<p>We’re putting a new, natural maple cabinet into our half bath. The countertop around the sink is a very neutral, light beige synthetic product. It looks ok, but I was thinking of trying something completely different for the other countertop, either natural or synthetic. Any great ideas out there? The floor tiles are a light terra-cotta, almost peachy.</p>
<p>“the other countertop”
?? I’m not following you. where is this other countertop going?</p>
<p>You mean you want to replace the countertop that you currently have in there? I can tell you that I have marble tiles, and I hate them to the point that I want to replace them as soon as finances allow. Get a nice natural solid stone one.</p>
<p>Are you looking for material recommendations or color choices?</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.cambriausa.com/]Cambria[/url”>http://www.cambriausa.com/]Cambria[/url</a>] is a natural material that I have specified with great results lately. Cost is about $70 psf in the NE.</p>
<p>Most laminate manufacturers have “stone-look” patterns and some have patterns made with recycled materials. Try the [url=<a href=“http://www.laminart.com/us/products-samples/collections/abaca-8.html]Abaca[/url”>http://www.laminart.com/us/products-samples/collections/abaca-8.html]Abaca[/url</a>] for a laminate composed of recycled banana fibers.</p>
<p>And I haven’t yet, but am anxious to use [url=<a href=“http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/]Paperstone[/url”>http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/]Paperstone[/url</a>], made from post-consumer recycled paper waste.</p>
<p>As for color choices…would have to know what other colors you have incorporated into the room…willing to advise…</p>
<p>I love the look of Paperstone. It reminds me of leather. In a powder room I really like the look of found materials - a hunk of burled maple, a naturally shaped piece of slate, some sort of cool piece of glass.</p>
<p>^^Following that line^^</p>
<p>For a hostess station in a restaurant a couple of years ago, an associate found a piece of wood at a salvage yard and had it sliced and finished as the top of a millwork piece. Sort of depends on your resources. Search “salvage yard” and you might find a company like [url=<a href=“http://www.unitedhousewrecking.com/]this[/url”>http://www.unitedhousewrecking.com/]this[/url</a>].</p>
<p>These are some great ideas. The other countertop, monloparkmom, is for a new cabinet that will be facing the sink.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner</p>
<p>What do you hate about yout marble tiles?</p>
<p>I am making a mosaic countertop out of irregular shapes of recycled glass from Bedrock Industries. Dark cabinets- white fixtures, mostly earth tones, with a little greenish and a very few blueish thrown in.</p>
<p>We live close to the factory , but there are other companies.
[Bedrock</a> Industries BlazeStone Tile (Colors)](<a href=“http://www.bedrockindustries.com/blazetile_colors.html]Bedrock”>http://www.bedrockindustries.com/blazetile_colors.html)</p>
<p>[Recycled</a> Bottle Glass Mosaic Tile :: Gorgeous 1 & 2 inch Recycle Tiles for Walls, Floors, Kitchens, Bathrooms & Backsplash](<a href=“http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/glass-tile/recycled-glass-mosaic-tile.html?panel=7]Recycled”>http://www.susanjablonmosaics.com/glass-tile/recycled-glass-mosaic-tile.html?panel=7)</p>
<p>[Interstyle</a> Ceramic & Glass Tile - Welcome](<a href=“Interstyle Glass Tiles”>Interstyle Glass Tiles)</p>
<p>We went with a beautiful piece of solid marble, light beige with peach and creme streaks, in our master bath we remodeled last fall. I still smile every time I go in there!</p>
<p>Cabinets are natural cherry, floor and shower is dark beige porcelain tiles- Looks great with white and light aqua towels.</p>
<p>If you’re going with natural maple, I love the pairing with black- maybe an ubatuba granite?</p>
<p>bethie, I would say marble or travertine or limestone, but go with honed so it won’t etch. Or there are cool glass countertops on the market now. You might also consider zinc or pewter for an old world look. Just a thought</p>
<p>Here’s the other thing I’d love to have for a countertop - it’s kind of pricey, but stunning. (I saw it at a home show.) [Fossil</a> Fish Countertops Tiles Backsplashes by Green River Stone Company](<a href=“Green River Stone Redirect”>http://www.greenriverstone.com/)</p>
<p>mathmom</p>
<p>I was trying to remember the name of this because I’d seen it before. Maybe from you. Thanks for the reminder!</p>
<p>soapstone?</p>
<p>Might be more kitchen than bathroom…the nice green/gray color could go well with the light maple/light beige synthetic.</p>
<p>Archiemom – UHW is such a great place. Until we moved 2 years ago, it was practically in our back yard. When H & I build/renovate for our “final destination dream house” I hope to incorporate some recycled stuff.</p>
<p>For the small amount of area that you are talking about, I’d recommend you cruise some of your local marble/granite places for high end remnants. Some of the more expensive marbles and granites come in beautiful, but hard to find colors; greens, reds, etc. Since they are remnants, you can often get them for a steal.</p>
<p>Bethie, you asked what I hated about my marble tiles. The tiles are in my powder room downstairs, which gets a lot of traffic. H uses it to wash his hands after doing yard work. The tiles are whitish, and the groutline is also white, and when the tiles were installed, the builder used regular grout and not the impermeable epoxy, so the groutline got dirty and unsighty quickly no matter how much I sealed it (I re-grouted it with the epoxy kind and it solved the problem). I also noticed that if water or liquid soap is left on the tiles (which H always forgets to wipe off), they absorb it and become spotty. The surface has ben sealed and re-sealed, but it does not help. Marble is beautiful, but IMHO is best left for places that do not get a lot of beating.</p>
<p>Bethie, Might well have been from me I think I posted the fossil fish before.</p>
<p>the fossil fish brings back memories of co-op preschool. D#2 preschool participated in a fundraising/informational fair every year and what their booth did for an activity was fish prints. A couple big ol’ rock cods- some cut up sheets & acrylic paint and kids could make fish prints to take home.
really beautiful.</p>
<p>I am glad I am doing the glass tiles myself- because then I can make sure it is done right- even if I have never done it before- having trouble getting the right stuff though- my H came home with stuff that isn’t recommended.</p>
<p>I had the same experience as BB (post #16) with limestone tiles in my master bath. They are impossible to keep clean–everything (even water) can stain them. These have been sealed/resealed; they just didn’t wear well and they weren’t cheap. In contrast, I used a concrete product in one of my kid’s bathrooms (now a guest room) and I love it. This is and example of the wash bowl and there’s a counter that’s made of the same material. <a href=“http://www.annsacks.com/common/resources/tearsheet_spool_concrete_lavatory.pdf[/url]”>http://www.annsacks.com/common/resources/tearsheet_spool_concrete_lavatory.pdf</a></p>