#countertops

#countertops

Some retro trends, like carpeted bathrooms, truly belong in the past: been there, done that, never again. Others never really disappear. They stick around for generations, coming in and going out of fashion. Terrazzo falls into the second category. They're the bootcut jeans of the interior design universe, the polka dots of tile patterns - they look like they belong in another era, but are always on the brink of a comeback.

It's likely that you've encountered recycled glass countertops without realizing it. They're far from the hippie-style broken-glass mosaic art of yesteryear, instead presenting as sleek, highly polished, professional slabs with intriguing bits of confetti-style color trapped inside. That's the recovered glass bits set into a binding material such as resin, cement, or concrete, and then smoothly polished so that the composite surface feels like stone.

For home cooks designing or remodeling a high-traffic kitchenspace built to last the long haul, flamed granite countertops belong on your radar. The two chief benefits of flamed granite are its durability and its low maintenance. The material is wildly resistant to wear, but beyond its tactical appeal, it also happens to be aesthetically stunning in a distinctive, one-of-a-kind way (just like your do-it-all kitchen, and the myriad folks who use it ... and use it, and use it).