Gorgeous Counter Tops That Are Environmentally Friendly

Filed Under (Blackout Window Blinds, Home Improvements) by Mark Hendrich on 10-03-2010

Tagged Under : bay window, counter tops, granite top, home improvement, Home Improvements, Interior Design and Decorating, kitchen improvement, table top

A counter top is a level work area in kitchens and food preparation areas. Normally, it is accompanied by cabinets above & below. Many different materials, ranging from stone, to wood, to plastic, to tiles, & even steel, among many others, can be used in creating counter tops.

But because of the growing awareness for the environment, there are now items for counter tops that are not only durable, but also great looking & environment friendly. So if you’re searching for a new counter top & are leaning towards materials that’s a little gentler on the environment than laminate or stone, there are now many choices available that are created from recycled products, can be recycled at end-of-life — or are both recycled & recyclable — or are made from renewable resources.

Some of the greener counter top options are as follows:

1. Stainless steel – Stainless steel counter tops consist of, on average, 75% recycled steel & can contain up to 100% recycled content. They give off no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are non-porous & antibacterial. The only downside is they scratch & show fingerprints quickly.

2. Recycled glass – These days, there are many recycled glass counter tops on the market. Each of them has their own unique charm.

3. BioGlass – This consists of 100% recycled & recyclable glass. It is available in 6 natural colors & can be used for backsplashes or counter tops.

4. Alkemi – This material is made from 35% of a post-industrial waste product called “fine flake aluminum milling scrap”. It is available in 3 different surface treatments (textured, classic and honed) and twelve colors to choose from.

5. Paperstone – It is a material made from either 100% post-consumer cardboard or 100% post-consumer office paper fused with a non-petroleum based resin. It comes in a variety of colours and can be used for as kitchen and bathroom counter tops.

6. IceStone – This is made in Brooklyn, New York. The product uses 100% glass which is otherwise bound for landfill, mixed with concrete to create a surface that is twice as durable as marble. Like a stone product, it does need to be sealed on regularly. It is available in many different colours.

Find Out a wide selection of table top and counter tops making your kitchen a fresher look. Don’t reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.

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The Advantages Of Bay Windows In Your Kitchen

Filed Under (Home Improvements) by Bruce Roberts on 17-02-2010

Tagged Under : bay window, counter tops, granite top, home improvement, Home Improvements, kitchen improvement, kitchen supplies, table top

A kitchen bay window can look very nice in your room and it can be very useful. A dark, unappealing room can be brought into light. Such a window is both attractive & practical. There are many advantages to owning a house with a kitchen bay window.

The addition of a kitchen bay window would make a beautiful accent to your room, but that might be all you’re considering. Nevertheless, apart from looks, there are several other reasons that are also important in choosing a bay window for your kitchen.

The appearance are definitely the main cause for your purchase. There are three aspects to the looks of kitchen bay windows. One is the window frame. Bay windows can have different types of frames. These days they are metal frames when you buy them in the store, but you can place them in new woodwork to make them seem a part of your home. If you have an older home, you can buy used lumber to fashion you framework and sill from them instead. Whatever you do, make sure your window will be framed attractively.

You also need to take into thought the glass itself as a part of your window. When you are choosing how large the window should be, you also must settle how many sides that the bay window will have. This is because a bay window is made of 3 or more panes of glass connected together at angles. You can have many panes, or you can have a simple 3-pane window.

Sunlight is a specialty of bay windows. If the sun is in the proper direction, sunshine streams into your kitchen & breakfast nook areas. If your windows face west, you will get afternoon sunlight and if they face east, of course you will get morning sunlight. No lighting fixture can brighten your kitchen in a way that the natural light from the sun does. Besides, the bay windows provide an open feeling to a place that usually seems too closed off otherwise.

Find Out a wide selection of table top and counter tops giving your kitchen a newer look. You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.

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Finding The Perfect Kitchen Countertop Material

Filed Under (Home Improvements) by Claire Howard on 16-02-2010

Tagged Under : bay window, counter tops, granite top, home improvement, Home Improvements, kitchen improvement, kitchen supplies, table top

Kitchen countertops can be made of a wide range of materials. When choosing which material you want to use, remember only two things. First is the durability of the material. You will want it to last a long time, without being scratched, broken or stained too quickly before you can replace it. The second is beauty, which, as we know, is in the eye of the beholder. You will have to live with this material for a lot of years to come, so you might want to make sure your choice is something you will like for a long time. One of the latest trends in kitchen decoration is zinc counter tops, which resemble the colouring of bullet alloys. Other favorite counter top materials are granite, ceramic tile, laminates, wood, stainless steel, marble, engineered stone, solid surface, soapstone, and concrete. A few of them are discussed below.

