Formica Counter Tops – Quartz Surfacing for Counter Tops
Formica is a manufacturer that offers high-pressure laminate Formica counter top in hundreds of colors, patterns, finishes and textures. A great product for your Formica counter top is Quartz surfacing. Quartz surfacing is an engineered stone composite that is popular for use in kitchens and baths for Formica counter tops.
Two popular high-end products usually used for Formica counter tops are granite and solid surfacing. Quartz surfacing may be in existence because of the competition between these two Formica counter top materials.
Quartz surfacing is also known as engineered stone or quartz composite. Quartz surfacing has the look and feel of natural stone, but is technically a solid surfacing material. Traditional solid surfacing material like Corian and Avonite are made of polyester and/or acrylic. Quartz surfacing is made up of 90 percent quartz and 10 percent acrylic or epoxy binder. Natural quartz is an extremely hard mineral. Only diamonds, sapphires, and topaz are harder than quartz. Quartz surfacing gives you a durable nonporous Formica counter top that is resistant to stains, scratches, and heat.
Quartz surfacing is an attractive Formica counter top because the material has a clarity and glow that most other countertop surfaces lack. Quartz surfacing doesn’t have the same amount of color and pattern choices that many other Formica counter top materials have, but it is less rigid than granite and other types of natural stone. It is less likely to chip or crack when it is shipped, constructed, or installed.
Quartz surfacing for Formica counter top is more expensive than the conventional solid surfacing materials. In many regions of the country, quartz surfacing counter tops are comparable in price to high end granite counter tops. You are looking at a price of about $150 to $200 per square foot and this includes installation.
Quartz surfacing isn’t only for kitchen counter tops either. Quartz surfacing is a popular surfacing material for bath vanities, desktops, areas that surround the tub and shower, kitchen backsplashes, wet bars, tabletops and the area that surrounds your fireplace. As versatile material, it will look beautiful and last a long time no matter where you decide to install it and for whatever purpose you choose.
Peninsula Kitchens for Active Lifestyles
Peninsula kitchens are similar to island kitchens. Where islands are accessible on all sides, though, peninsulas are only accessible on three. They work well in L-shaped kitchens that have lots of floor space but limited wall and counter space and usually extend perpendicularly from the main counter running against the wall.
The peninsula itself is many things in one. It is a table top as well as a countertop, with compartments located underneath for additional storage. In larger kitchens, it helps to minimize the work triangle, giving the cook a nearby surface on which to expedite the washing, cooking, and prepping process. At the same time, the peninsula diverts household traffic away from the work triangle, directing family through the kitchen on one side. They also make ideal dividers between the kitchen appliances and the eating area.
This does not mean that peninsulas exclude family and friends from activities in the kitchen. On the contrary, peninsulas often serve as snack bars, where guests can sit comfortably and socialize with the cook while waiting for a sit-down meal. Peninsulas accommodate seating for one to six people depending on their size. Family members can sip coffee and read the newspaper there while breakfast is cooking or use the space for sitting and gathering between meals. In this manner, peninsulas help to make the kitchen a pleasant hub for active lifestyles.
Since peninsulas do not close up the space between the kitchen and dining room, they help maintain an open feel between the two living spaces. In smaller kitchens, they can take the place of the kitchen table, while in larger spaces, they provide an area for quick, informal meals.
If you are planning to add a peninsula, it can be scaled to size of the kitchen. It is not, however, recommended for very small kitchens that don’t have the floor space. They can be equipped in a variety of ways to include or exclude cupboards, drawers, sink and stove top spaces, tabletop space, and accompanying stools. Though their material and design can vary widely, peninsulas usually have the same height and style as the existing kitchen elements and units. Peninsulas can be easily customized to have an original shape. They can be fitted into any corner of the kitchen.
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When you decide to renovate your kitchen, you are aware that you are investing a large chunk of money into the project. It is a huge undertaking and you want to be sure you get the best value at the best prices for all the new appliances, countertops and especially your new kitchen cabinets you will need in order to complete the project. The cost of new kitchen cabinets takes up about 40% of your total renovation project budget. You are best advised to do a lot of comparison-shopping and some research as well before you make any major purchases.
You can easily find a kitchen cabinet at wholesale prices when you shop and research your kitchen renovation project online. Not only can you find great deals, you can find money saving techniques and tips as well. You can find many websites that are devoted to bringing you the best quality kitchen cabinet at wholesale prices. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your kitchen look the best it can be. You can find great deals for kitchen cabinet at wholesale prices if you take a little time to do your homework and let your fingers do the walking.
You can shop at a home improvement store, but you will be paying the manufacturers retail price for any purchases you make. This allows the manufacturer to line their pockets with your hard-earned cash. When you shop forkitchen cabinet at wholesale prices, you eliminate the overhead and can find great prices for the same high quality cabinets you have seen advertised at prices that are more expensive.
Saving money on kitchen cabinet at wholesale prices allows you to do more with your kitchen-remodeling project than you have planned because of all the money you will be saving. You can afford to upgrade your appliances, or buy the more expensive countertop you have been dying to put into your kitchen. With kitchen cabinet at wholesale prices, you can feel good about your purchase instead of shaking your head at the exorbitant cost of kitchen cabinets at retail prices.
7 Tips For a Bathroom Facelift
Every few years a bathroom just needs a facelift. If your bathroom is in good condition for the most part, but just needs some sprucing up, here are some tips.
1. Paint your bathroom. Painting the walls with a new shade can give the whole room a major lift, but do it right. Start with a primer. It adds just a few dollars to the cost, but not only will your paint hold up better, but it will make for a much more even coat.
Use a good enamel paint. There are many top brands that are water based for easy clean-up, and hold up very well. Use satin or eggshell if you like a low gloss.
2. Consider sanding your cabinetry and giving it a good stain. You can select a wood tone, or one of many color stains that are now available.
You may be tempted to just paint the cabinetry, but paint will tend to chip where stain is embedded in the wood and will hold up over time, if you do the job right. This takes a little elbow grease, but will make a dramatic change to your bathroom.
Buy some new knobs and your bathroom cabinets will have a new and different look.
3. Updating your lighting can also produce great results. Well thought out lighting just where you need it can definitely brighten up a bathroom.
Choosing attractive fixtures can make a stunning improvement in the decor of your bathroom. Lighting fixtures are not only functional, they lend much to the overall decor of your bath.
4. Replace your vanity top if it is showing signs of wear. A new vanity top and sink are a great way to update your bathroom. This is the most seen area of most bathrooms, and often gets the most use.
Consider adding a new countertop sink instead of the standard bathroom basin. There are hundreds to choose from and they will give your bath a new and trendy appearance.
5. If a new vanity top and a countertop sink is one of your choices, go the extra mile and invest in a new faucet. Here again, there are many to choose from in many styles and finishes.
Chrome was the old standby for decades, but these days you can have oil rubbed finishes, bronzed finishes, a variety of brushed finishes, or very shiny finishes. Handles and spouts offer many options in style as well. Longer necked spouts have become very popular for the bathroom and provide an interesting look.
6. while you’re giving your bath a refresher course, this is a good time to re-grout around the tub. If your shower door is looking well past it’s time, this may be the time to replace it.
7. And, it goes without saying, that new linens will always perk up your bath. If you have painted your bath a new color, this may be the time to replace at least the linens that get seen on a daily basis.
This is not to suggest that you undertake all of these suggestions. Choose one or two that will do the most to perk up and give your bathroom a fresh look.