Remodeling Trends

When we meet with homeowners to discuss a kitchen or bathroom remodeling project we are often asked our opinion about countertop options. Countertops can be a costly item. Two of the most popular are granite and quartz. Here's how they compare:

GRANITE: Granite is natural stone that is mined, polished and cut into slabs.

 

Advantages:

• Granite countertops continue to be the product that most people favor in their homes. Its beauty and durability are unsurpassed.
• Granite is available in a variety of colors.
• It is water resistant.
• It is scorch resistant.
• It is durable and it is an investment.
• Granite is a hard surface for food prep and can be wiped clean easily. For regular cleaning, it can be wiped with a mild soap solution. Once a year, a sealer should be applied to the surface. This takes about 15 minutes.

Disadvantages:

• Granite is more expensive than other counter surfaces. Pricing is determined by the thickness and color. The type of edging you choose for your granite countertop and the thickness of the granite will also influence the price.
• When installed, there will be visible seams.
• Granite is vulnerable to staining. Oils will stain granite if left on the surface for any period of time. Most oil stains can be removed with a paste or poultice that draws the oil out of the surface.
• Placing hot pans or dishes directly on granite can cause damage. We recommend using a hot pad or trivet even with granite counters.
• If you do damage granite, it is very costly to repair. Because of the uniqueness and variation of each slab, it cannot be patched to match the original surface.

QUARTZ: Quartz is also real stone but is combined with resin and other manmade materials to reinforce its durability and performance. 

 

Advantages:

• Quartz is one of the most durable counter surfaces available. It is harder than granite, non-porous which helps to reduce bacteria growth on food prep surfaces, and is easy to care for.
• Quartz countertops are scratch, scorch and mildew resistant and, depending on the quartz pattern, can have a seamless appearance./li>
• Quartz countertops, unlike granite, do not require sealing.
• Silestone and DuPont Zodiac quartz countertop products offer 15-year warranties.
• Manufacturers of quartz countertops have significantly changed the look of their products over the past year. One of the most stunning products on the market is the new look of Cambria quartz. Cambria is manufactured in the United States. The new patterns look like granite or marble and come in a range of colors.
• Seams are less visible.
• Repairs can be done to match, if there ever is a problem.

Disadvantages:

• Quartz can cost almost as much as granite and may not provide the return on investment that granite will.
• Placing hot pan or dishes on quartz counters can cause damage. We recommend using a hot pad or trivet even with granite counters./li>
• Long term exposure to direct sunlight can discolor quartz.
• Seams are still evident although they can be better camouflaged.

So which is better? You be the judge. Granite is sill the most popular for kitchen projects but quartz is rapidly gaining in popularity.

Style for today's residential interiors is all about contrasts and mixing it up, instead of matching everything perfectly. Old is mixed with new, modern with primitive, industrial with rustic, rough with smooth, round with square, soft with hard, blocky with leggy. The old adage about "opposites attract" is more obvious than ever.

 

As a helpful guideline when you remodel, first review the following basic style categories. Choose your favorite style as a backdrop for the spaces in your home, and then spice things up with some contrasts that express your own personal style. Pay careful attention to detail, giving consideration to how the colors, shapes, and patterns interplay with one another.

 

Traditional is refined and elegant, associated primarily with furniture from the 17th-18th centuries in England, and often referred to as "classical."

It usually incorporates both curved and straight lines, intricate details, inlays, and decorative trim in symmetrical and balanced proportions. Dark stained cherry wood is often used for Traditional kitchen cabinetry, but the cabinets may also be painted.

 

Contemporary has its roots in 20th Century Europe and the Modern architectural movement.

This movement sought to meld form and function, utilizing straight lines and simplified shapes. Evolving from the Modern style, Contemporary includes curved edges and spherical forms. A blend of natural materials, including soft leather and sleek metal, glass and stone, lends the Contemporary style a subtle elegance.

 

Transitional is a seamless blend of Traditional and Contemporary styles, combining straight lines along with gentle curves.

It takes a fresh approach, mixing furniture pieces, finishes, materials and fabrics from both styles.   A soothing, neutral color palette and soft shapes helps create a comfortable balance. Adding gold, silver and mirror finishes brings elegance to the room.

 

Shaker originated with a religious sect known as the "Shakers" that arrived in America from England in the 18th century. Their unadorned, spare furniture designs reflected their beliefs in efficiency, usefulness, and honesty. Cabinet doors were either stile-and-rail recessed panels with a plain inset, or flat panel. Shakers primarily used maple and cherry, with items either painted, waxed or oiled.

 

Arts and Crafts was a movement in late 19th Century Victorian England that reacted against the mass-production of home furnishings. The style emphasized the beauty of natural materials and featured artisan-made accessories of ceramics, textiles, metal and glass. In America, Gustav Stickley designed oak furniture that was often called craftsman or mission style. His furniture was solid and rectilinear, with minimal decoration and flat panels.

 

Cottage is a sub-category of Country style. Typically it carries a timeless old barn or farmhouse vibe, with exposed wood beams and wood floors. Distressed wood and heavy copper or iron are frequently used. Worn country antiques may be used as décor, along with natural materials from the outside that add texture. The color palette is warm and soft, with light-colored cabinetry. The look is lived-in and cozy.