Zinc – As mentioned, it is a favorite material now. Zinc can be purchased in flat sheets. They can be cut to size and shaped to fit the space to create the backsplash & front curled edging. It can give your kitchen the look of a professional or restaurant kitchen ’cause of the shiny metal surface. Some people love professional-looking kitchens with matching ranges and refrigerators.

Granite – Yet another counter top that has been a favorite over the last few years. Many people love the natural stone look of a granite counter top. These countertops are hard & durable, too. It resists heat, which overcomes the main problem of several other counter tops. If a sealer is applied, the material becomes almost maintenance free. The dull color & high cost would most likely be its only turn offs.

Ceramic Tiles – Another popular choice. Many say ceramic tiles give a kitchen that old-fashioned, retro look. There are numerous colourings and textures to choose from. With some training, you can design and install your own counter top because the tiles are small & installed individually. This material is sturdy, and resistant to heat & scratching. The main drawbacks are that a tile can be broken if a heavy object is dropped on it. Also, the grout can become stained over time, necessitating a session of cleaning grout.

Formica – This is a good, old-fashioned laminate choice. This countertop material has been available for approximately fifty years. Laminate is a good choice ’cause it is inexpensive & comes in many colors. This range provides another area where you can express yourself using colors. Sadly, the surface can be scratched fairly easily, and it can be tricky to finish the front edge.

Wood or Butcher Block – Yet another beautiful choice that lends a rustic look to the kitchen. This type of counter top is available in a range of natural earthy colours. It can be sanded and resealed as needed, but it can be damaged by water or heat.

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The Many Benefits Of Natural Stone Kitchen Counter Tops

Filed Under (Home Improvements) by Francine Alexander on 16-02-2010

Tagged Under : bay window, counter tops, granite top, home improvement, Home Improvements, Interior Design and Decorating, kitchen improvement, kitchen supplies

Redoing a kitchen is 1 of the most common home remodeling projects. Homeowners spend a lot of money and time to make this very important room more stylish & practical. Normally, homeowners would select luxury and durability over boring & plain, but natural stone kitchen counter tops are the hot new thing in kitchen renovation.

When searching for a new countertop, homeowners decidedly choose strength, stain resistance, burn proof, long lasting, & sophistication. These are just a few of the reasons why a counter top made of natural stone is a striking feature in a kitchen.

Natural stone kitchen countertops are a beautiful choice for any kitchen theme and apart from that, but these kinds of counters add more value to your house. Natural stone is long lasting, tough & found in many colours and styles, each bringing extravagance & luxury appeal to your kitchen. Through soapstone is one such way.

Sften, soapstone is referred to as the original stone counter top. It’s rapidly becoming as popular as stones like marble or granite. Soapstone is a smooth soft stone consisting primarily of magnesite, dolomite, chlorite & talc. The stone itself can be brittle, very soft to the touch and have a soapy texture to it. The talc in the stone is what gives it that soft texture. Soapstone is very resistant against acids & alkalis. Soapstone counters can bring a beautiful touch to your new kitchen because they are extremely durable. Soapstone is very commonly used widely for sinks, laboratories, fireplaces and is easily shaped with common stone cutting tools.

Soapstone is resistant to heat & extremely durable. They will not retain stains as easily as other natural stone materials. This is another selling point or characteristic that makes soapstone popular. The stone is quite soft however and can scratch but these are easily removed after a quick coating of mineral oil. Ugly deeper cuts can simply be sanded away. Through the regular treatment of a mineral oil or sealer, your soapstone countertop can live a long life & will hold up to the test of time. No other natural stone is as fitting for a busy kitchen as soapstone.

Soapstone counters are set apart from other stone counter tops because of the dark, rich color & its versatility when used in design. This natural stone can be found in colours of blue, green and gray, and once a mineral oil applied consistently, it will bring out a charcoal-gray color. This makes your counters to seem older & much more elegant. Soapstone counter tops can bring a lot of elegance to your kitchen are.

Find Out a wide selection of table top and counter tops making your kitchen a newer look. You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.

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