ENTER THE MATRIX

Talking hands of Marcello Becchi of Trend Group USA (You know, it's Italiano)

Marcello Becchi sports two full sleeve tats acquired in the South Pacific but more importantly he knows all about engineered stone and LEED certification. Let me “splain”, as Ricky Ricardo would say. I had the pleasure of hearing Marcello speak at Ceramic Matrix in Delray Beach at an NKBA Chapter event last week. Marcello, of the Trend Group USA is a scholar and lecturer within the building materials industry.

LATEST PRODUCTS TAKE THE STAGE

I’m finally feeling better, thank you, after being laid low by a vicious virus last week. You know the one, right? I won’t bore you with the details. Suffice to say, while I was out going viral (and not in the way I would wish) here’s what’s been happening far and wide.

DREAM20 Features interactive displays showcasing the latest technology from Delta Faucet Company

Delta Faucet Company unveiled its flagship DREAM2O(SM) showroom, located in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, during a private grand opening event on Thursday, May 5.   (You’ll remember my amazing experience with them last year in New York.  If not, click here for a flashback.)  The new 3,097 square-foot design center is a hands-on, interactive environment where architects, designers, and homeowners can experience more than 90 fully-functioning faucets and fixtures from the Delta® and Brizo® brands.  What makes this showroom unique is not only the fact that it is the first and only showroom of its kind, but also the innovative displays which are just a perfect way to showcase their cutting-edge products. Read more about it here.

Silgranit Truffle sink paired with new Culina faucet

 

If you’re in  NYC this weekend you can visit the International Contemporary Furniture Fair or ICFF held at  New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center  through May 17^th.  Sink manufacturer extraordinaire, Blanco (another flashback here) is officially launching two new collections including the Silgranit II Truffle Sink and the Culina faucet.

Italian style, courtesy of Scavolini May 16th

 

Italian kitchen cabinet manufacturer Scavolini is introducing the new quartz surface Santa Margherita on May 16th from 6-9pm in their Soho gallery.  If you'd like to attend contact Daniele Busca  212-209-0910 as this is an invitation only event.

PROS & CONS OF QUARTZ

Blizzard by Caesarstone is a popular choice. Photo from Apartment-Therapy-20

 

Now that we've taken a look at the world of granite counter tops, today I'll tell you everything I can think of about quartz engineered stone countertops. First of all I am biased, but for good reason. As far as durability and efficient functionality you can't do better, seriously. Quartz is non-porous which means you don't have to worry about stains or sealers. In fact since it doesn't absorb it's antibacterial by its very nature. You can also cut and place hot pots directly on quartz without concern. Quartz is one of the hardest, most abundant minerals found in nature.

Silestone offers Four different shades of RED, including this one which is Koan, great to accent an island. This shows a "waterfall" style counter top

These qualities are firmly in the "pro column". If you want a countertop that is consistent and without streaks, movement and color variation it's the top for you. You will know what every inch will look like, no need to examine slabs. This this will be another pro for you. However if you want a counter top that is truly unique with an organic feel and drama, then the consistency is a con for you. Another con is price. Quartz is at least as expensive as granite (depending on the granite) and frequently even more. It typically comes in 3/4" or 1 1/4" thick slabs.

Here's what quartz looks like before being pulverized to make your top

There are many different brands on the market but they are all essentially the same thing which is approximately 93% natural quartz particles mixed with resins to hold it all together. So it is at least partly natural although it's a man-made product. These countertops belong to the category referred to as "solid surface". This means that the surface material runs all the way through unlike, for example, laminates. Corian is also a solid surface material but it can scratch and burn unlike quartz. Price varies little between brands but can vary according to color. If radon is a concern for you, quartz countertop manufacturers claim that testing shows their quartz counters to be low or free of radon gas. If you'll remember, in my previous post, I explained that radon is a naturally occurring substance found in the earth and since quartz is a natural substance you're not entirely out of the woods in that area. The most well known names in quartz countertops are Caesarstone, Silestone, and Zodiac. Cambria is an up and coming brand which I love for their color choices. Check our Local Resources guide on this website for suppliers in the Palm Beach County area.