Kitchen Countertop Materials – Tile, Stone, and Laminate Options

We currently have maple colored cabinets and for countertop color and material: Wilsonart Laminate (color: Mesa Gold). This covers one side of the kitchen. We’re knocking out a “window” between the kitchen and the living room for an open concept, looking to add an L-shape section of cabinets and bar to that wall of the kitchen. We DO NOT want to match the existing cabinets and countertops. We want to use better quality counter (ie. granite) and “complement” the colors. Also note that the living room color is a mocha brown color. I’m sure there is a way to do this correctly, but we’re struggling with color matching. Do you know of any links giving advice on this topic? I need a color expert.

I am replacing a kitchen countertop. Should I go with Formica, Laminate, Corean or Granite?

How does Paperstone compare to other green countertop materials (ie quartz, concrete, etc.)? Is it as durable as they advertise? Was installation difficult? I’m looking for as much info about it as possible for our in-progress emergency kitchen renovation.

i am a very active cook and am remodeling my kitchen. I like the look of Calacatta marble with its very creamy white color but it is too porous. Dont like the look of white quartz. I had looked at corian but it looked pretty lifeless. the best i’ve seen so far is Silestone Zues series. Can anyone tell me of other options?? and perhaps the source where i may see it? i’m located in west palm beach, florida. visit new york city often also.

I got an estimate today that I thought was quite high. My kitchen backsplash is about 38 square feet. I have purchased all the materials that are needed. The tiles are actually on a mesh backing, which will save on time. There is very minimal cutting that is needed as the space is between the cabinets and the lip of the countertop is 12 1/4 inch. I really think that I would be able to do it myself but am not taking that chance. The contractor wants to charge me 0 for the labor telling me that it would normally be 0. That seems a bit steep in my opinion. I mean I am providing all the materials, All they have to do is lay it.

One, they installed the bathroom sinks with glue and just stuck granite pieces to hold the glue and the sinks on top. (instead of using clamps)

Two, they didn’t center the holes on 2 of the bathroom countertops so, I have faucet holes that are not centered to the bathroom sink and the lights above. And the centerset is off to the right side (so my right handle is 3 inches from the center and the left handle is 4 inches from the center.)

They did my entire house (meaning they did my cabinets and my countertops — for the kitchen & large island, laundry room, 5 bathrooms and bar — so LOTs of Granite and cabinets were ordered…)

I am actually happy with the cabinets — good quality and good material. The Granite is fine, it is the installation and the poor work that went with it.

They also drilled 4 inch centersets for three of my bathroom countertops (the granite thickness is 3cm) which means it was impossible for me to get the 4 inch centerset faucets to work and I had to have them drill 2 additional holes to make them 8 inch centersets and I am having them give me drilled holes to plug them up and just seam it over.

This is my last house == or I want it to be but I am really upset with the quality of the installers. (my contractor also did some shortcuts that I am not so happy about either… I will post that separately)

So, what should I do? I am going to send them pictures of the poor clamping job (since it isn’t clamping it is just gluing and the sink could fall and break the cabinets below or stuff I have below) == the fact that I have off centered faucets not just from the sink but the spacing is off from the handles and I have 3 countertops that have 2 extra holes between the faucet and the handles, too.

Oh, I forgot … they also damaged one of my walls installing the bar island countertop. (I have some choice names for them, but I will leave this PG)
Paid in Full
They view my contractor as their client, since he sent in the order in for me.
They drilled some on site and the 3 countertops with the 4 inch centersets at their location (which I had asked them to drill on site — but didn’t) so, now I have 2 extra holes on each.
The one countertop that has the offset holes is one that they drilled on site.
Some counters have the clamps and some don’t
Even my contractor is mad at them. But he is asking me to do all the barking since he is friends with them, I think.

I don’t know if I would have a case, since I am not the actual client and my contractor already paid in full (I guess when they showed up is when he paid in full) They kept delaying the date of the install so, I had taken 2 days off unnecesarily and they show up unexpectedly.

I did granite at my old house to sell and the guys were awesome. But I used the new guys since my contractor recommended them and I wanted a turnkey operation from cabinets to countertops.
The installers glued the sinks to the granite.

The install of the countertops are fine — the drilling of the holes have been butchered.

I do blame the contractor to a certain degree but the holes are not centered because of the installers and the fact that the sinks are not clamped onto the granite — I think is also an issue. I don’t think they should be siliconed glued to the granite. They may lose their adhesive over time and then fall down inside the cabinet.

I am doing kitchen renovation, trying to keep changes as minimal as possible. The only place to put my new stove (to replace stovetop removed from peninsula) is next to a set of narrow floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinets. It’s replacing the black oven in these photos:

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/BJ-Johnson/Wormwood%20House%20Renovation/?action=view&current=PICT0057.jpg

http://s36.photobucket.com/albums/e46/BJ-Johnson/Wormwood%20House%20Renovation/?action=view&current=wormwood009.jpg

The plans are to have a "regular" four-burner 30 inch wide stove with hood vent above. I will then have a rolling movable island to provide countertop space nearby. Someone yesterday said they thought there would be fire danger from having side of wooden cabinet next to stove, even if I covered with laminate or other material. Any thoughts?

