These 10 kitchens will show you an entirely new way to look at laminate, and why it’s becoming such a staple. Home and lifestyle bloggers Drew and Vanessa wanted to have pops of bold yellow in their kitchen. The most suitable color as a background to complement the yellow was a cool, relaxing gray. This Wilsonart Pearl Soapstone laminate forms all of the counters in their kitchen, including a sizable kitchen island. Also, Nest proportioned the laminate countertops and the pendant fixture so that they parallel each other in length and width, for a kind of neat vertical symmetry. The undermount double-basin stainless steel sink makes it easier to wipe down the counters. As stone-look laminate countertops have skyrocketed in popularity, wood styles lag behind. However, wood-grain options still occupy a modest footprint in the collections of major laminate manufacturers. If you want wood, consider premium laminates, like Wilsonart HD and Formica 180fx. Not only are the graphics more realistic, the larger-scale imaging techniques greatly reduce the repetitive patterning that makes other laminates appear fake. Laminate countertop edge choices have evolved considerably. Complicated edges such as bevels, bullnoses, and ogees became possible with improved post-forming techniques. Before long, rolled edges ruled the world of laminate. But today, squared edges have been migrating back into kitchens, since they provide the interesting geometry that complements contemporary homes. Waterfall kitchen countertops are pure luxury. Using very expensive materials meant for cooking as a decorative surface is hardly cost-effective. Natural stone and quartz countertop surfaces tend to be best used horizontally, not vertically. This illustrates another benefit of using lower-cost countertop materials such as laminate. Running the laminate down the side is far less cost-prohibitive than with more expensive materials. If you’re someone who is skeptical of the durability of laminate counters, over a year after the installation, Chelsea was happy to report that her selection exceeded her expectations, with minimal wear and tear. If you don’t want typical square edges, one do-it-yourself alternative is to purchase decorative edging, such as Formica’s IdealEdge. Decorative trim in popular profiles like bullnose and ogee adhere with polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a slower curing adhesive than contact cement. It adds a slight expense but can be a worthwhile investment.
