17 Kitchen Countertop Ideas for the Most Beautiful and Durable Prep Space

Table Of Content

• Edge
• Find Custom Countertop Contractors to Help Get the Job Done
• Laminate Installation Process
• Award Winning Service
• Read Reviews from Westby Homeowners Like You
• MOST POPULAR

Solid surface countertops are synthetic materials made from resins and mineral dust, and they’re similar to quartz. Manufacturers can form the countertops to fit your kitchen’s layout so you get seamless, solid pieces. Quartz is a high-end countertop surface material, so expect to spend about $4,500 for supplies and labor. Costs can range from $1,500 for small kitchens and lower-end quartz to $8,000 for larger kitchens and higher-quality materials.

Edge

Countertops by Design was fantastic from the time I walked in to pick out quartz, to the install. Picking out quartz I found prices to be significantly cheaper on Cambria and Silestone than any other place we looked at. Everything was on time, the installers we extremely careful, they did a great job. We were very nervous about picking an installer that would be cautious and do a great job and these guys delivered that and we are not easy customers to please. We serve homeowners, business owners and trade professionals with stone fabrication projects of all sizes.

Find Custom Countertop Contractors to Help Get the Job Done

Utilizing the latest technology in the industry, providing optimal results and assures the highest level of craftsmanship to maximize the beauty of your stone. Countertops By Design, in Omaha, NE, is the premier countertops specialist serving Omaha, Elkhorn, Gretna, Springfield and surrounding areas. We specialize in custom fabrication and installation of granite, quartz and marble countertops. These folks know what they are doing, a great selection of countertop materials and edges, reasonable pricing, and knowledgeable staff that enjoys their work. Investing in quartz countertops can also increase the resale value of your home.

Laminate Installation Process

Older and more budget-friendly laminate styles have visible edges that feature seams between two sheets that form a right angle. There are also laminate countertops that feature beveled and intricate edges to offer a more stonelike appearance. Laminate countertops are a cost-effective, synthetic option for kitchens and bathrooms. Fabricators build laminate countertops by layering plastic over particle board to create a durable, solid, and water-resistant surface. Laminate was once extremely popular but has become less common than stone.

Award Winning Service

Marble is also pricier and tougher to maintain than other countertop options. Laminate is a budget-friendly alternative to stone countertops, with an average cost of $1,240. Homeowners with DIY experience can further reduce the cost of their kitchen update by installing laminate countertops themselves. Whether you’re remodeling your entire kitchen or just looking to give a kitchen island a facelift, you’re probably on the hunt for kitchen countertop ideas. That being said, for larger kitchens the countertops have the potential to define the space, so it’s important to take the visual appeal part seriously too.

Quartz is very glossy and has a beautiful luster thanks to a crystalline structure that runs throughout the stone. It feels cool to the touch and has a completely smooth surface that won’t chip or crack. To install laminate yourself, simply remove your old countertops, add a bead of adhesive along the top seams of your cabinets, and set the new countertops in place.

These 7 Kitchen Trends Are Already Coming in Hot for 2024 - ELLE Decor

These 7 Kitchen Trends Are Already Coming in Hot for 2024.

Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

A typical kitchen installation takes approximately 4-6 Hours and is completed in one day. As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period.

It belongs in kitchens and bathrooms because it’s durable, water-resistant, and available in a wide range of styles. Solid surface countertops are easy to maintain, moisture-resistant, and don’t require sealing or resealing. The material is less heat-resistant and scratch-resistant than quartz, though. It’s durable, low-maintenance, and doesn’t require sealant or specialty cleaners. Consider backsplashes when making your countertop choice too, as the best kitchen designs are cohesive. Consider niche countertop materials such as concrete countertops, butcher block countertops, formica, and soapstone if you want to expand your search.

If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile. Designers say this detail can have a big impact in your kitchen or bathroom. Stop into the showroom and find the stone you are wanting and get a price in store. BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment.

Whether your stonework project is personal or professional we’ll use our experience to deliver affordable stonework exactly how you want it. A great price and quality product are not enough in the kitchen, bath, and countertop industry. You need a team dedicated to ensuring your project is done right, to completion, and as specified. We strive for 100% satisfaction with all our clients on every project.

Paradise Flooring is Your Premier Choice for Cabinets, Countertops, Tile, Carpet and Flooring Paradise Flooring is ... - SweetwaterNOW

Paradise Flooring is Your Premier Choice for Cabinets, Countertops, Tile, Carpet and Flooring Paradise Flooring is ....

Posted: Mon, 25 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Labor, materials, thickness of the marble, edge design, and how rare the marble is could all raise the final price. For this reason, many people pick stones that look like marble but are more affordable and simpler to maintain. Marble is a luxury stone material that’s popular in high-end homes due to its natural luminosity. It’s an excellent choice for kitchens or bathrooms but requires extra care and maintenance in areas that get wet.

COUNTERTOPS BY DESIGN LLC Project Photos & Reviews Westby, WI US

Table Of Content

• A Full Range of Services
• Waterfall Edge
• Carrara Marble
• Business ProfileforCountertops by Design, LLC
• For Businesses
• OTHER STONE COUNTERTOPS
• TRY THIS LOOK IN OUR KITCHEN VISUALIZER

Granite can either be dark to add glamor to a large space or bright and light to make small kitchens feel bigger. Countertops by Design has been one of the top professional companies in the area. Providing quality services in fabrication and installation of various materials.

