CounterTop Trends & Materials

A quick tour of the Bestview International showroom, with a focus on Onyx.

To view the video tour, click here

The Chicago Builder's Center introduces their newest white glass countertop - Shine.

View the Shine Glass Countertop Video.

Although its aesthetic appeal and durability has long made granite a favorite among some homeowners, the stone's popularity appears to be increasing.

David Cook, owner of Louisiana Granite Yard, Inc., in Haughton, said all upscale homes have granite, and with the price of granite dropping, homeowners are finding it more affordable.

Cook's prices for granite start at $24.95 per square foot installed and it's that price that caught the attention of James Gilliam, a Shreveport native who recently moved back home from New York.

Read more: Granite countertops gain popularity among homeowners

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When putting in a new kitchen, some folks try to impress with their choice of appliances. But only serious cooks need a high-end commercial range, right? If you really want your kitchen to sizzle, focus on the countertops.

Michele Upvall's kitchen remodel in the Winchester Condominiums in Oakland is a case in point. When she moved into the jade tile-clad building in 2003, its galley-style kitchen would have done the Brady Bunch proud, with its '70s-style black-and-white laminate countertops and dreadful orange sink. (That's right, orange.)

Read more: Creative Encounters: Today's countertop options cover more than just granite

Read more on glass countertops: Glass countertops

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Valencia Stone, located at 2332 17th Street in Sarasota Florida, has a new program geared towards improving the current economic state by passing on huge benefits to the consumers.

Valencia Stone's new program is open to all taxpayers who have filed a 2007 tax return. The program consists of a maximum credit of $600 to be used towards the purchase of stone countertops. Valencia Stone will also include other benefits on top of the stimulus credit. These benefits include free granite cutting board and free 40" vanity top to be selected from their huge remnant section. This program is valid for a limited time only and is redeemable at Valencia Stone's premier location at 2332 17th Street in Sarasota, Florida, between Tuttle Ave. and US. 301.

Read more: The New Economic Stimulus Program by Valencia Stone Sarasota

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"Black walnut wood tone is simply gorgeous and has been very popular among our customers," says Ken Williamson, founder of Craft-Art Wood Countertops. "Because there is very little red in walnut, it also complements other wood species."

The introduction of two new end-grain styles combining walnut with other species is an extension of its already popular black walnut countertop assortment.

Read more: Dark, rich black walnut countertops

Wood - it comes in many different species with strikingly different visual characteristics that appeal to a variety of consumers. It creates a feeling of warmth in one setting and cool elegance in another. And it's been around for years.

When it comes to countertops, wood is a surface that many people fear will be easily damaged. The Grothouse Lumber Company now offers clients Durata finish, a permanent wood countertop finish that is waterproof, chemical resistant and does not require recoating.

Read more of this article: Consider waterproof wood countertops

CounterTop Business is a free digital magazine that focuses on laminate countertops, solid surface countertops, cultured stone countertops, granite countertops, concrete countertops, tile countertops, and other countertop materials.

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