Now that the weather has warmed up, and the sun is out, I feel the need to clean-up and freshen things up. Whether it’s cleaning out the closet, dusting off those patio chairs, or adding some much needed summer colour to the garden, the changes in weather often inspires me to tackle projects around the house. Lately the projects I’ve wanted to tackle involve updating colours. I think it has to do with my overwhelming desire to bring nature inside: light, fresh, in a word….summer.  
 
Looking for a way to freshen up your kitchen? How about switching the countertop? Today’s kitchen enthusiast has more choices than ever when it comes to countertops. Here’s the first couple selections of some of my favorites:
 
1) Granite: Granite is a popular choice, and it’s easy to see why- it’s luxurious, classic, simple, modern….the list could go on. The natural beauty of granite is dispalyed in a massive array of colours and textures to match any décor. Beside the impressive look you get with granite, the durability of granite counter tops is a big plus. Granite is resistant to staining and discoloring when sealed on a yearly basis, and is resistant to hot dishes, as well as scratching. A hint on choosing granite: every slab of granite is unique. Patterns, color textures, distribution and depth can all vary from slab to slab, so to get the best idea of what your granite will look like, take a road trip and see it in its full entirety.
 
2) Engineered Stone (Cambria): Engineered stone is composed of 93% quartz particles. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists scratches and does not harbor food bacteria. It is easy to maintain as it does not require the annual sealing required by granite. The Cambria USA website also has a great feature where you can pick your favorite Cambria colour and it will select 9 different shades of Benjamin Moore paint to help you coordinate your colour scheme. Take a look at the official Cambria website http://www.cambriausa.com/ and let us know what your favorites are. (Right now I’m leaning towards the simplicity of “Cardiff Cream” in the kitchen and “Whitney” in the bathroom)
 
Next week we’ll take a look at Laminate, Corian®, and Glass.