With the weekend a mere 4 hours away, the sun has come out just in time. While I know most of us will be mowing the lawn and tackling the weeds, why not take some time out and look at our last two countertop surfaces?
 
Laminate– Laminate is fun, it’s affordable, it’s easy to live with, and it looks terrific. And no matter what your budget or style, you will find a product to fit your needs. The new Wilsonart HD laminate is made to look like Granite, and so far we’ve had great reviews. Drawing on technologies first developed for laminate flooring, Wilsonart HD delivers three times the wear-resistance of the industry standard. The great thing about laminate is that it doesn’t look like 60’s laminate anymore. What type of finish to go for? A matte finish is flat, while a gloss finish is . . . glossy. While the matte may be a less vibrant finish, it is better at hiding scratches and spills. Glossy finishes will shows scratches and fingerprints more easily; however the technology has become much better and it is tougher to see those little scratches. Formica also has a "sparkle" finish, which has some texture. It has a bit more texture than a matte finish but also reflects light differently and has a little more sheen. It’s hard to go wrong with laminate, at such a great price point it’s easy to change in a couple of years if your tastes change.  The Floform website has links to laminate brands as well as other surfaces.  http://www.floform.com/main/
 
                                          
Corian– Corian
is made from a plastic resin – trade marked by Dupont. It is a solid surface plastic material that can be made with a granite or a marble effect finish. Basically it is a plastic material that can be pigmented to practically any color, with a large number of textures. If you want your kitchen countertop to match exactly with your kitchen color theme or design, you have a better chance of achieving that with Corian than with any other material. Because it is not a natural material, it can be produced in large sheets and provide a completely solid, one sheet countertop without any seams or joins. Corian is easy to clean but it’s not quite as hardy as stone countertops like granite when it comes to heat. The design and durability of Corian countertops make maintaining them easy. Just soapy water and ammonia-based products are the best to keep your Corian looking clean and new. Even scratches can be easily repaired with light sanding. Always wanted an outdoor kitchen? Corian is the perfect product as it can be used in outdoor spaces without looking weathered.  Dupont’s website has a room designer feature which lets you choose wall colour, cabinet colour, and countertop colour.  http://www2.dupont.com/Surfaces/en_US/assets/flash/gallery_colors/designer.html?product=corian
 
We’ve discussed the four major surfaces we deal with at Hawthorne Kitchens: Granite, Cambria, Laminate and Corian; but there are still other options out there. Have questions, or curious about the products? Why not come down to our showroom at 465 Edison Avenue and take a look at all the choices.