Lots of people have granite countertops. But how many do you know with countertops made of amethyst?
The Prexury Collection by Cosentino features countertops made of semi-precious stones such as red jasper, quartz and petrified wood. Bound together using epoxy resin and polished, these handcrafted countertops are both beautiful and distinctive.
The price? That's anybody's guess, the website does not list prices. Hand-crafted in Spain using semi-precious stones? I'll say, "Not cheap." I suggest contacting them directly for a price quote if you are interested. What do you think: Pretty or pretty ugly?
These are challenging times in the home improvement industry. As the housing market has crumbled, many good companies have gone the way of the dodo. Luckily, for me the company that built my kitchen cabinets (Omega Cabinetry)is still in business and offers great customer service. Although some of their distributors have downsized, been sold or gone belly up, the manufacturer has stood behind its products. The retailer my defunct remodeler bought the cabinets from was a high end division of a home improvement behemoth. When I had a problem, the retailer told me I would need to go to the manufacturer to get my Lifetime warrantied cabinets repaired, as they no longer carried the line. I went to the manufacturer's website. As the manufacturer does not have local installers, they referred me to their distributors who have people in the field to help customers in need of service. That sounded reasonable. The first distributor on their list did not return my phone calls or emails. The second one said they no longer carry the product in their division and gave me the number to another division of the same company who told me they could not help me as I did not purchase from them. Duh! Finally, I emailed S and W Kitchen's Joe Steenbeke. It was as if I had morphed from being the bad guy into being a valued present and future customer. The company promptly emailed me back, told me they would send out someone to look at my cabinets and quite frankly treated me with respect and courtesy. They did not make any promises regarding the cabinet doors I had an issue with (I have some peeling finish), but said they would have someone contact me regarding the warranty. Within a matter of days their representative from Omega cabinetry, Doug Huertas, was at my house inspecting the cabinets. He took lots of pictures and sent them to the factory and assured me this was something he has seldom seen from Omega Cabinets. He also did not make any promises except that the manufacturer would be getting back to me. The process is still ongoing, but once I found a distributor still in business (no doubt due to their commitment to customer service), I have had my confidence restored in the home improvement industry. My kitchen has been featured in this blog before for its Alternative Counter Top Material. Have you had a bad experience with a cabinet manufacturer that worked out in the end? Post in the comments section below to share your experience.
Have your heart set on granite countertops but need to convince yourself that it's a good investment for the long haul? Well, maybe this lifetime warranty from Artisan Group, an independent organization of premier countertop fabricators, will make the difference. Every Artisan Stone Collection™ countertop is sealed with the group's exclusive Firstline™Sealer providing state-of-the-art stain protection technology and carries the industry's first lifetime warranty. "This new warranty offers customers perpetual peace of mind about a major purchase that's generally a focal point inside their home," said board member Sid Mackay. You can read the details of the warranty on their website.
Bamboo, coconut and wenge. Sounds like ingredients to some spicy tropical dish, right? They're actually some of the materials the comprise Holiday Kitchens' Robin Wilson Home eco-friendly cabinets.
Holiday Kitchens Home cabinets focus on a sustainable manufacturing process; it uses computerized cutting methods to minimize wastes and excess wood to make cutting boards, sawdust for animal bedding and landscape materials. These cabinets are designed so that they have over 10 percent more usable space and are finished with low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint, which is healthier for homeowners and the environment. Another great feature is the fact that these cabinets are frameless, which makes them easier to clean.
Robin Wilson eco-friendly cabinets are scheduled to be sold by 400 Holiday Kitchens dealers nationwide starting this month, so take your pick: bamboo, coconut or wenge?
If you're looking for an affordable way to update an old countertop, I recommend Bath, Sink, & Tile Refinishing Kit For Dummies. I wrote about my intention to use it on my own bathroom countertops in this blog. The kit contains a heavy-duty, bright white epoxy (tintable if you want to color it) that can be used to refinish baths, tile, tubs, sinks, counters, floors and more. Once you clean the surface thoroughly with the supplies included, you simply apply the epoxy with a paintbrush (also included). The first coat needs to sit for at least 24 hours before you apply the second coat. Let the entire surface dry for five days before using again. The epoxy is very strong, so you should use proper ventilation. Also, if you have animals or small children (or even a forgetful spouse!), you'll want to seal off the room to allow for the surface to dry properly.
I am very happy with the results. My gold-speckled, 1970s style countertop is now white and modern and I didn't have to undertake a big remodeling job or spend much money. I highly recommend the epoxy kit for a small resurfacing project.
Do you have any new projects underway? Show off your project and share your step-by-step solutions with your fellow home improvement enthusiasts here.
There used to be a show in Japan called The Ito Household, which invited viewers to send in their home videos about innovative money-saving gadgets (sometimes useful, sometimes just completely silly) they constructed out of old cardboard boxes and useless things around the house for cash prizes. The show was a huge success because it made being frugal fun.
ShopSmart, a consumer report magazine launched in 2006 for shoppers whose time is money, has easy and enjoyable tips on how to save on storage products. “No one should spend $20 for a shoe box bin or $30 for a linen-lined basket to keep their house in order,” said ShopSmart Editor-In-Chief Lee Freeman. Here’re some of the quickest, and most money-saving projects to create storage in your house:
1. Got leftover wrapping paper from the holidays? Use it to decorate old shoe boxes to hold office supplies, remote controls and toiletries. ShopSmart also recommends using contact paper, fabric or leftover wallpaper to jazz up those boxes. The best part of this project is that it’s free!
2. Over-the-Door shoe bags and hooks—tricks from your college dorm days. The best way to increase limited storage space is to take advantage of every surface and square foot possible. ShopSmart recommends you use shoe bags for more than just shoes; use them to store gloves, hats and scarves and even put them in your bathroom to hold blow dryers, curling irons and toiletries. A helpful suggestion: Place hooks where you tend to drop things.
3. Another way to maximize limited storage space is to have gadgets that allow flexibility. Lazy Susans let you store things deep within a cabinet without clutter. Just spin that Susan ’round and find what you’re looking for!
4. Baskets, trays and metal tins are great resources to store extraneous things from around the house. Use them in your office, kitchen and bedroom so you’ll have a smart place to keep all your treasures.
Check out our tips on how to smarten your storage space in the attic and the basement.
Colors make a room. Now homeowners looking to get just-the-right color for their kitchen and bathroom countertops can get an exact match with the DuPont Corian Custom Color program. Customers can pick out a countertop in a color to match their walls or even their favorite scarf by bringing in a color swatch to a local authorized Corian retailer (enter your ZIP code on this page to find your authorized retailer) and receive a color chip within two weeks for approval. Once approved, the countertop can be delivered and installed in just four to eight weeks. Prices vary, but there is no minimum quantity on custom orders. Visit your local Corian retailer to get the process in motion. See Bob discuss color options in a Corian solid surface countertop here.
