Granite or quartz still are the more high end choices.

I hate that people call "solid surface" counters quartz. That implies that they're stone, like granite. That's not true. While there is quartz in them, they're largely petroleum based resins, which basically translates to a high grade industrial plastic. That's why they have no grain or irregularity. They're man-made, unlike granite, which is a natural material. Solid surface material is generally more expensive than granite. Often much more expensive.

As far as laminate counters, it depends on what the goals are. They're inexpensive, can look rather good, are very low maintenance, and typically quite durable if not abused. Great for lower or mid-price homes, or investment properties.

Laminate is a big yes for me...we just had ours done. It was affordable and the line we chose from Web Don (WilsonArt laminate) was beautiful...looks just like granite. (check it out here, they have some photos at http://www.web-don.com)

I would opt for saving a bit and doing the proper thing. I think it is always best to have a hard surface in the kitchen for durability. Thanks and good luck


J Design Group, Modern Interior Design Firm in Miami, Florida - Contemporary Miami Interior Designers http://www.JDesignGroup.com

We re-did our Formica counters last Fall. I have put in Formica 180fx in "Petrified Wood". I absolutely love it and get compliments on its unique color and pattern. You can see the entire kitchen on Formica's face book page. they have great selections and it is a great alternative to granite and other surfaces.

I completely agree with what Accurato. If you plan to stay in your house long-term, go granite. However, we recently put Wilsonart laminate in a house we just sold and it looked really nice. They have come a long way with their upper end line of laminate.

Absolutely, I would use laminate of good quality any day. However, I don't want it to try to look like anything that it is not, like granite, marble or wood. There is so much fun and durability with laminate. Why not just be laminate? It is durable but if in a few years from now you want a change, you can do so without the guilt that you have with everything revolves around the granite. You're not locked in like a lifetime commitment.

Laminates, by their very nature, are throw-away products and, therefore, get my "no" vote. If something can't "age with grace" or develop a "character from time and use" then it's not for me.

I use a product from a company called Abet Laminati and their laminates are certainly not throw away , they have laminates with aluminum layers , custom graphics that can be done is worked with tools just as if it were wood. Granite to me has been done to death even the cheapest little condo has granite, I personally like materials that are different for my clients, I would choose marble over granite and quartz is just another manmade material.

Exactly, mfwolfe.

The 2014 NKBA Kitchen Trends report suggests that granite and quartz are tied at the top, with 90% of the designers surveyed indicating they've specified the material in 2013. The use of quartz products, however, is expected grow much faster than granite in 2014. Typically, countertops reflect approximately 10% of the average kitchen remodeling budget.

Laminates, vinyl flooring, and other low end products are for low end housing, or rental properties.

I see no reason to limit the material that way; I think laminate has its place in both modern and vintage kitchen design. (My parents installed theirs in the mid 60's, not only has it stood the test of time, but it has come back as a coveted vintage find.) Flat slab cabinetry and laminate are a good pairing, the premium choices offer design opportunities, and the fact that counters are economical is certainly a poor reason NOT to use them.

Give your head a shake, luxury vinyl plank flooring is awesome and in some applications much preferable to wood. The laminate i mentioned in a post above I would totally install in a very high end home because of its versatilityand ability to be custom designed high end does not always mean what everyone else does, I find that a lot of designers never think outside the box and that is where I love to be.

I agree, Patricia, and am also an AL fan, so am posting a link to their gallery, for those who haven't heard of it:
http://abetlaminati.com/photo-gallery/laminate/

Traditional is always good choice to go with is what I feel.

The fact that it's being brought to the forefront of discussion tells me there's a change of thinking coming on.

Could also be that those of us that have laminate counter tops are a bit tired of being called low end. And that having granite does not always mean high end.

I have seen some nice pictures of laminate. I think it has come a long way. I am going to use granite in my kitchen remodel because my budget allows for it (but not for quartz!) and it seems like it would be an appropriate choice for my home. I would definitely consider laminate if my budget were more restrictive or if my home/neighborhood would only support a more modest remodel or if I thought I might want a change sooner rather than later. Not all of us live in a "high end" home but I think there are nice choices out there even if they are not the most expensive ones.

There is a lot of laminate counter tops out there and for good reason
They are very durable but also cost effective not everyone can afford granite or solid surface
We do a lot of laminate tops especially for rentals
I like granite as well as some marble but it can stain and also chip
Therefor I would have to say solid surface such as Formica would be my first choice the premiums are cheaper than granite ( here in Calgary )
Plus I mill the stuff just like wood
You can seam it , glue it up router it plus you can bend it into pretty any shape you want Also because the glue is it itself the same product just liquid form lends itself to being repairable and in some colours you can't see the repairs , oh and it won't hold a germ is why you see this in all the food fairs in malls
One other small advantage is you can polish to whatever sheen you like

I have disliked the "granite" trend from the start. Now people are throwing it out because other things are trending, and first-time home buyers think that it's an essential, even in a little bungalow. Just like everything else, the granite of a few years ago is now looking "out of date." Just because something's NATURAL doesn't mean that it SHOULD be thrown out. Gosh, let's throw away gold and diamond jewelry, too, maybe? I like to use even design elements responsibly, as I am a conservationist. In my case, I went for Corian in my kitchen because I loved the warmth and softness and quiet. Granted, I can't put a hot pan on it, but the other qualities make up for that, in my opinion. And I'm always choosing design elements in my home for the long-term, because I have too many projects and too limited of a budget to redecorate the same thing over and over with the trends. I want to differ with the opinions that say solid surface countertops are more expensive than granite. I think it depends on where you live. All the HGTV shows seem to get granite (and everything else) at surprisingly better prices than I can get in my local area. When I replaced my Formica countertops with Corian and butcher block three years ago, all of the usual choices (granite, marble, and quartz) were much more costly than Corian. And to keep on point...laminate has its place! I agree that it best to stay away from the faux aspect and just let it speak for itself. It's a good product.

