas:Glass Kitchen Counter
Thick glass countertops are translucent and gorgeous. Add in some pendant lighting, and they become downright mystical. But glass countertops are very high-end, top-dollar, and difficult to obtain at your friendly, neighborhood countertop store.
Countertop Ideas:Quartz
"Quartz" implies a shimmering type of countertop material, full of gold and silver flecks. And while quartz countertop material certainly does have a bright quality, it's closer to granite. This countertop idea is engineered from a combination of crushed quartz, other stone, and polymer binding agents. It looks super, and performs better than granite. Still, it's not cheap: quartz rivals slab granite's cost at $50 to $100 per square foot.
Zinc countertops?" Sure, why not? You want unique? This is unique.
Zinc countertops, typically 1/16" thick, develop a fine patina of hairline scratches over time. These countertops have been used for a long time for bar surfaces.
Not in love with those scratches? No problem. Just sand them out.
Paper countertops are often 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard and, as one of the biggest manufacturers, PaperStone, states, "[is] a petroleum-free resin that contains natural ingredients like cashew nut shell liquid.
Paper is the greenest of the green countertop materials. But like other unique materials listed here, it is still very difficult to obtain.
Looking for some fresh countertop ideas? Think there's more to life than a slab of granite?
It's new stuff from that Granddaddy of laminate surfaces, Formica Corporation.
Except it's called Formica 180fx, and it's a laminate pattern that recreates the visual chaos of real granite. 180fx™ reproduces the look of natural granite without the repetition of pattern found in most laminates.
An innovative twist on good ol' fashioned laminate countertops.
However, it's still laminate, and prejudices linger among homebuyers when it comes to this material. Thus, lower resale value.
Countertop Ideas:Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has risen to the upper rank of countertop ideas in the last ten years, as "foodies" has striven to duplicate restaurant-quality kitchens in their own homes.
Impress friends and relatives with your extremely non-porous and beautiful kitchen countertop.
On the downside, going this route is a good way to chop out a big slice of your wallet with this ultra-expensive, hard-to-fabricate material.
Countertop Ideas:Concrete
Concrete allows for a truly infinite range of design possibilities: color, size, thickness, etc.
This is the only countertop material that will adapt to your kitchen, rather than your kitchen adapting to the countertop.
More expensive than you might imagine, concrete also can crack and scorch.
Countertop Ideas:Wrapped Edge Laminate Countertop
As the name aptly describes, wrapped edge laminate countertop brings the top side of the laminate around the edge, for a seamless surface. Also called rolled edge laminate.
This means no more square laminate edges that easily chip.
But it's still laminate--with all the usual laminate limitations. It's just a better looking, better performing version of the old stuff.
Countertop Ideas:Modular Granite
Modular granite is one of the best countertop ideas to roll around recently: bigger than tile granite, smaller than slab granite. Modular granite is a great compromise.
These super-sized granite tiles minimize the annoying seams you would get with conventional 12" x 12" or 6" x 6" granite tiles.
But if you're unsure of your DIY skills, modular granite can still be an iffy proposition due to the weight of the granite pieces.
Countertop Ideas:Reclaimed Wood
Would you believe wood? Not just that, but reclaimed, recycled, salvaged--or whatever you care to call it--wood. This is hardwood such as maple, ash, and oak from old barns and commercial properties.
Reclaimed wood is absolutely gorgeous and it verifies your "green" credentials.
But wood requires a high degree of maintenance that non-organic materials such as solid-surface do not need.
Countertop Ideas:Glass Kitchen Counter
Thick glass countertops are translucent and gorgeous. Add in some pendant lighting, and they become downright mystical. But glass countertops are very high-end, top-dollar, and difficult to obtain at your friendly, neighborhood countertop store.
Countertop Ideas:Quartz
"Quartz" implies a shimmering type of countertop material, full of gold and silver flecks. And while quartz countertop material certainly does have a bright quality, it's closer to granite. This countertop idea is engineered from a combination of crushed quartz, other stone, and polymer binding agents. It looks super, and performs better than granite. Still, it's not cheap: quartz rivals slab granite's cost at $50 to $100 per square foot.
Zinc countertops?" Sure, why not? You want unique? This is unique.
Zinc countertops, typically 1/16" thick, develop a fine patina of hairline scratches over time. These countertops have been used for a long time for bar surfaces.
Not in love with those scratches? No problem. Just sand them out.
Paper countertops are often 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard and, as one of the biggest manufacturers, PaperStone, states, "[is] a petroleum-free resin that contains natural ingredients like cashew nut shell liquid.
Paper is the greenest of the green countertop materials. But like other unique materials listed here, it is still very difficult to obtain.