Whether you call them home theater cabinets, home theater furniture, entertainment centers, or media cabinets, they will determine the feel of a room. Your cabinetry becomes the base for choices for every other item in the room: flooring, countertops, paint color, even plumbing and lighting fixtures. Continue reading
Flat screen TVs have become ‘must haves’ in the last few years. In terms of today’s home theater, the small screen isn’t so small anymore. Now with big screens, wide screens, plasma screens and even projection screens, finding an accommodating unit to house it all can be a can be a big challenge. Continue reading
The Entertainment Center area has become more of a family gathering place than the family dining table. Unfortunately, fantastic multi-media centers can create very busy eyesores. Why not make sure it is more functional and attractive by designing your very own custom media center that fits your needs? Continue reading
These days, most everything is made fast using the cheapest materials possible, including cabinets. The majority is even constructed by machines. The result is cabinets that looks good, yet is made from such cheap materials as press wood. After all is said and done, most shoppers end up with products that have a nice appearance but will only last for a very short time. Fortunately, there is an alternative. Continue reading
Every home owner has different tastes and styles. That’s why you can’t just pick any cabinets to install in your home. Your unique design tastes can only be fulfilled with custom cabinets. Whether you are looking for custom kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, storage cabinets, or even wall cabinets, you’ll find there are many benefits to choosing the custom route. Continue reading
To find the countertop that works best for your home and lifestyle, start by taking a look at how you use your kitchen. If yours is like many households, you want a countertop that complements your overall kitchen décor while standing up to everyday use for your family without too much maintenance. On the other hand, if you entertain guests often, you may prefer a countertop with all of these features plus a more elegant look and finish. Continue reading
Laminate countertops may not be as luxurious or as stylish as surfaces like granite, marble, or quartz, but laminate is still a popular pick for kitchen countertops with a wide spectrum of color and pattern choices, a clear cost advantage and easy installation.
Laminate countertops are available in hundreds of solid colors, graphic prints and patterns that include imitations of granite, marble, travertine, slate, cork, leather, wood and even paper and fabric!
Premium laminate product lines now have a visual “depth” to the pattern vs. the flat, one-dimensional look of standard laminate countertops.
Many surface finishes like: honed, polished, brushed, velour, quilted, riverwash and several more are available in many colors/patterns for an added textural design element.
Thus, from a design perspective, no countertop material offers you a wider range of choices and options than laminate (technically natural granite has the most “colors” with 2500+, but the range of pattern is much more limited).
So, with laminate you may have trouble deciding which color/pattern combo to use, but you certainly won’t lack for many excellent candidates no matter what your color scheme or design theme.
Decorative edges can also be created similar to some natural stone bath and kitchen countertops. You can even have a unique “no-drip” edge to keep spills from dripping onto the floor.
Backsplash design possibilities aren’t altered much by the countertop material (just different choices) so; installing laminate won’t necessarily limit your options for kitchen backsplash design. Of course, a standard 4-inch splash using the laminate is fine, but don’t be afraid to create a more upscale look.
You can still use any and all materials or tile designs that you might use for a backsplash above a granite countertop. It’s simply a matter of combining complimentary textures and colors to create a cohesive look.
Durability is improving with upgraded laminate surfaces that are much more resilient and resistant to wear and damage than standard or older varieties.
Laminate will scratch, chip and cut easily from knives, utensils or rough treatment. On the other hand, laminate does resist stains very well and cleaning laminate kitchen countertops is a snap with only a few simple precautions.
Laminate is the clear winner when comparing on cost alone, which is why it’s often the first choice for rental properties or old house remodeling projects.
The cost of installing laminate countertops will typically vary depending on how it’s installed, color chosen, edge detail, etc.
The origin and manufacturing process of countertop laminate dates back to the early 1900s. Although technological advances have allowed for continued improvement in the finished product, the manufacturing process is basically the same and fairly consistent across brands. Today laminate is used in many products and applications other than countertops.
Formica is the “original” laminate countertop company and still a big player along with Wilsonart by Dupont. A few other companies like Nevamar, Pionite and Arborite round out the competition.
Laminate won’t ever top granite or natural stone in terms of style, cache or re-sale value, but laminate does offer some distinct advantages.
For those who’d like to upgrade their kitchen countertops without sacrificing design possibilities or busting the bank, then the extensive color palette, low-cost and easy installation make laminate countertops a perfect choice.
A competent do-it-yourselfer can install laminate countertops, but having them installed by a professional cabinetmaker is the way to go for the best look, fit and finish.
Laminate kitchen countertops have come a long way from the white with black speckled tops that were so popular in the 1960′s and 1970′s. Once a favorite during the 1960s and 70s, laminate kitchen countertops are enjoying new popularity as an affordable, durable, moisture-proof, and surprisingly attractive replacement for your home’s worn kitchen countertops. Continue reading
Laminates and countertop laminate are not as old as stone, getting it’s start just over 100 years ago. The idea of combining thin layers of a material to make one stronger layer dates back at least to the 1800s, but the start of laminate countertops came in the early 1900s when a couple engineers for the Westinghouse company invented a laminate product with phenolic resins to serve as an industrial insulator. Continue reading
Laminate countertops obviously aren’t new. But just because they’ve been around a while doesn’t mean they’re still the ho-hum countertops they used to be.
Laminate still retains all of its good character traits like low cost, ease of maintenance and gobs of color choices. But today there are new textures and lots of new patterns that more closely mimic natural materials. Continue reading