Countertops?

[pinkytoe]

Now that pretty much anyone can have granite if they want it, rich people seeking kitchens which are a cut above are looking for materials other than granite and marble.

It does seem like once something becomes available to the masses, it loses its appeal. The whole notion of having abundant and expensive counter tops is fairly recent. I recall that my grandparents and parents kitchens might have had 3-5 ft of counter space total and it were made of either wood or tile. We recently stayed at a cabin where the counter tops were granite, only slightly polished and had a natural, rough-chiseled edge. I thought they looked kind of "eternal." If my mother were still alive, she would say that granite is for tombstones.

[goldensmom]

I FINALLY heard someone on HGTV wrinkle his nose at granite/stainless steel BECAUSE he felt that it was going to be tomorrow's harvest gold/shag carpet.

I must have seen the same episode. It was so refreshing to see someone not go 'ga-ga' over granite/stainless steel. I've also heard that stainless steel is soooo 2011, made me laugh. To me stainless steel (which I had in a previous home) means finger prints, water spots and much upkeep. Granite is nice but I have other things to spend my money on such as electric, heat, taxes, etc..

[SteveinMN]

If I had more money to spend on my counter, I would have gone for IceStone or PaperStone or concrete.

I love the idea of IceStone or Vetrazzo, on appearance alone (nevermind the recycled aspect of it). Unfortunately their cost makes granite look like the budget choice.

[Gregg]

Stainless steel is on a 20+ year run because it is what's used in real commercial kitchens. People like to feel like their home kitchen is 'restaurant quality' or 'professional' and there's nothing wrong with that. You can get stainless from almost the very bottom end of appliances all the way to the very top. In fact, at the top there are still very few other options. Stainless can look just as good in a cabin as it can in a modern loft so its probably here to stay. In the most recent cost vs. value report from NAHB (I can't link non-members to it) stainless steel appliances fall into that 'no-brainer' category for any house above $225,000. We just renovated our place and DW went with all stainless because the stove I picked out was also stainless, there was no other choice in that model, so she wanted it all to match.

All kinds of crazy countertop options are coming online. You can get jatoba or wenge butcherblock, custom glass in any color that even has lighting underneath to make it glow, soapstone is popular, recycled paper is an option, concrete is the new granite (we have it because I can make the tops in the garage), etc. Personally, I'm still a laminate fan because the new stuff is durable and it doesn't cost a fortune or make a mess to overlay it with a new color or pattern a few years down the road, but DW would have none of that. Something new will be the hot thing next year, guaranteed.

[Spartana]

I'm going to replace my counters eventually (harvest gold, anyone?) and I'm perfectly happy with formica. It's period-appropriate, durable, and handsome in its own way. Concrete would be nice, but probably won't happen.

Well I think my counters out date yours. My house has the original 1950's mint green/dark green tiles in my kitchen (and original tiles, baths, sinks and toilets in both bath rooms - one bath in baby blue and the other pink) and they are still in great condition. I'm a sucker for tile anyways and like it much better than anything "new" out there and it seems to last forever with very little maintenance. Of course it does look very dated - in a trendy retro way that I like - and tile generally cost a lot to install. My sink (also orginial 1950s white cast iron double sink with the spout coming out of the wall) is actually embedded in the tiles so I'd have to remove them if I wanted a new sink.

This is a picture of a bathroom but it's basicly how my kitchen tiles look:

[Rogar]

Well I think my counters out date yours. My house has the original 1950's mint green/dark green tiles in my kitchen (and original tiles, baths, sinks and toilets in both bath rooms - one bath in baby blue and the other pink) and they are still in great condition. I'm a sucker for tile anyways and like it much better than anything "new" out there and it seems to last forever with very little maintenance. Of course it does look very dated - in a trendy retro way that I like - and tile generally cost a lot to install. My sink (also orginial 1950s white cast iron double sink with the spout coming out of the wall) is actually embedded in the tiles so I'd have to remove them if I wanted a new sink.

This is a picture of a bathroom but it's basicly how my kitchen tiles look:

That tile is NICE! Most of my neighborhood is 50's early 60's and there are a few thriving businesses that specialize in used and reproduction "vintage mid-century" (I am having trouble adjusting to the term since it might include me) furnishings. I can attest that tile like that in good shape would be highly desirable in my area.

[jp1]

Spartana, I would LOVE to have a bathroom like that! Every time I see one like it on HGTv and the people talk about wanting to change it if they buy the house I feel the need to shout "NOOO!" At the tv.

If I ever spend money on restaurant grade appliances it will be because I have enough money to hire a restaurant grade chef to use them. My cooking ability would not be improved by those appliances.

[Spartana]

Spartana, I would LOVE to have a bathroom like that! Every time I see one like it on HGTv and the people talk about wanting to change it if they buy the house I feel the need to shout "NOOO!" At the tv.

If I ever spend money on restaurant grade appliances it will be because I have enough money to hire a restaurant grade chef to use them. My cooking ability would not be improved by those appliances.

Well my bathrooms are even MORE retro and "vintage mid-century" as Roger would say (and that almost...almost mind you...includes me too :-)!) then that photo. That photo I posted is almost down right modern compared to my old bathrooms - one pink titled and one baby blue titled with original fixtures. But I'm like you guys - love the old retro look and go crazy when people want to take out perfectly good and functional things to make them sleek and modern. However trying to find matching tile has been difficult as the sizes I have (weird sizes and weirder bullnosed tile) don't seem to exist anymore.

[Gregg]

I was looking for a project a few months back and toured a warehouse that is owned by a plumbing supply company and has been since 1938. On the 5th floor there is a HUGE stash of pink, blue and green bathroom fixtures from the 1950s. Tubs, toilets, sinks...all there in all colors. I'm talking HUNDREDS of fixtures all still in the original packaging! The owner said his dad got a "great deal" on them in the 1960s when white became the way to go. Maybe not such a great deal to carry inventory for 50 years, but cool nonetheless. I asked him if they came with the building and he said that could be arranged! Lol.

[Spartana]

I was looking for a project a few months back and toured a warehouse that is owned by a plumbing supply company and has been since 1938. On the 5th floor there is a HUGE stash of pink, blue and green bathroom fixtures from the 1950s. Tubs, toilets, sinks...all there in all colors. I'm talking HUNDREDS of fixtures all still in the original packaging! The owner said his dad got a "great deal" on them in the 1960s when white became the way to go. Maybe not such a great deal to carry inventory for 50 years, but cool nonetheless. I asked him if they came with the building and he said that could be arranged! Lol.

I'd love to see that place!! My bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets are all white (in that very heavy molded painted cast iron) and not in those wild colors (which I do think are cool) so I'm not too retro. But the bathrooms are tiny and the fixtures huge compared to today so they often seem to overwhelm the space. I do love the functionality and size of more modern kitchens and bathroom - and the easy care of the new counter top material - but have grown fond of the vintage look too.

But then some things can be too vintage :-)!: