Countertop options cover more than just granite

ShareThis

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, Pa., 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.)"I'm sure for the times, it was very in," says Upvall, associate dean and director of Carlow University's school of nursing. "But I wanted something more contemporary."Upvall and her husband, Rich Ptachcinski, considered replacing the laminate with granite or quartz, two of today's most popular countertop choices. But somehow, natural stone just didn't get their creative juices flowing. So last fall, they got on the Internet.Almost immediately, the couple stumbled upon ThinkGlass, a company that creates custom-made solid-glass countertops. The search was over. By year's end, they had the crystal-colored tops installed on both sides of the kitchen."We fell in love with it," says Upvall, who also chose maple cabinets, stainless-steel appliances and a glass mosaic tile backsplash.The couple particularly enjoy the special tapelight on the counter's back edge that turns the glass from transparent to a deep, glowing green at night."It's fun and different," she says.Not to mention surprisingly durable. A 1 1/2-inch-thick countertop can handle temperatures up to 700 degrees, so hot objects won't harm its surface. Glass is also pretty easy to keep clean, as its clear top and textured underside help mask any scratches and fingerprints. It can, however, chip if you drop something on it, which is why many homeowners reserve its use for non-utility areas of the kitchen, say, a wet bar or the top of an island.Even in small amounts, glass packs a pretty dramatic punch."It definitely has a wow factor," says Dee Thimons, whose kitchen in Richland, Pa., features two ThinkGlass countertops: a 90-inch raised breakfast bar above a granite island and one in a bar area. "People can't help but comment on it."Other companies that make solid-glass countertops include Ultraglas and Duncan Glass. All offer smooth or textured tops with polished or textured edges. The only downside is the cost: roughly $300 a square foot, including shipping and installation.Luckily, there are plenty of options for homeowners who are looking for high style on a smaller budget. This latest generation of countertops includes ones made of bamboo, recycled glass, scrap metal, lava stone, and even recycled paper and linoleum.These materials are growing in popularity because as consumers increasingly look to go green, they seek out environmentally responsible products. Even if they weren't sustainable, notes Janice Donatelli of Artemis Environmental in Lawrenceville, Pa., they would still draw a crowd because they're so beautiful.Take PaperStone, a scratch- and stain-resistant composite made from recycled paper and a water-based resin. Initially used for skateboard ramps, this durable surface has the sumptuous look and feel of soapstone. Most everyone who sees it can't help but touch it, says Donatelli. At $30 to $55 per square foot, depending on thickness, it's half the cost of natural stone. It also comes in more than a dozen colors, including cabernet, indigo and straw.Another option is Marmoleum, a natural linoleum that comes in sheets and tiles. Naturally stain- and germ-resistant, it comes in scarlet, watermelon green and midnight blue. Cost: $2 to $3 a square foot, plus installation.Donatelli also has seen growing interest in countertops made of Plyboo Strand, a laminated bamboo plywood that's harder than oak ($225 for a 30-by-72-inch piece), and Kirei board, a lightweight, wood-like product engineered from stalks of sorghum.Alkemi countertops, crafted from curls of aluminum scrap mixed with polymeric resins, are also a cool, modern spin on the solid surface look. Available in colors ranging from silver to bronze to blue, they are priced at around $80 per square foot.Funkier still -- and more expensive -- is 3form, whose translucent resin panels are imbedded with leaves, beads or fabric. It runs $600 to $1,800 per 4-by-8-foot sheet, depending on thickness and what's inside.SourcesAlkemi -- www.renewedmaterials.com301-320-0042 Artemis Environmental -- www.artemisenvironmental.com412-353-0197 Cabinet Sales Plus -- www.cabinetsalesplus.com412-231-4046 CaesarStone -- www.caesarstoneus.com818-779-0999 Duncan Glass -- www.duncanglass.com206-571-5746 EnviroGLAS -- www.enviroglasproducts.com972-473-3725 IceStone -- www.icestone.biz718-624-4900 Kirei -- www.kireiusa.com619-236-9924 Marmoleum -- www.themarmoleumstore.com866-627-6653 PaperStone -- www.paperstoneproducts.net360-538-9815 Plyboo -- www.plyboo.com866-835-9859 Pyrolave -- www.pyrolave.com919-788-8953 ThinkGlass -- www.thinkglass.com877-410-4527 Sonoma Cast Stone -- www.sonomastone.com877-283-2400 3form -- www.3-form.com412-443-9649 UltraGlas -- www.ultraglas.com1-800-777-2332 (E-mail Gretchen McKay at gmckay(at)post-gazette.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)