Move over, granite. For years, this durable yet classy stone has been a must-have for high-end residential projects. But inventive developers are now moving beyond granite to find unique materials that set their projects apart from the competition. “We always see the granites and the marbles—they've been done, they've been seen,” says Vivian Bonet, senior vice president of construction for DYL Group, a Miami-based developer. “It will be nice to see new, trendy products being used.” And DYL Group is leading the way, swapping granite for concrete and teak wood (think the bottom of a boat) bathroom countertops at the W Fort Lauderdale Hotel & Residences under construction in Florida. “With the market nowadays, you have to be ahead of the next person,” says Bonet.
Similarly, Gramercy Property Group is testing out the waters with IceStone, a green product offering the look of terrazzo but made of recycled glass and a concrete compound. The New York-based developer is installing the counter tops at Thorndale Condominiums, a 21-unit luxury community scheduled to open next month in New York City. The product cost more than granite, but its uniqueness make the extra investment worthwhile, says Thomas Iovane, a principal at Gramercy. “Everyone who has come to our model unit loves it,” he says.
While residents are gravitating toward these fresh options, granite still tends to be developers' No. 1 choice for high-end projects. “We get a lot of people who request alternate materials, but when you start to look at the negatives and pluses [of those products], a lot of people still wind up back at granite,” says Louis Cohen, president of LBC Design, a creative consultant and project management firm based in Aventura, Fla. “Granite is the most guaranteed material is out there for durability, for putting hot stuff down, and for cutting.” Developers are moving from darker to lighter hues, which contrast nicely with dark cabinets for a chic, European look.
TROPICAL DELIGHT: Make a bold statement with bamboo countertops, a green alternative to traditional wood butcher block tops. The product comes in four grain patterns: caramelized flat grain, caramelized vertical grain, and caramelized and natural parquet end grain. Planks come unfinished and sanded, ready to be spliced together for a kitchen island or installed as counter-tops. The company also offers a variety of inlayed or solid bamboo backsplashes and an edge trim. For more information, call Totally Bamboo at 818-765-9000 or visit www.totallybamboo.com.
1 SOUTHWEST BEAUTY: Give residents a taste of the Southwest with the Sedona series, the latest addition to the WilsonartHD laminate line. Patterns range from ultra-light to rich chocolate. WilsonartHD features a textured dual matte-gloss finish and offers the look and texture of naturally weathered stone. For more information, call Wilsonart International at 800-433-3222 or visit ww.wilsonartlaminate.com.
2 STUNT DOUBLES: Get the look and feel of quartz and granite without the headaches of natural stone. Formica Corp.'s Riverwash high-pressure laminate finish collection now includes a quarstone series in crème, walnut, and smoke, and a granite series in American rose, Brazilian brown, and Venetian gold. For more information, call Formica Corp. at 800-367-6422 or visit www.formica.com.
3 SOLID CHOICE: Here's one tempting offer: Samsung's new Tempest line offers quartz appeal with the benefits of a solid surface. The collection's 10 colored surfaces—including shell, rattan, russet, and cinnamon—feature a seamless appearance and nonporous, hygienic properties. For more information, call Samsung at 800-795-7177 or visit www.staron.com.
4 ICE, ICE BABY: Looking for a high-end alternative to natural stone? Try IceStone, a surface made of recycled glass and a concrete compound. The environmentally friendly product is available in 24 standard colors including cobalt ice, Moroccan red and Tuscan sunset. The product can also be used for backsplashes, bathroom dividers, and interior walls. For more information, call IceStone at 718-624-4900 or visit www.icestone.biz.
5 BRITISH INVASION: Cambria has introduced four new colors with names inspired by the British Isles. Sussex offers hints of gray and blue on a chocolate brown base; Dover features a sleek tan color; Southampton boasts a bold mixture of black, gray, copper, and sky blue; and Hyde Park offers natural gray and light green tones.For more information, call Cambria at 866-226-2742 or visit www.cambriausa.com.