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Refreshing Solid Surface Countertops

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Tips on how to remove mild scratches and stains from Solid Surfacing.

Could your hard-working solid surface countertop use a facelift? Part of the beauty of Formica® Solid Surfacing is that it can be restored. If scratches are stealing that just-installed shine from the finish, follow these simple steps to bring your bathroom vanity tops back to their original glory.
Here’s how to remove mild scratches or stains from solid surfacing:

1. Pour a mild abrasive liquid, such as Comet® Cleanser or Soft Scrub®, onto a soft damp sponge or damp cotton cloth.
2. Rub the area you wish to repair in a circular motion using mild pressure.
3. Rinse the area thoroughly with water and completely dry the surface.
4. If the damage has not been repaired, repeat the three steps above.
5. See your solid surfacing shine.

If you have deeper scratches in your solid surface, call us!  We can professionally sand your countertops!
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The 10 Most-Loved Laundry Rooms of 2017

Pullout hampers, pet-washing stations and roll-out shelves are among the great ideas in these popular laundry rooms

December 21, 2017
Houzz Editorial Staff; writer, design enthusiast, reader, softball player.
There might be no way to make you love doing laundry, but the features found in this year’s most-loved laundry rooms can definitely make the task more enjoyable. Here’s a look (in reverse order) at the most popular laundry rooms uploaded in 2017, as measured by how many Houzz users saved them to their ideabooks.
Farmhouse Laundry Room by Tim Barber Ltd Architecture
Tim Barber Ltd Architecture
10. Air-dry. Even with ventilation, laundry rooms can get pretty stuffy. This San Francisco space gets around that with a Dutch door to let in breezes and views. While this room does include a dryer, taking some pieces out early to air-dry saves energy and provides a natural freshness that dryer sheets can’t quite copy.
Farmhouse Laundry Room by Brooks and Falotico Associates, Inc.
Brooks and Falotico Associates, Inc.
9. Spiritual cleanse. If you have to spend time doing laundry, you might as well make the process as relaxing as possible. In this laundry room, the mint green glass-tile backsplash covering the walls creates a serene, spa-like feel for a utilitarian space. White cabinetry adds to the airy look, and the woven baskets and plant add warmth and texture.

Browse glass tile

Transitional Laundry Room by Soda Pop Design Inc.
Soda Pop Design Inc.
8. Colored cabinets. Interior designer Cynthia Soda designed this laundry room for her mother. “My mom said she wanted ‘an eclectic-modern-retro-vintage-cheerful laundry,’” Soda says. “I said, ‘Mom, that’s not a thing, those are just a bunch of words linked together,’ but I tried to hit each one of those words in the design.”

Soda added some retro charm with light blue cabinets covered in Benjamin Moore’s Gossamer Blue and a vintage-inspired light fixture.

Transitional Laundry Room by Parade of Homes Twin Cities
Parade of Homes Twin Cities
7. Wheeled bins. The builders of this laundry room worked in ample counter space and large wheeled bins, which is a great way to protect your back from not having to bend and lift a heavy hamper. The wallpaper in this laundry brings an added dose of joy to the space while staying within a neutral color palette.
Rustic Laundry Room by Sage Interior Design
Sage Interior Design
6. Pet-washing station. A laundry room is a great place for including pet-friendly features, especially if your laundry area is by a back or side entrance. A pet-washing station like the one pictured here is handy for washing off mud, lake water or that mysterious smell.

How to Install a Dog-Washing Station

Transitional Laundry Room by Looney Ricks Kiss
Looney Ricks Kiss
5. Multipurpose. If you have the extra space, a laundry room is great for incorporating other functions, such as craft areas, work stations, message centers and more. That way you can double up on your productivity during a busy work and laundry day.

This laundry room features a multiuse island for folding and gift-wrapping, with drawers, shelves and an open area for leg and knee space or a rolling laundry cart.

Transitional Laundry Room by CVI Design - Carly Visser
CVI Design – Carly Visser
4. Custom drying rack. Designer Carly Visser created this laundry room for parents with two young kids. The space features custom drying racks specifically for baby clothes and small items, which can be laid across the bars to air-dry. If anything has to be hand-washed, the farmhouse sink next to the washer and dryer can be used.
Traditional Laundry Room by House of L Interior Design
House of L Interior Design
3. Double up. This laundry room is a dream if you have lots of kids and lots of dirty clothes. Two washing machines and dryers means you can get through your laundry twice as fast. The space also features a pullout drying rack for your delicates.
Contemporary Laundry Room by Grassroots Design
Grassroots Design
2. Pullout hamper. If you carry a load of dirty clothes to the laundry but don’t have time to run a load, a pullout hamper can be an ideal storage spot. This kind of cabinetry works just like a trash-recycle pullout cabinet, but with hampers for sorting clothes rather than garbage.
Industrial Laundry Room by Designstorms LLC
Designstorms LLC
1. Roll-out shelf. In this compact laundry room, a stackable washer and dryer left plenty of room for storage next to it. The extendable shelf can be pulled out as an ironing board base when needed. Designer Amy Storm says she designed the shelf so that her client could stash a small portable ironing board there and use the shelf as a base for the board. For quick touchups, she could also throw a towel on the shelf and iron an item on it.

originally published on Houzz

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Top 6 reasons to choose solid surfacing over granite

Is granite really all it’s cracked up to be? When it comes to surfacing materials, not everyone thinks so.

