A-Z HOME DECOR TREND 2014: QUARTZ
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Welcome Back to the A-Z Home Decor Trend Guide 2014.I've been revealing the hottest home decor trends currently heating up the market, design blogs, and the internet over the past few weeks and today's we are revealing the home decor trend that starts with the letter Q for...Quartz! I've been a fan of quartz solid surfaces for years for a number of reasons but the main factor is the low maintenance quality. Unlike a natural stone like granite and marble which are popular solid surface choices for counter tops, quartz is a man made product that offers the look of many natural stones, but does not require the high level of maintenance to maintain its beauty. You can literally spray an all purpose cleaner on it and wipe it down and you are good to go. Just to be clear, there is a difference between quartzite which is a natural stone and quartz which again, is man-made product that is made from crushed quartzite and bonded together with other materials. You can learn more about the difference between quartz and quartzite and other stones in this video tour of the Walker Zanger showroom (go to around 3:30 mark). The #1 problem I see homeowners experience is the etching of the natural stone surface from acidity such as lemon juice or alcohol. It creates a dulled look and the only way to repair it is to hone the entire surface again to polish off the etching. Yikes! The great news is you can have a man-made product like quartz which offers you the practicality, beauty and a wide array of color and design options without the headaches.
I had a Caesarstone counter in my last kitchen and I chose the one that looked like limestone. I had considered real limestone but it's another natural stone that is porous and requires more maintenance that I was willing to put forth. The quartz version gave me the best of both worlds. Other popular quartz brands include Silestone, Cambria and Dupont Zodiaq. Each company has their own collections with different color and design options. My favorite and probably the most dramatic is the crocodile pattern available through Caesarstone. It is stunning and so unique! See it on the countertop here...
And as a backsplash here...
I can see it being very impressive and eye catching on a wall in a commercial application or clad on a fireplace...let your imagination lead you. Here's an example of a Dupont Zodiaq countertop in red...
If you're looking for a granite look substitute, Cambria is your best option...here are some of their quartz surfaces that mimic the look of granite...
Here's a more contemporary choice...Caesar stone that looks like poured concrete...
That same concrete quartz installed around a fireplace...
Do you see why this quartz home decor trend is so popular? It's a no brainer really and there are even pre-fabricated quartz counters that are very inexpensive. You don't have as many color and design choices but it's a very cost effective alternative for the more budget conscious consumer. Let me know what you think and if you've used quartz in your home, share it with me by posting pics to my Facebook Page or Tag me on Twitter @alicetchan & Instagram @alicetamchan and use hashtag #2014homedecortrend.You're also invited to follow my A-Z Home Decor Trends 2014 Pinterest Board where you can see even more inspiration photos of all the trends I'll being sharing throughout the 13 weeks...see you online!
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