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 countertop trends
Although fewer people are moving these days, there’s a lot of interest in remodeling. But where once remodeling may have been done with resale in mind, today’s homeowners are refurbishing their homes for their own enjoyment. And where once natural stone countertops were quite expensive and considered a plus or a necessity for resale, today they are priced so they’re comparable with most counter choices other than laminate.
Competition over the past few years has driven the price of granite down considerably and its popularity as well as competition has led to the availability of a larger selection of colors, finishes, and edges.
Prices for granite, solid surface, and manmade quartz materials are fairly similar, according to Anna Aycock of Designs by Anna Aycock. “Granite has a wide range of price points from builder grade Uba Tuba and Santa Cecelia stones at $40-$50 per square foot, while the more exclusive slabs (African Range for example) are priced from $80 to $150 per square foot. If you’re working on a small space, such as a powder room, you may be able to save money by using a remnant piece.”
Natural stone is the most durable building material ever known, according to Kevin Sanchez, spokesman for Antolini, “and has been used in décor and construction for thousands of years.” He adds that natural stone can certainly be seen as the natural choice for a hard surface application.
“Granite continues to be one of the most popular choices for kitchens because granite is a very hard stone that’s formed at very high temperatures deep in the earth. Its polish is not subject to etching by household acids or scratching by knives and pots and pans. It’s unaffected by typical kitchen heat such as hot pans, or spilled liquid,” Sanchez says.
In addition, he says, “Customers are increasingly looking for unique and distinctive materials for use in their homes. When it comes to natural stone, every stone is different, with its own drama, its own emotion, and its own soul. They can transform a room into a breathtakingly beautiful environment.”
According to Ed Hantel of Hantel Kitchens & Baths, his customers purchase natural stone and quartz composite countertops. “There are different grades of stone with the same name, such as Baltic Brown,” he says. “Some have more fillers than others. These fillers are applied and polished so the customer does not see the pitted stone. The quality of the installation and the reputation of the company standing behind the countertop can’t be stressed enough,” he adds.
Annah Hill with Brentwood Granite & Cabinet Design Center says she doesn’t believe that any other material compares with natural stone in terms of the value it adds to a home. “Natural stone is low maintenance (we offer a 15-year warranty on our sealant), and it increases the value of your home the most,” she says.
Gunter Woodworking offers countertop surfaces ranging from natural stone to solid surface and laminate, according to Linda Gunter. “Our clients enjoy the cost efficient granite countertops, and we offer five edge treatment possibilities,” she says. In keeping with the current trend, she says, many are interested in quartz surfaces such as Cambria®—which is American-made, Zodiac®, etc. Gunter adds that the average homeowner typically selects his or her first choice color in the third or fourth color tier, while having budgeted for only the first or second color tier. “Cambria is a great product because it is available in 64 color choices without an additional cost for special colors.
“More clients are budgeting for a natural stone upgrade,” Gunter says. “Granite has become so much more affordable, that we price granite in the next tier up from laminate countertops, followed by quartz, then other manmade solid surfaces. Homeowners take the opportunity during a remodel to add value to their home by replacing countertops to natural stone while updating the rest of the room with more contemporary products.”
In agreement about the popularity of natural stone countertops is Bevin Nave with Natural Stone Distributors, who says natural stone is “still the most sought-after material for countertops. Its durability, aesthetics, appeal, and the value it adds to your home make it the top contender.” She adds that homeowners today favor unpolished surfaces such as honed or brushed granites, soapstones, and travertines, rather than the formality of a highly-polished surface.
Reporting that he, too, has noted the downward pressure on the price of natural stone is Alan Umstead of Wholesale Granite Warehouse. “When solid surface and quartz surfaces first became available several years ago, granite was expensive so the new surfaces were cost competitive. As competition has forced natural stone pricing down, it has become a much better value,” he says.
“Several years ago, there were just a handful of granite colors available,” says Umstead. “Now there are literally hundreds of colors and they are all much more affordable. Homeowners who want to personalize their homes often select exotic stones that fit their personalities, while those interested in resale tend to use ‘safer’ earthtones with resale in mind.”
