Kitchen & Bath Design News

AUG 2015

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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40 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | August 2015 Portfolio of Countertops MATERIALS USED: copper (island); Corian (perimeter) DESIRED LOOK: These homeowners wanted a kitchen design with ele- ments that ofered a timelessness, developed with the use of deep, rich colors. "The design is the cli- ents' interpretation of the West and Yellowstone." ACHIEVING THE LOOK: The copper was left unsealed so it can patina as the years pass by. "She wanted a living finish…something that wouldn't necessarily be shiny over time. She's okay with seeing rings from drinks and lemon stains from mixing cocktails. It's okay with her if the copper changes." MOST CREATIVE ASPECT: "The liv- ing finish tells the history of the kitchen…everything from those drink rings to imprints of the kids' homework. It takes a bit of faith from a client when you tell them the coun- tertop will change." COUNTERTOPS' ROLE IN A KITCHEN: Countertops can be an anchor for the space, especially when an is- land top is contrasted against the perimeter countertops. "Like this copper-topped island, many of our designs feature islands where their material is diferent than the rest of the countertops. It makes the island the centerpiece, the anchor of the kitchen, which is where people often gather. Everyone plans for the formal dining room, but everyone ends up living in the kitchen!" TRENDING COUNTERTOP MATERIALS: Lauman sees a big push for quartzite from his clients. Concrete is also be- coming more popular. "You can make it any color or shape. You are in con- trol, and you can lay almost anything into it, from glass and shells to gears and coins. Concrete countertops can be very personalized." Metals such as steel and pewter are also gaining ground. "Steel gives a sense of weight to the space. And, like the copper, it can have a living fnish. Countertops, though, run the gamut. I think the sky's the limit as far as materials I've seen and used in the past 18 years. I am excited for the next big trend because counter- tops can add such a fun element to the space." MOST UNUSUAL COUNTERTOP MATERIAL USED: Lauman's most creative and unique countertop was crafted from a massive piece of antique mesquite wood. "It was hand- picked in San Antonio, then shipped to a fshing cabin here in Montana. It's a really unique piece, with a tight grain and swirls. We were able to cut the slab in half and use the second piece for furniture. These clients wanted something that could be a showpiece, and something from a piece of wood that wouldn't be typi- cal for a fshing cabin." MATERIALS USED: glass thassos DESIRED LOOK: The homeowner wanted a classic but modern look. "They love the clean look of white that never goes out of style, and they want- ed that look throughout the space." ACHIEVING THE LOOK: At the island, the homeowner wanted a countertop with a thick edge so Distasio built it up to 3" thick. "Using the glass thas- sos, even though it is white on white cabinetry, provides a dramatic yet simple design feature." MOST CREATIVE ASPECT: The island top with the built-up edge is defnite- ly the focal point of the kitchen, she explains. "Aside from the beauty of it, glass thassos is extremely durable. It is a man-made material that is non- porous and harder than any stone. However, due to its density, there are limitations to the types of edges and cut-outs that can be done." COUNTERTOPS' ROLE IN A KITCHEN: "A kitchen countertop is the most uti- lized part of a kitchen and, aside from the cabinets, is the most prominent feature. You put everything on your countertop, so it should be something that is both durable and beautiful." TRENDING MATERIALS: Granite and marble are still very popular with Distasio's clients, but more are choosing man-made quartz products such as Caesarstone and Cambria. "Quartz products are much more durable than stone. They are non-porous, so the problems of etch- ing or staining that natural stone have are almost non-existent with quartz. Many of the quartz colors also look so much like stone, you can't tell that they are not natural stone. We also have a lot of clients going with wood now as well, espe- cially at the island." MOST UNUSUAL COUNTERTOP MATERIAL USED: "It isn't necessarily unusual, but concrete is probably the least common, however, it is the product with the most fexibility. Concrete countertop colors can be customized to any color, so for cli- ents who want a color they can't fnd in any other countertop products, they can simply pick a Benjamin Moore paint color, for example, and the countertop will be made that color. Aside from limitless color options, you can also do more in - teresting and creative shapes with concrete, as well as various textures and insets." DESIGNER: John Lauman, project architect, JLF & Associates, Bozeman, MT DESIGNER: Kate Distasio; Showcase Kitchen & Bath; Bloomfeld, NJ Photo: JLF & Associates Photo: Mike Smith

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