Countertop Confessions- Part 2
It seems that storms follow me when I attend events. The other night during that wild storm I was at an event in Wheeling (where of course the storm was the worst!) at the Terrazzo and Marble showroom. (I swear I saw the Wicked Witch of the West riding her broom!) It was a great opportunity to meet some new vendors, chat with colleagues, and see some of the most gorgeous stone I’ve ever seen. The folks there were kind enough to allow me to take some pictures to share with you and I’m adding a couple of other options as well.
Look at this Soapstone!
Isn't this beautiful?
I love the movement and color of this granite
Ok, now for some other options:
Onyx- A beautiful translucent stone. It is soft so you wouldn’t want to use it in a hard-working area but it can be lovely on a bar or in a powder room. If you can back-light it it glows and is fabulous.
Back-lit Onyx
Icestone- A Terrazzo material made of 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix. It’s a great idea for a “green” option, but be aware that it’s porous, needs to be sealed and waxed and isn’t heat-proof.
Icestone
And last but not least for today- how about a countertop that’s made of money? Sound far fetched? It’s not!
Shetka Stone – Is a product made in Minnesota (ok, pronounce it correctly- Min eh sot a 😉 ) that’s made of various types of recycled paper including decommissioned paper money which is shredded, broken down and compressed without formaldehyde or toxic glues. It’s stain, water, and scratch resistant and 55-90% recycled. I must admit it’s not the most beautiful countertop I’ve seen, but it’s an option for those looking to be kinder to the environment.
Shetka Stone- This color's called "Counterfeit"
I know which are my favorites, how about you? Which one of these would you love to have in your home?
Countertop Confessions
When it comes to picking out great products for your kitchen, bath or built-ins what do you think about when it comes to countertops? Many years ago your choices were whatever colors and patterns of Formica were available. Now, there are a multitude of choices of surfaces, colors, and patterns. You’re limited only by your imagination!
When choosing countertops, like any other product, it’s good to know the good and the bad and also how it will be used. Here’s a brief overview of some of the popular choices:
- Granite- Still a very popular choice for countertops because of its durability and beauty. It’s a very hard stone so it will stand up to almost any use. There are also many different colors and types of granite, so there aren’t a lot of limitations as far as aesthetics go. When it comes to the surface treatment, you can choose a polished (shiny), honed (flat or dull) or even flamed (pebbly textured) finish. Each of these gives you a different look. I’m told it needs to be sealed, but I’ve had polished granite countertops for years that have never been sealed and see no difference.
White Paradiso Granite
- Marble – Beautiful but soft. If you don’t like the look of scratches and stains (the patina of years of use) don’t get this. That (in my opinion) is part of its beauty and charm. There are also many colors of Marble. It needs to be sealed and polished on a regular basis.
Marble Counter
- Soapstone – A metamorphic stone, like Marble, it is soft and scratches easily. It is somewhat impervious to stains, but does need to be treated with oil often. Kinda high maintenance.
Soapstone
- Quartz – These countertops are usually under trade names like Cambria, Silestone, Caesarstone, etc. This is actually a man-made countertop using natural quartz chips bound together with a binder under heat and pressure. Quartz countertops are very hard, (harder than granite!) impervious to stains and anti-bacterial because they’re non-porous. They’re also maintenance free and come in a wide range of colors- some even looking like granite.
Cambria Quartz Countertop
- Concrete – Hard, but fairly porous. It comes in any color, shape, and texture you can imagine. Needs to be sealed so that it won’t absorb water and stains.
Concrete countertop w/ built-in drain board
- Corian – A solid surface material that comes in many finishes and colors, can have integrated sinks of the same material. Not heat resistant like most of the stones, can crack, but is fairly maintenance free. It may stain, but the stain can be buffed out in most cases.
Corian Countertop
We can look at some other options for counters in the next post but for now- tell me what you like and dislike about any of these! Have any personal experiences you’d like to share???