We are a contractor company and we specialize in Kitchen and Bathroom remodeling. We personally no longer carry Formica counter tops as we only go for real stones. If you are looking to do non expensive projects where you only want to spend a couple of hundreds, whether the reason is budget in general or just a rental home, then I would say Formica is the way to go.

One thing you should NEVER EVER do is put Marble as your kitchen counter, unless you have private maids and can afford expensive yearly refinishing.

Granite is quite a nice stone. We sell granite constantly as our main counter top option. You can find all sorts of options from Basic to Exotics. Very good quality as far a durability and beauty. Granite does have to be resealed, anywhere from yearly to every three years, but its easy and cheap. It all depends on usage and how you treat it.

We also provide Quartz and truly has become very popular man maid stone for the past year and half. From Cambria, Compac to Zetti and others. They have great variation in colors, movements, and feels. The nice thing about it is that is non-porous, will always be smooth and very easy to clean and up keep.

We used Wilsonart Deepstar Slate for our countertops. We did a bull-nose edge without the molded backsplash. Cabinets are off-white. I really like the look and their Deepstar colors are 3x more durable than the standard version. It also has a very subtle texture.

and try to enjoy and emphasize the mid century charm of the home even though you are not moving.
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/80937841/mid-century-modern_curtains?productId=913947327

I love granite, especially the black granite so I am bias. Our old house had granite and it was great, can leave anything on it, pots straight from the stove to the granite. Laminate is cheap and durable more for rental properties though some designer ones are quite nice.

I lived in the last house for 13 years, did not reseal the granite and when we left it looked like when we first moved in, hardly any wear and tear. When I was sourcing granite for our apartment the granite guy said black granite is the most dense/solid when compared to the lighter colour granite. I couldn't find lighter colours to match my bathroom colours thus opted for Caesar stone. We had marble in our bathroom at the old place and I would never touch marble again, it stained pretty bad.

Actually I am tired of hearing the phrase "high end." Sometimes it seems that is all design is about these days and all that anybody wants in their home. That does not mean that their is anything wrong with granite if you like it, but there are other good choices like laminate that should not be considered poor quality or inferior.

Thanks Studio10001 I was beginning to think no one had used them on this site, the custom logo stuff was got me going for some commercial clients, I had seen it in Italy and fell in love. I did a kitchen here with the aluminum layered one it is awesome . Yeah Abet Laminati for something different.

It does seem that Europe has a much more interesting choice of laminate counters then I have yet to see here in Canada (and probably the US).

Same in Australia all we have is colours or wood grain not much choice.

I lived in the UK for a few years recently and loved the laminate counters I saw. Would have thought somebody would have started distributing them here too. Maybe I missed a good business opportunity!

I have granite but find it to be a bit of a pain to care for. It hides messes which is not good IMO because certain family members only clean what they see. You have to use special cleaners and reseal it yearly. Yes this does make a difference. The problem is that it's hard to sell a home with laminate in certain price ranges. We never saw any that didn't have granite when searching. I see nothing wrong with laminate but it will hurt resale in some markets so be aware

There is something to be said for leaving natural stone like granite and marble in the earth where it took eons to form. I am considering laminate. It is actually quite durable and most of us laminate people won't be tossing it into landfills after just a years. I would also consider butcher block or concrete. I will not consider being shamed into spending more than I can afford for a "proper"/high end kitchen just because that is what "everybody" else is doing.

I have had Wilsonart HD in my kitchen for 10 years, and I still love it. Everyone remarks on how lovely it is when the light is reflected in it (it has depth due to high/low texture and sheen).

Seems like everybody just HAS TO have granite now. It doesn't always make sense financially. My area was hit hard by the real estate collapse, and my home is still worth less than I paid 15 years ago. I am not investing $25k in a kitchen reno for a $180k house. That's insanity! I painted my orange-y oak cabinets a warm white, got beautiful laminate counters, and I have never regretted it. If some snobby people want to call my home "low-end", so be it.

Granite is whats popular and in more high end kitchens these days, but personally I like laminate for two reasons really. One granite depending on the type you have to be very careful with, ie; no condensation from glasses, no hot pans on the surface, and it could stain easily. Honestly my number one reason I like laminate better is because I've broken multiple glasses have them tip over and hit the hard granite.

As an update, the laminate countertops I mentioned earlier in this thread have just this past year started to show signs of wear, having lasted 53 years. They have been a good example of K&Bs claim: A laminate countertop is just about the toughest material in the home.

Thought it would be worthwhile to update the KB trends report, posted now for 2017:

1. Quartz is the most popular kitchen countertop material, and trending up. Granite, the second most popular countertop material, is trending down.

I think we are going to go with a wood-look laminate for our island, and maybe for the entire countertop with a texture added, much like the photo.

Just can't justify the cost of the quartz, don't like granite at all, and butcher block can get expensive, and too much maintenance.