Kitchen Countertop Trend Report

Industry publication Kitchen & Bath Design News recently published an extensive report to designers on trends in kitchen countertops.

The usual granite, stone and quartz products are still holding their own, but an interesting thing is happening with the current economic crisis: Laminate countertops are making a resurgence!

There is now an entire generation who have not lived with laminate countertops, except in economy apartment buildings and condos. And those are usually the postformed type with a curve up to a 4" high backsplash. Laminate countertops can be made to look very much like stone when they are made with square edges and installed with a tile backsplash.

There is even a system to undermount your sink in a laminate countertop!

Users have to take care not to damage laminate with a hot pot or a sharp knife but, as an interim countertop meant to be replaced with a lifetime one when funds become available, laminate is a good option to save thousands on your kitchen remodel.

The report also says that wood countertops are being used now more than in recent years. This is problematic because wood countertops are more expensive than laminate and do not hold up well at all around sinks or cooktops/ranges. I, personally, love a section of wood countertop between my cleanup and cooking areas for prep. It is great to have a dedicated area for cutting that doesn't require getting out a cutting board. Just keep it far enough away that the fire and water don't destroy it. And make it replaceable so you can chop away to your heart's content without worrying about how it will look after years of use.

Green countertops are also making news: Recycled glass and locally quarried stone are both green options, though they tend to be as pricey as less green products that are imported.

Be sure to test any product you consider using in your kitchen. Kitchen counters are subject to a lot of stresses and stains. The ones you select should be able to stand up to whatever you throw at them.

Peggy

BuildingGreen's Top-10 Products for 2008

Building Green points consumers and pros to a double fistful of great products to green your home.

There are several of interest to anyone contemplating a kitchen remodel:

FSC-certified Plyboo Pure bamboo flooring from Smith & Fong
This is the very best in bamboo flooring and as green as it gets for an imported product.

Natura Paint from Benjamin Moore
Who wouldn't want to use great paint without smelly after-odor? Natura uses Benjamin Moore’s own Gennex zero-VOC colorants. This great green paint is available as a primer as well as in flat, eggshell, and semi-gloss.

PolyWhey Floor Finish from Vermont Natural Coatings
PolyWhey is a water-based wood finish that uses recycled whey protein, a by-product of the dairy industry, as a binder. These LEED-qualifying, low-odor coatings contain no toxic heavy metals. They provide a clear coating with water, chemical, and scratch-resistance and with twice the durability of other waterborne finishes, according to the company, making them suitable for high-traffic residential and commercial areas. PolyWhey finishes dry to the touch in under two hours and fully cure in under a week. Available in gloss, semi-gloss, or satin finish.

Take a look at all ten products (I am really excited about the Matrix furnace for our home) and see what you can do to make your home more energy efficient and safely less toxic.

Red Retro Kitchen - Awwww

Isn't this just the cutest thing you ever saw?

If I still had a showroom, I'd buy it in a flash!
























I think I must be stuck somewhere in my early childhood because I never got to play with a kitchen like this...Now I play with my clients' kitchens!

This charmer can be obtained at Stacks and Stacks.

Make a little girl's dreams come true.

Peggy