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Surface Appeal
Published: July 01, 2008
By Erika Schnitzer, Associate Editor
"We have seen a trend towards kitchens becoming more open," says Brad Horner, president of Atlanta-based Coldwell Banker The Condo Store. With that in mind, developers and architects are increasingly viewing the kitchen as the residence's focal point, placing more emphasis on its aesthetic appeal.
With the attention on the kitchen, the demand for countertops is expected to increase, and sales of kitchen countertops will be higher than those in the bathroom, according to a study by the Freedonia Group Inc. "As kitchens become more open, the countertop choice becomes even more important," Horner asserts.
Additionally, with environmental awareness a key factor in today's design decisions, more surfaces are GreenGuard certified and durability has become a greater concern than ever before. Long-lasting solid surfacing materials are becoming more popular, while recycled plastics are diminishing within luxury markets, explains Robin Reigi, founder and president of Robin Reigi Inc., a New York-based sourcing, development, marketing and sales firm.
"We are seeing more and more green materials in the design industry," she says, naming Plyboo as one of her firm's signature items and the greenest manufacturer with whom she works. Reigi also points to environmental adhesives as significant when it comes to greening countertops.
In new properties, Horner has seen an increase in recycled glass as developers are pursuing LEED certification, while Reigi notes an interest in using wood surfaces because they can be renewed. "There's an interest in palm as a new luxury material, and grasses and other reconstituted materials are continuing to be of high interest," she observes. "The look is very rustic, sharp and interesting, while still showing its materiality."
Still, despite the trend toward recycled materials, Horner maintains that in the Southeastern markets, granite has become a standard for countertops. "There has been a move toward marble, onyx and limestone," he says. "The natural stones like marble and limestone are definitely what buyers are looking for in an upgraded kitchen."
Color-wise, both Reigi and Horner have seen a movement toward a warm, more organic aesthetic. In the Northeast, Reigi says the market is very conservative, sticking with gray, black, white and beige, and translucency is a big trend. "Color always ends up being secondary to texture and to the expression of materiality," she believes. "Texture is somewhat reminiscent of nature, but in a restrained way."
Product Picks…
Smith & Fong's new mosaic-patterned line of Plyboo, PlybooSquared, [1] obtains LEED credits under Credit MR 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials. Made from 100 percent bamboo, the wood is available in four tones and three styles: Natural, Amber and Sahara (http://plyboo.com)… Allowing more light to pass through when backlit, the surfaces in Dupont Corian's Illumination Series [2] are available in 1/4- and 1/2-in. thicknesses and five tones: Glacier Ice, Mint Ice, Strawberry Ice, Lime Ice and Blueberry Ice. A recipient of NSF/ANSI 51 Certification for food contact and Class I (A) fire rating, Corian is non-porous, non-toxic and non-allergenic (www2.dupont.com)… With its ProFormance treatment, Formica's new Radiance finish [3] is designed to be more scratch-resistant than other laminate surfaces. Reflecting and refracting light, the finish is available in 12 patterns in three different series: Mineral (Mineral Jet shown), Granite and Quarstone (www.formica.com)…Using 85 percent recycled glass—from items such as decommissioned traffic lights, windshields and used bottles—and made entirely in the U.S., Vetrazzo [4] is comparable to granite in strength and scratch- and thermal-resistance. The surface obtains LEED credits under Credit MR 4.1 or 4.2: Recycled Content and Credit 5.1 or 5.2: Regional Materials. Available in high-gloss polish or in a honed finish, Vetrazzo's newest mixes are Midnight Eclipse, Envy Green and Cool Titanium (shown) (www.vetrazzo.com)…Staron Tempest by Samsung [5] has added 10 new colors to its solid surface line, including Starfire, Glimmer (shown) and Sandpiper. GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality certified, the surfaces also contribute LEED points under MR 4.5: Environmental Quality (www.staron.com).
To comment on this article, e-mail Erika Schnitzer at erika.schnitzer@multi-housingnews.com.
