Sun Valley Home and Design / Fall 2006 / Counter Culture

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Counter Culture

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The warmth of limestone, the unyielding strength of granite, the timeless beauty of marble, the brilliant flash of glass tiles—choosing the right surface material can transform your room.

The staggering array of choices—from color and pattern, with veining and swirling, to slab or tile, polished or honed—can be overwhelming and each stone or surface has it own unique characteristics and properties. We searched high and low, consulting industry experts, to gather a sampling of stone and other natural or fabricated materials to help you make decisions on creating the most fabulous countertop, flooring or wall surfaces imaginable for your space.

Concrete

Concrete offers endless opportunities. Concrete applications can mimic the appearance of natural stone, with flecks, coatings, texture and patterning, or stand alone as a viable and unique surface of its own. Available in almost any color or texture that a client can dream up, concrete is durable and adaptable—offering color or texture choices not available with other countertop materials. Regular use imparts a warm patina to the surface over time. If left in its natural unsealed state, concrete is porous and will stain, so countertops need to be sealed. Concrete can withstand heat and cutting, but these actions can damage the sealer (important to keep the concrete from staining) and are not recommended. Concrete can be poured into slab pieces (more prone to cracks and fissures) or any variation of sections or tiles, or molded into sinks or other decorative elements.

Best Use:
• Kitchen Counters
• Vanity Tops
• Bar Tops
• Showers & Tubs
• Floors

Colors:
• Endless Color Options
• Custom Colors & Finishes

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Granite

Granite is an incredibly durable and strong stone. It is not susceptible to burns or stains, you can cut on it, and it is virtually impossible to scratch. Granite is also a sanitary countertop material (it does not harbor bacteria) and is easy to clean—all of which make it an excellent choice for kitchen countertops. Granite is available in hundreds of color choices, with many different patterns and variations—veins, specks and swirls—and is usually polished to a high gloss. A number of custom finishes are now available (satin matte, honed, diamond 8 or thermal). Available in slab or tiles.

Best Use:
• Kitchen Counters
• Vanity Tops
• Bar Tops
• Table Tops
• Showers
• Tub Surrounds
• Table Tops

Colors:
• Ivory, Cream & Honey
• Gold, Brown & Rust
• Reds
• Green & Jade
• Gray & Jet Black