Whether it’s time for a kitchen remodel, a new bathroom vanity top, or building a new home, increasing numbers of homeowners and designers are considering a range of options, including solid surface countertops.

Certainly granite has gotten plenty of buzz in recent years, but people aren’t as quick to talk about its downsides. And some designers believe its popularity is already on the decline. Style-wise, granite might not go the way of shag carpet, but it’s arguably become more about “keeping up with the Joneses” than truly being a practical, real-world option for many homes.

In addition to finding a look you love, you’ll want to consider each material’s inherent properties and how each will fare under the demands of everyday living.

Naturally, we’re biased in favor of Formica® Solid Surfacing over granite, but we believe consumers deserve to know some material facts to help inform their remodeling ideas and decorating decisions.

Natural Concrete

Six good reasons to consider solid surfacing:

1. Solid surfacing is durable and easy to clean.

Granite is prone to cracks and chips with use over time – and breaks are not uncommon.

Heat-resistant and stain-resistant, solid surfacing is designed to endure many years of use. After all, there are good reasons why it’s a material of choice for many commercial environments: It’s both stylish and easy to clean. Solid surfacing often plays a starring role in restaurant interior design, hotel industry trends and beyond.

Not sure? Formica Solid Surfacing comes with a ten-year guarantee.

2. Solid surfacing is non-porous.

Because solid surfacing is non-porous, it does not require sealing – unlike granite, which must be resealed regularly to prevent stains and bacteria growth. Granite maintenance is a drawback for many busy families who don’t have time to worry about resealing their kitchen countertops at least once a year.

3. Solid surfacing is renewable and repairable.

Granite is rarely repairable. Whether it’s stains, chips or cracks, once damage is done to granite, the damage is generally done. Solid surfacing can be renewed, as small knicks and scratches can easily be buffed out. Learn more about refreshing solid surfacing.

Ashen Concrete

4. Solid surfacing loves seamless integrated sinks.

Due to its material nature, granite doesn’t allow for the modern, streamlined elegance of seamless integrated sinks. Learn more about solid surfacing and seamless integrated sinks.

5. Solid surfacing goes easier on the environment – and on the budget.

Granite is a natural quarried material from mines. This allows the product to be unique, but that comes at a cost to the environment, such as consumption of natural resources and quarry waste.

Looking for green building materials? Formica Group is the first major solid surfacing manufacturer to create a range of recycled products that use both post-industrial and post-consumer waste: eSeries by Formica Group.

Our eSeries collection features 15 percent total recycled content, five of which is post-consumer in the form of polystyrene. Each sheet of eSeries contains an estimated 1000 Styrofoam cups.

Many solid surfacing colors feature decorative stone looks containing recycled content. And solid surfacing offers many design options that are both aesthetically pleasing and more affordable than granite.

6. Solid surfacing is decorative and offers many design options.

Granite can be shaped or carved, but a solid surface countertop can be:

  • Routed
  • Shaped
  • Sculpted
  • Engraved
  • Sandblasted
  • Backlit

In short, because color goes all the way through the surface, it allows for almost endless design, edge and inlay possibilities

Copied from Formica:
http://www.formica.com/en/us/advice-and-ideas/top-6-reasons-to-choosesolid-surfacing-over-granite

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Tips on how to clean both simple and tough stains on laminate countertops.

Part of the beauty of laminate for kitchen countertops or bathroom vanity tops is that it’s easy to clean and maintain.

Follow these five steps for effective laminate countertop cleaning:

  1. For simple cleaning, use a nylon-bristled hand or vegetable brush, along with a mild liquid detergent-and-water solution or household cleaner.
  2. For tough stains, use full-strength Fantastik®All Purpose Cleaner, Formula 409®, Pine-Sol® (original formulation) or other mild household cleaner.* Apply the cleanser and allow it to draw out the stain.
  3. Clean the soiled area using a rotating motion.
  4. Blot with a clean, damp, non-abrasive cotton cloth.
  5. Rinse and dry the surface.

When it comes to cleaning laminate, less is more. Never use abrasive cleaners, powders, scouring pads, steel wool, sandpaper, etc. These can damage the surface finish and make it susceptible to staining.

*We recommend testing the cleaner on a small, discreet area first; Formica Corporation cannot be held responsible if a cleaner changes its formulation and it harms the laminate. For more information, please refer to our Use and Care Warranty.

 

http://www.formica.com/en/us/advice-and-ideas/5-steps-for-laminate-countertop-cleaning

 

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Our new website!

We understood website design is not our forte and we turned to a pro, Eric at Web Pros Inc was great to work with.  I know I could have made a website for us but it would not have turned out as well as this one.  My theme for today:  if you want the best result, ask a professional.  (Did she just tell me to seek professional help?!)

I recently changed the counter tops in my kitchen.  I won’t even tell you how many samples I took home before I decided on my color.  For me it is much easier to help others decide.  I really love to work with clients to find the perfect counter top to pull together the flooring and woodwork.  I love it when clients bring in their floor, wood, paint samples and pictures of their project.  We run around pulling samples and having a great time.

I can assist you in your DIY project or we can do the removal and installation for you.  I look forward to working with you on your kitchen or bath design.

Amy Bromund, Design Consultant