<p>My in laws redid their kitchen in the 80s in corian in a white-beige color, I have never liked it because it shows the knife marks and looks dingy, that may just be their house though.</p>
<p>We have had granite in a variety of homes- i agree granite tile gives you all the good uses of granite (I like using it for hot pans) without the expense and 10-15 years ago was a very viable option, but with granite becoming so mainstream, if resale is a factor any time soon, you probably want to go with slab as it has become so expected.</p>
<p>In all the various locations I am unaware of our granite (tile or slab) being sealed and have never had a problem with staining. We have always had dark in the kitchen and lighter in the baths.</p>
<p>It is interesting that tile, which was very appealing in the late 70s/early 80s is now not even an option?</p>
<p>We have a 2nd sink marketed as a bar sink, but that has become our coffee/beverage station with all the goodies for hot & cold beverages, etc. and it is quite functional and keep the coffee grinder mess to one location away from food.</p>
<p>mommusic: To use granite tile, you have to lay a plywood base first. A piece of tile was cut to fit against that; the edges were finished. We may have had other options; I don’t remember. </p>
<p>We don’t live in an upscale area; around here, granite is not expected or mainstream.</p>
<p>A real estate agent around here said that granite was on its way out and colored concrete was becoming big. Anyone know anything about concrete in terms of look, price, etc. ?</p>
<p>Zodiaq (by Dupont), Silestone (by Consentino) and Cambria (made in Minnesota and not as widely distributed) are all Engineered stone comprised of 93% quartz and 7% polymers and colorants. It is non porous. Granite is not. </p>
<p>Home Depot has a new granite called Stonemark which is sealed during the fabrication. It’s guaranteed against staining for 15 years. Pretty slick! They’ve got Carerra marble and soapstone too. </p>
<p>Whoever said White Formica is coming back, I think you may have it confused with white Corian - Kitchen and bath trade mags are saying that white corian is making a comeback, mostly because of the resurgence of contemporary kitchens found in lofts and apartments.</p>
<p>Hayden, concrete is popular but not as popular as everyone thought it would be because of the cost and upkeep. It can cost more than granite. Personally, I think your real estate agent is wrong. Granite is not going away anytime soon.</p>
<p>mkm56: yes, we have marble in the shower. I use one of the bleach sprays regularly throughout the shower. That’s as much cleaning as I’ve ever done.</p>
No, it definitely does not. We had Corian and it can show knife marks - we had a pearly white color and you could easily “buff out” most marks with BonAmi. No big deal, really. But I don’t know if that works on every color or on perhaps tougher marks than we made.</p>
<p>Note, however, that if you have good knives, you are always well-advised not to cut directly on the granite or other stone. For the sake of the <em>knives</em>, not the countertop. We use washable cutting boards for all of our cutting with our good knives. (I’m sure we could start a whole 'nother thread on knives :p).</p>
<p>I think the concrete counters are cool. But I fear they are a trend which will “date” a kitchen. Stone appears to be relatively timeless - as others have said, it’s been around in France/Italy… forever. And a high end treatment in this country for a very long time now. I think it is safer for resale than concrete. Just MHO.</p>
<p>I’ve actually noticed that a lot of kitchen decorators on HGTV are using Formica and linoleum, especially in their ‘retro’ look kitchen designs. I’m amazed at how far along Formica and linoleum have come…definitely not ‘your momma’s’ Formica/linoleum. Designers are cutting custom patterns from this stuff and coming up with treatments that are pretty unbelievable.</p>
<p>Did our kitchen 4 years ago and chose Silestone. Love, love, love it.
It looks no different than the day we got it. No maintenance involved (we know we aren’t good at that sort of thing) and I can put my hot pans on it.
I even cut on it and not a scratch.</p>
<p>Thanks Jmmom and Keymom. My MIL’s Corian scratched when a plate with a rough bottom was dragged across it. It is a medium-dark, bluish-gray color with small speckles that I think hides the scratches (you have to look at it sideways in the light to see them), but she knows they are there and it bugs her. She would NEVER cut on them.
Her kitchen is lovely, and I know their budget was limited, it illustrates what vision, careful choice of materials and where to put the money and a good contractor can do.</p>
<p>ldmom - Since I spend part of the year in “all-trends-start-here” California and part in “all-trends-get-here-last-when-they-are-SO-over” Maine :p… I have noticed the retro trend in Ca. for years and tried to “sell” it back here. No luck.</p>
<p>So, I guess the trend is still alive and well. When they start buying into it in Maine, I’ll let you know. Then it will definitely be passe.</p>
<p>Which is why I’m afraid retro Formica/lino will never be as good an option as the real stone. If one can budget for the real stone. Formica variants can look really, really good though. Especially if the edge treatments etc. are up-to-date. We have formica in the kitchenette in the casita of our home in Mexico. It looks just like the actual granite in the kitchen of the casa (our real house ). I actually thought it WAS granite for several months.</p>
<p>In my first kitchen, which was very much a starter home, I put in formica with a beveled “wood” edge. It really looked good. I’ve always used cutting boards so that was never a problem.</p>
<h2>“ldmom - Since I spend part of the year in “all-trends-start-here” California and part in “all-trends-get-here-last-when-they-are-SO-over” Maine … I have noticed the retro trend in Ca. for years and tried to “sell” it back here. No luck. So, I guess the trend is still alive and well. When they start buying into it in Maine, I’ll let you know. Then it will definitely be passe.”</h2>
<p>Wait a minute jmmom. You mean you get the trends after we do here in Texas? I thought WE were last!</p>
<p>Personally I’m not a fan of retro. Especially that ‘I Love Lucy meets Happy Days’ look. gag. I prefer the warm, cozy, fireplace in the kitchen, wine grotto, stone floor, stone counters, stained wood, European country style. That’s exactly how my next kitchen will look and ‘d@mn the trends’. (Right now I have that ‘lofty’ sleek maple cabinet, stainless professional appliance look…I am so over it.)</p>
<p>I’m with you keymom - Stonite, now Silestone, has proven to be bulletproof. In fact, you’ll dull those knives cutting on it…but never see a mark on the countertop. Some of the newest Silestone options are just beautiful too. This is what I’m about to have installed in one of our bathrooms. (It’s one of the older options, but it works with some Dark Emperador marble insets in the floor, so…)</p>
<p>Hopefully a direct link to a bathroom with Coffee Brown…</p>
<p>Sorry if it is slightly OT, but someone on this thread asked me a question if epoxy grout is mold/mildew resistant. It is, because it is non-porous, just like surface of Corian or any other composite material. We also used epoxy caulking in places where grout was hard to get into. Not a pleasant thing to work with, but grout was a walk in the park.</p>
<p>Someone here was very fond of soapstone countertops. I’m curious - it is a porous stone, does it get filled with epoxy or other polymer? Is it suitable for a powder room vanity? I’m itching to replace my marble one.</p>
<p>As for knife marks on the countertops, I just do not get it why people do not use cutting boards which BTW should be made of wood or softer plastic. Knifes get dull very quickly if used to cut food on a hard surface. Softer cutting boards give in and do not ruin your prized cutting tools.</p>
). I actually thought it WAS granite for several months.</p>