When renovating your kitchen or bathroom, one of the big decisions is the countertop. They have become a major part of your kitchen's decor, a colour and material that brings the room together. Of course, they must be practical. Today's choices are immense -- long gone is the singular option of a granite top in three shades of brown. There are many options depending on your budget, so many that it can feel overwhelming. From traditional marble and granite, to the newest in solid surface and concrete, there is a product that will suit your lifestyle. Just to make it even more interesting, I have discovered two new materials that are worth your attention: PaperStone and IceStone. The exciting thing about these countertop materials is that they are both made from recycled material, they are both strong, durable and beautiful.
PaperStone, www.paperstoneproducts.net, as its name suggests, is made from three types of paper, 100 per cent recycled cardboard, 100 per cent recycled office paper or virgin fibre. Because it is made from post-consumer paper waste, petroleum-free resins and organic dyes, it is one of the greenest architectural surfaces on the market today. A PaperStone countertop is resistant to water and abrasions and comes in a luscious array of colours, including straw, mocha (shown here), Cabernet, slate and plum. There are natural colour variations seen in PaperStone, just as you see in real stone, which gives the surface depth and elegance.
IceStone, www.icestone.biz, is made from 100 per cent recycled glass that is mixed with cement to produce a highly durable and beautiful concrete surface. The mixing of non-toxic pigments and various glass colours and sizes creates a wonderful range of colours. Descriptive colour names indicate the variations, including jade snow, white pearl, Tuscan Sunset and Heirloom Gray.
Both products can be used for floors, backsplashes, tabletops and wall panels, offering a wealth of design options. PaperStone is easier to fabricate. Their websites are an excellent source of information relevant to today's green living standards. I warn you, it's a tough choice.
DEAR Debbie -- I'm redoing my three-year-old daughter's room, working around a cute, multi-coloured cupcake comforter. Each cupcake has chocolate frosting on it. The room has white wainscoting that I would like to paint chocolate brown and then lavender for the upper walls. My painter is hesitant to paint wainscoting any colour other than white. Are there any guidelines? I value your opinion.
-- Bev
DEAR Bev -- You know that I am not one for rules. Wainscoting is a very versatile decorating element. It breaks up the wall so that you can use two or three variations in texture and colour together. The wainscoting panels can be natural or stained wood, both light and dark tones, or painted any colour you choose. Generally speaking, the darker colour should be on the low wall section to balance the room. Otherwise it will feel like the upper wall is falling in. I think your combination of chocolate brown and lavender sounds yummy for a little girl's room. I would add a third colour as a narrow band above the wainscoting or if it is topped with a piece of moulding, perhaps a fresh splash of pistachio.
DEAR Debbie -- We are renovating our bathroom with a new dark stain vanity and ivory marble countertop, new floor and lighting. The shoulder height tiles have to stay. The tiles are light beige with peach bull nose tile around the top. What colour do you suggest I paint above these tiles to update? I'd like to bring the outdoors in.
-- Diane
DEAR Diane -- You mentioned grey green for the upper wall in your letter, which I agree would be a perfect choice. But first I would shop for the ideal shower curtain, one that has bamboo twigs or oversized leaves, either a solid colour or a motif that is fresh and outdoorsy. Match up your towels and paint colour with shades of green and white that are in the curtain.
Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.
