Orange County Bath & Kitchen Counters

Freestanding and Fabulous

2011-05-05T13:38:00.000-07:00


Thermoformed apron

Curvy and sleek are two words that come to mind. Also, nautical. Ship shape. Luxuriating in this tub one can imagine captaining their own little Duffy boat around the harbor. Sleek though it appears, a tremendous amount of labor went into fabricating this gem. The apron was thermoformed (heated in a special oven and bent between specially made wooden male/female molds) ensuring a smooth radius and snug fit. No teak needed.


The ultimate shower

In addition to the freestanding tub, you could certainly feel "free" standing in the middle of the adjoining shower with elbow room to spare and a generous bench should you feel the need to swoon with delight.

Coffee, Tea or Tumbled Travertine?

2011-04-13T12:03:00.000-07:00


Tumbled Travertine

This photo is of a corner in my kitchen. When we remodeled and used solid surface (Corian), of course, I knew I wanted some visual texture to keep the monochromatic coloring from screaming "boring"!. Enter tumbled travertine. It is much too porus as a countertop but adds a delightful old world feel with none of the hassles of maintenance. The perfect marriage of practical and pretty.

Parlez Bleu Francais

2011-04-07T12:01:00.000-07:00


oui,oui!

I just found this in my archives. A Top En-counter made this for the Kitchen Encounter Showroom a number of years ago. What is notable about it other than its charm is the blue Corian moulding on the edge. It is an egg and dart design which is centuries old and very classic. Another company actually made the moulding itself which was then married with the rest of the top to create something very special.

Cute dog; not made of Solid Surface

2011-04-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

I'm so cute...

Chamois

Stone Bath Top With Integral Sink

2011-03-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Corian Tumbleweed
Corian Camel

Ann Sacks Showroom

This Awesome stone sink vanity was displayed in the Ann Sacks showroom at the Laguna Niguel Design Center. I immediately thought of a number of solid surface colors that are so similar it would be hard to tell which was stone and which was not. The point isn't to necessarily have a "look alike" but to show similarities in different products. More to the point, an aesthetic that can be translated using a solid surface product that might not have been visualized without my gentle prodding. The photo above the picture shows a color by Corian. I took the photo with my I Phone with the veining in the horizontal position, however, it is running vertically and I don't know how to correct it so you might just have to turn your head to the side so see it. Bear with me, I am new at this!

Marbled Corian Tabletop

2011-03-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

Gueridon

Corian has just come out with a new series and the marbling is incredible. This is actually the bottom or underside of the sheet of material which has so much more movement and pattern showing. It was cut to put on the brass Gueridon table which nestles in between two reading chairs. How can something so small look so fabulous!

Look Closely; Is It E-stone or Solid Surface??

2011-03-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

You had better look twice at photos that look like Engineered Quartz products because they might be Solid Surface!! That's right, Staron by Samsung has completely reinvented the possiblities with their Tempest collection. The qualities of solid surface such as moulded in sinks, coved backsplashes and nearly invisible seams along with the capapbilities to renew, repair and refurbish if needed just blow engineered quartz out of the water. Go to http://www.staron.com/ to look at the Tempest collection.

Solid Surface Kitchen top

2011-03-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

Formica Solid Surfacing

Formica Solid Surfacing

Corian Gray Vanity Top

2009-03-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Traditional Home magazine published a spread showing his and hers bathrooms that were designed for the kitchen and bath industry show. Juxtaposing traditional with contemporary creating a timeless esthetic both soft and edgy. Bravo.

Creating a high end design using Solid surface and Quartz

2009-01-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

Why is it that a choice has to be made between solid surface and quartz products? The prevailing trend has been, and continues to be, design using many differents surfaces in order to individualize and personalize the living space. For years interior and kitchen and bath designers have employed the use of many different patterns and textures and surfaces for the high- end sophistication that a professional is expected to provide.

There is no reason why you cannot create the exact same high end feel in your environment. For example: the kitchen countertop and sink are solid surface. The island or penninsula top is granite, soapstone, e-stone, butcher block, etc. The backsplash is tile or stainless steel or glass tile or mirrored. I could go on and on........ The point is that as the trend toward individualism evolves, the cookie-cutter one surface design will look dated much more quickly. Also, by using many elements you are also able to update more easily. It is far more cost effective to replace an island top with a new color or material thereby giving an instant renewal to the kitchen after five or six years.

Kitchens Go "Al Fresco"

2009-01-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

As kitchens move outside so too does the need for longer lasting weather resistant materials. That's were solid surface "walks the walk" It provides not only a high end aesthetic, but is the only product that can be resurfaced, repaired and refurbished. How many other products have that capability? Tile can only look weathered over time. Grout and chipping are ongoing issues. Granite has to be contiually resealed and still tends to stain. Think of all of the drink rings from cold cocktail classes and beverage cans that can multiply like rabbits over time!

Solid surface will look as new as the day it was installed with resurfacing which really means a good sanding done properly. Grout is a non-issue and re-sealing is unnecessary.

DCS by Fisher & Paykel, a major manufacturer of gas grills has placed orders from A Top En-conter for solid surface tops for some of their products. They understand the value of delivering a quality product that looks elegant and sophisticated but will meet the durablility standards of outdoor use.

GRANITE IS YESTERDAY'S NEWS!

2009-01-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Granite, which has been so prevalent in the last five years has seen it's peak. Of course, it will always be relevant as it is a natural product. However, with the glory days of real estate "wealth" behind us and Home Depot selling millions of square feet of the same two or three selections the cachet has been lost and people are looking for different choices rather than following the pack. Enter solid surface. Or, I should say, re-enter. DuPont Corian, founder and leader of solid surface material introduced a new collection a couple of years ago that was almost completely overlooked because of the granite craze. it was influenced by "the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi which finds beauty in nature's simple, random imperfections". The muted tones inspire reflection and impart a very zen feeling as opposed to the busy veining and random granite patterning. Even the names are relaxing: White Jasmin, Dove, Rice Paper, Raffia, Canvas, Green Tea, Tranquil, Whisper........

I think this collection was far and away ahead of its' time and might actually be embraced more readily. They can be viewed on http://www.new.corian.com/ although, the colors showing on my screen are a little off. The Green Tea is actually slightly greener and much more attractive.