Countertops
There has been a revolution in kitchen countertops over the past twenty-five years. What normally was a simple work surface in the kitchen, has become an element of design essential for the total appearance of the kitchen’s furniture. More than two decades ago, picking out the right countertops was effortless. One only had to choose from about a dozen or so hues of “plastic laminate”; today, the choices for materials, colors, and designs are endless.
The Past
A plastic laminate in neon-orange shade would have been a typical in the late 70’s. Laminate countertops like Wilsonart and Formica were quite popular during that that time, and they commanded ninety-percent of the market for countertops.
The 80’s witnessed the emerging of one more synthetic wonder –solid surfacing. This type was stain resistant, durable, and could be patterned into a single, flawless piece with backsplash and sink. Soon enough, it replaced laminate countertops as favorites.
The Present
If the 70’s offered homeowners with a dozen or so of laminate styles to select from, today that has been displaced with dozens of materials to choose from including copper, cherry, Corian, ceramic tile, concrete, Carrara marble, and lots more –not to mention the hundreds of patterns and colors for laminate as well.
Even though today’s market has been conquered by granite countertops –its popularity exploding in the 90’s when it dropped its prices- it is now being dared by a latest challenger -engineered stone. The stone resembles the “real thing” but features “lab-perfect consistency”.
Making matters further complicated, today’s modern kitchens may not only have one countertop but more than a few. Contemporary kitchens have the “normal” straight run, with added “marble” baking station, granite-topped island, and a preparing countertop made of stainless steel with built-in “butcher block” cutting board. Design professionals call this matching and mixing of several countertops as “surface energy”.
Moreover, it is not sufficient for kitchen counter tops to just look pretty. They have functions to perform too. Countertops are increasingly becoming functional more than ever, with special features such as those incorporated with drain boards –the grooves are routed directly to the surface that guides water into its sink; some even have hydraulic lifts which allows varying its height for ultimate comfort.
The Future
Countertop PC is common, but why not a countertop as PC? Imagine a countertop as PC where you just say what you need to prepare, and the recipe comes up. Yes, it’s no longer impossible -“Smart” kitchens that are fully equipped with “Internet-enabled” domestic devices that scans labels of products and downloads instructions for cooking have already arrived.
With innovative applications, come new alternatives for materials like glass, making an ultramodern yet surprisingly strong and solid countertop surface.
Chief Players In Countertop Revolution
There are ten key players in the changing years of countertop innovation, these includes: Plastic Laminate, which was invented in 1913 as a material for industrial insulation; Solid Surfacing, which is still the first choice of bathroom counters; Granite still remains a classic choice for many homeowners; Engineered Stone was developed in 1917 in Italy, and is frequently called “quartz”;
Wood has also evolved from the 70’s “butcher block” to today’s mahogany, teak, and other unusual wood species; Metal, particularly stainless steel is resistant –zinc, bronze, and copper take on an exquisite polish; Concrete flowed into place of any color and shape has been a remarkable option; Paper where “super-fine” sheets are joined together for one-inch thickness; Lava are natural “volcanic stone” that have kiln-fired “enamel glaze”; and Fossil stone gathered from a “fifty-million-year-old” Wyoming lake bed.
Countertops have become “musts’ of kitchens. Through the years they’ve changed into more beautiful and functional pieces of kitchen appliance. From laminates to stainless steel, soapstone to ceramics, they now come in as various materials, colors, and finishes as can be imagined. Its past, present, and future innovations have all contributed to its being a charming kitchen necessity.