Can someone write rap lyrics for me please?
I’m doing a project on the elements of design ( explaining what they are ) and the guy that was supposed to write the lyrics dropped out and I’m stuck with having to start from scratch if I can’t get any lyrics – I have to post this on youtube for my media class so I WILL credit you in the video. Please Guys I REALLY need some help .

Elements of design needed in the rap:

The Elements of design play an important role in the creation and success of a piece of art, whether it’s for outdoor, indoor, digital or print medium. These elements are:

Space
Space is the area provided for a particular purpose. It may have two dimensions (length and width), such as a floor, or it may have three dimensions (length, width, and height). Space includes the background, foreground and middle ground.

Line
Line is the mark made by a moving point, such as a pencil or brush. The edges of shapes and forms also create lines. It is the basic component of a shape drawn on paper. Lines and curves are the basic building blocks of two dimensional shapes like a house’s plan. Experiment in design by adding or changing lines such as the lines of the floor plan of a house.

Color
Color is the most expressive element of art and is seen by the way light reflects off a surface. Color is used to create illusion of depth, as red colors seem to come forward while blue seems to recede into the distance. Color, and particularly contrasting is also used to draw the attention to a particular part of the image. On some cases of interior design, color can be added to increase visual appeal such as the natural colors of wood of a china cabinet. Color may add visual appeal to a home decor just as colored flowers can add beauty to a field on a prairie.

Shape
Shape is an area enclosed by lines or curves. It can be geometric or organic. Importantly, a shape automatically creates a around it. Shapes in house decor and interior design can be used to add interest, style, theme to a design like a door. Shape in interior design depends on the function of the object like a kitchen cabinet door. Natural shapes forming patterns on wood or stone may help increase visual appeal in interior design.

Texture
Texture is the feeling and visual feel of the fabrics, colors, and room accessories. There are two types of texture; Tactile, or visual texture, and texture which you can detect with your five senses. Texture like grass sheets on a wall, or white pebbles embedded in a concrete wall gives a three dimensional look to the wall and a few of shades of its colors. Texture is the roughness of the surface of a material. Surfaces with same or similar textures like fireplace marble tiles and drywall usually look more visually appealing. The quality of finishes of surfaces in home interior design and even on automobiles are important. Smoothening and polishing wood wall panelling neatly and uniformly usually improves its finish and so its appearance. A smooth and polished surface on a marble tile is also a texture, and smooth and uniform quality finishes can enhance the visual appeal of natural material finishes like marble tiles on a wall. Smooth mirror reflective finish on a marble bathroom countertop enhances its looks.

Form
Form may be created by the forming of two or more shapes. It may be enhanced by tone, texture and color. Form is considered three-dimensional showing height, width and depth. It can be illustrated or constructed.

Value
Value helps with Form. It gives objects depth and perception. Value is also referred to as tone. Basically shading.

Type
Type is the use of letterform to add a message that would be otherwise challenging to create through the other elements.
It has to name the element and give a tiny explanation about the element . It is very very dorky- I know… The guy in the group was going to create the lyrics and record the rap in the studio and then email us the file and we were going to play the file over the video we were shooting of a female lyp-syncing the song. I need any lyrics by tomorrow at 7:30 pm – if we don’t have at least a copy of lyrics in hand we have to cancel the reservations for our video equipment rental, change venues, and inform the people we were using as extras they wont be needed.Then we will have to start from scratch. Our ENTIRE project must be completed by Oct. 30 to allow for editing by Nov.1
He screwed us over completely

I’m looking to sell my condo this summer, and have some cash to spend on renos. I’d like to know the best ways to maximize value. Specifically, my condo is 604 sq ft one bedroom, one bath, fireplace, with top floor balcony. In the past 2 years, I’ve replaced an outdated shower and bathtub with a new tub, surround, and tap system. I’ve also put a new bathroom sink, and repainted neutral colors throughout. So I’d like to get some good value ideas from the community.

Here’s how it looks at present – My appliances and kitchen cabinets are relatively new (european style cabinets), and have considerable life left in them. Countertop needs to be replaced. The back wall of the dining room/living room is mirrored glass to give the image of a larger room. Flooring is linoleum in kitchen/dining room, and w-w carpet throughout living room and bedroom. Decor is urban-chic and space-saving, so it looks fairly spacious.

What I’m thinking about doing is replacing my old white, opaque sliding closet doors with nickel and frosted glass sliders to modernize, replacing my countertops (undecided on what material to go with).

Right now, the average one-bedroom condo in my area sells for -95k in my area. I’d like to put -3k into my condo and at least double my return on the investment. Your help will be appreciated. Thanks!