Every remodeling project should add to the value of your home.
New trends, rising home prices, curb appeal and increased energy efficient items have all contributed to a rise in remodeling projects’ payback at the time of resale. And as expected, the kitchen continues to be one of the top rooms where remodeling increases value. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we spend the most time as a family. It’s where family and friends gather and play.
Bathrooms come in a close second.
But more than ever, remodeling doesn’t have to stick with standard materials and a customary design pattern. In fact, there are several new products on the market today that can take your remodeling plans to a whole new level.
Are you looking for something new for a countertop surface that can withstand heat, stains and major scratching?
While granite and quartz were once the most durable and low maintenance products for countertop surfaces, other materials are quickly becoming a top choice in the luxury home marketplace too.
Dekton
Dekton is an exciting new product being used in countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. It is a sophisticated blend of glass, porcelain, and quartz that is extremely durable and looks beautiful in the process. The unique combination of raw materials and cutting-edge technology gives Dekton unrivaled performance characteristics:
- It’s highly resistant to scratching and abrasion. That means no matter how many pots and pans you pull across the counter, or what your kids have to dish out while sitting and doing their homework, Dekton will continue looking good for years to come. That makes it a great choice for a busy kitchen.
- Dekton is stain-proof and highly resistant to household chemicals. That means the most powerful kitchen ingredients that would easily stain a more traditional countertop – soy sauce, red wine, black beans, lemon, make-up or even spray paint – will never leave a mark on your Dekton countertops. Dekton is so dense that even lighter color countertops won’t show stains.
- Dekton has a non-porous surface that never needs to be sealed and is always easy to clean.
- Dekton’s high UV resistance makes it the perfect outdoor material for your outdoor kitchen setup. You’ll enjoy a high quality countertop that can withstand all of nature’s elements, with color that won’t fade over time.
Dekton is a proprietary blend of quartz, porcelain, and glass. It takes all of the great qualities of each raw material and compresses them together under high pressure to create a slab material that can be used just about anywhere.
The color palette is something that will ensure you can match any décor. Natural colors either with a solid look or a blend ensure you can match any contemporary design. If you’ve ever shopped for marble or granite, you know that colors come in batches. Dekton works in similar fashion. Dekton is cut from slab material and will have consecutive or book matching grain. This means if you are using the slab for a large countertop and backsplash, you can line up the grain to hide seams and create continuous vein patterns. With flat, textured, matte, or even leather finishes, there are many options to create a very sophisticated look.
Cambria
Dekton isn’t the only product on the market that’s taking the remodeling industry by storm.
Cambria is a natural, quartz product that can be used for countertops, floor tile, vanities, fireplace surrounds, wet bars, showers, and more. Cambria is pure, natural quartz, one of the hardest and most common minerals on Earth.
With Cambria surfaces, durability and beauty endure throughout the product. Cambria surfaces are 93 percent pure quartz. Granite contains only 40 to 60 percent quartz, which means it utilizes more porous, weaker minerals. That’s why granite is more susceptible to damage.
Because Cambria is more durable, it also means you can have more fun with your design. Get creative with your style. Create daring edge shapes on your kitchen island, or use wider overhangs to give yourself more space. No need to worry about strength and durability with Cambria.
If your kitchen is your favorite room in your home, and you’re always busy cooking and baking, you’ll have even more reason to enjoy Cambria designs. Because it’s nonporous and nonabsorbent, it won’t draw in moisture from raw or leftover foods. There is no safer stone surface available for food preparation because it simply won’t harbor harmful bacteria or give off emissions or radon. You’ll rest easier knowing that what comes between you and the food is safer, every time.
With Cambria’s unique color palette, you’ll experience true, natural beauty in any color and pattern you choose. Some of Cambria’s designs have the natural look and feel of granite, marble, and other quarried stones; let your imagination run wild. And because Cambria is available in more than 120 designs, it’s often a favorite with interior designers and homeowners looking to add beauty and value to their home remodel.
Porcelain Plank Tiles
With your countertops securely in place, how do you change up the flooring in your new space? One of the newest design trends combines two popular looks we all love – tile and hardwood – and uses it to create a product that’s truly the best of both worlds.
Wood look tile flooring has become one of the hottest trends in the flooring industry today. With the advancements in manufacturing processes, porcelain tile with the appearance of natural wood is being used in projects large and small. These tiles are no longer limited to traditional sizes, tile can now be manufactured in what are called planks, or tiles that are rectangular in shape – resembling hardwood flooring boards.
These porcelain tiles look so real that to the naked eye, it’s nearly impossible to tell it’s not real wood. Thanks to advancements in technology and the manufacturing processes, the detailing is so innovative and precise that these products can mirror the look and feel of a hand scraped the wood floor.
But you also get something more; the durability that is only associated with porcelain tile.
Porcelain wood look tile flooring products are designed with a focus on performance and durability, something that makes them the perfect choice for both the kitchen and bathroom. Porcelain tiles are easier to clean and maintain than real wood, and because tile can withstand both water and moisture better than wood, they are the perfect addition to both the kitchen and bathroom, where hardwood is often warped or damaged.
With all of the new entries into this marketplace, you’ll find porcelain wood look tiles in a variety of shapes, colors, patterns, and looks. Whether you’re trying to match an existing theme or are choosing a new look and feel, there is a perfect tile waiting to compliment any décor plans you have in mind.
The more fun you have designing your space, the more fun you’ll have when using your space. It’s your design, your home, and your inspiration.
What are you waiting for?