Knowing what you’re looking for—aesthetically speaking—and knowing the maintenance qualities and budget you’re seeking is the first step in honing your search for countertops, according to Sheri Hendel of Granite Direct at The Selection Center. “Every counterop material has its positive and negative attributes ranging from durability, color options, seaming, maintenance, and price point,” she says. “I think the competitive price point and low maintenance characteristics of natural stone such as granite have allowed it to surpass solid surfacing as the preferred countertop for most consumers,” she adds.
“Alternative green products for the most part are more expensive and have led homeowners back to natural stone,” says Hendel. “We’ve seen granite priced only several hundred dollars higher than what high-end laminate might cost. We’re also seeing homeowners and designers opting for a more custom look with full-height granite backsplashes.”
While she agrees that granite tends to be the most popular countertop material in the area, Ann Myrick with Interior Remix says she loves using concrete and stainless steel as other alternatives. She adds that in addition to budget, homeowners need to consider the cooking style of the household. “Bakers may want marble for rolling out dough, while some cooks would prefer butcher block counters for prep surfaces,” she says. “Because of the perceived value granite adds to a home, many homeowners and realtors don’t consider the many other options.”
Karin Moughler of Kitchen Tune-Up says that while countertop choices continue to expand, color choices have also grown. “From laminate to solid surface, from granite to quartz, the color choices are amazing. A countertop can really bring a look together. From the wall color to the wood and stain of the cabinets the countertop can either be the ‘wow’ of the space or more subtle to let the cabinetry stand out. Both options are popular with our area homeowners.”
Among “alternative” eco-friendly countertop choices is “ReVelle,” a green product offered by Mark Casserly, Inc. With a matte finish, it’s a product that looks like concrete but performs much better, according to Lisa Casserly. “It is non-porous and doesn’t require sealing. It is heat resistant to 400 degrees and will not stain or crack.” Available in a variety of colors—10 standard and eight special order—it gives a kitchen a totally different look, she says.
Another choice for warming a kitchen with countertops is the use of wood, and Artisan Group’s reclaimed line of Heritage Wood countertops recycles wood from original sources such as barns, factories, warehouses, textile mills, and other commercial buildings. “Properly treated, solid wood surfaces naturally resist bacterial buildup and are waterproof, heat- and stain-resistant, and food safe,” according to Gina Covell. “Wood countertops require minimal maintenance, just an oiling once a year, particularly near the sink.” Heritage Wood countertops are available in 24 species and 29 edge choices.
Hill says that in addition to natural stone, her company also offers Kraft-Art wood, and ECO™ by Consentino counters. ECO is made of 75 percent recycled material—including mirrors, glass, granulated glass, porcelain, and industrial furnace residues. The countertops are stain, scratch, and scorch resistant, are non-porous, and don’t not require sealers. A vailable in two finishes it comes in 10 natural colors.
There are a number of sources for counterops in the Nashville area including:
Antolini/OHM Int.
San Francisco/Nashville
615/ 331-9440
Artisan Group Heritage Wood/Affinity Stone
615/ 383-0069
Brentwood Granite Cabinet Design Center
Brentwood
615/ 376-6122
Consentino NA
New York
www.consentino
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Designs by Anna Aycock
Brentwood
615/ 794-7561
Elite Countertop Products
Hendersonville
615-264-9370
Granite Direct/Selection Center
Nashville
615/ 726-3755
Gunter Woodworking
Murfreesboro
615/ 893-5722
Hantel Kitchens & Baths
Nashville
615/ 292-3070
Interior Remix
Brentwood
615/ 376-8994
Karmal Skillington
Nashville
615/460-7197
Kitchen Tune-Up
Franklin
615/ 595-0753
Mark Casserly, Inc.
Franklin
615/ 794-8045
Nashville Granite & Marble
Nashville
615/ 248-7808
Natural Stone Distributors
Nashville
615/ 251-1345
ReVived Spaces by Amy
Spring Hill
615/ 509-3148
Wholesale Granite Warehouse
Nashville
615/ 627-0920
Wilsonart International
Temple,Texas
254/ 207-2366 |