A Full Range of Services

Block Tops Inc. provides the Best Prices on Quality California Countertops. As a Factory Direct California countertop company, we can help you with kitchen & bathroom design, fabrication, & installation of all types of stone countertops. We offer granite countertops, marble countertops, quartz countertops, and other natural stone countertops and stone fabrication. One of the most appealing aspects of quartz countertops is their aesthetic versatility. Available in a vast array of colors, patterns, and finishes, quartz can mimic the appearance of natural stones such as granite and marble without their inherent weaknesses.

Waterfall Edge

Corian is a man-made solid surface countertop material that mimics the look of natural quartz. Granite countertops are very durable and can resist stains, moisture damage, and heat. Thinner models could crack or chip if you drop something on them, though.

Carrara Marble

It features unique patterns that can include various tones, undertones, and dramatic veins of color. Need creative ideas and stunning imagery to inspire your next project? Explore our blogs - a must-have resource for homeowners and designers on the lookout for the latest surface trends. “Raw edges feel super organic and look amazing when paired with clean lines or something a bit more architecturally traditional,” says Abernathy.

Business ProfileforCountertops by Design, LLC

A no-fuss versatile lineup, designers rely on Stile’s organic color ways and natural-stone-inspired textures to create ultra-trendy spaces. At Countertops By Design our goal is to make your vision come to life with quality products and services. It is important to us to produce a beautiful space while still making it practical and useful for everyone in your home. However, countertops with these edges are not literally “raw." Often, raw edges are thoughtfully chiseled to achieve this look. Don’t store cleaners or caustic chemicals on a marble countertop’s surface as they can cause permanent stains or even etch the surface.

Professionals will cut and shape the granite to size and bevel the edges according to your preferred design. They’ll also remove your old countertops, attach granite to the cabinets, and finish countertops with a sealing coat. Unlike natural stone, which can vary significantly from slab to slab, quartz countertops Long Island offers consistency in appearance. This consistency ensures that the sample you choose in a showroom will closely match the installed product in your home. By buying directly from our factory you will get massive savings!

OTHER STONE COUNTERTOPS

Keep your granite in top shape by reapplying a sealing product every year since the stone is naturally porous. Our first contact was with Kaitlyn and she made us feel right at home. We told her what we were looking for and she explained the process they follow. Jeremy came out with Dan and measured the area for our countertops and backsplash.

Pohlman’s favorite style, eased edges, are characterized by soft, square edges. They are noted for their simplicity, timeless style, and easy-to-clean functionality. Homeowners should expect to spend $1,500–$6,000 on solid-surface countertops, depending on a kitchen’s size and layout. The most budget-friendly countertops are very thin and approximately 1/4 inch thick. This means even small quartz countertops can weigh more than 100 pounds.

TRY THIS LOOK IN OUR KITCHEN VISUALIZER

Top kitchen design trends include quartz countertops, stainless steel - Times Union

Top kitchen design trends include quartz countertops, stainless steel.

Posted: Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Natural forces that act upon the differing rocks that comprise granite form innumerable patterns, swirls, veins, and specs. Quartz countertops bring a combination of aesthetic elegance and practical functionality that suits the demands of modern kitchens. Their durability, low maintenance, and design versatility make them an excellent choice for homeowners looking to combine style with ease of use. As kitchen design continues to evolve, quartz countertops remain a timeless investment that enhances the beauty and functionality of your cooking space. In the evolving landscape of kitchen design, quartz countertops have emerged as a leading choice for both homeowners and designers alike.

Composed of natural quartz crystals bonded with resin, these countertops are engineered to be resistant to scratches, chips, and stains. Unlike natural stone, quartz is non-porous, meaning it doesn’t require sealing and won’t absorb liquids. This quality not only makes quartz countertops easy to maintain but also highly durable against the everyday wear and tear that can quickly age other materials. While tile and preformed countertops can be put in as do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, granite countertops usually require professional installation. Experts can measure your kitchen and create precise, seamless cutouts for plumbing and stovetops.

Their non-porous surface does not harbor bacteria or viruses, making them a hygienic choice for kitchens. Cleaning is as simple as wiping the surface with a damp cloth and mild detergent. There’s no need for the periodic sealing required by granite or marble, reducing both the cost and effort of upkeep. This feature is particularly appealing to busy homeowners who value practicality alongside style. Quartz is a natural stone that’s permanently sealed in resin and remains scratch-resistant, moisture-resistant, and durable. It’s a solid choice for moist and wet environments such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Committing to a kitchen remodel is a great way to modernize your space and increase the value of your home. We recommend carefully comparing countertop materials to find the right fit for your budget, style preferences, and commitment to maintenance. Manufacturers can customize solid surface countertops to match your color and pattern preferences. You can choose between different edges and bevels too, whether you want lightly rounded right angles or intricate patterns.

Top 40 Kitchen Trends for 2023 That Our Editors Love - Country Living

Top 40 Kitchen Trends for 2023 That Our Editors Love.

Posted: Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Classic, rounded bullnose edges are an elegant countertop style well-suited for longevity. Interior designer Jenn Cameron recommends this style for family households with traditional design preferences. The countertop material that has the best resale value is properly maintained marble.

It may not have the best return on investment due to its initial cost and maintenance demands, though. Make sure to seal and polish granite countertops to give them extra-smooth sheens and to lock out moisture. Choosing the right kitchen countertop material is a major decision to make as part of your kitchen remodel.

You can also anchor the countertops in place using fastening hardware. At Countertops By Design we offer different standard edge profiles to our customers at no addition cost. We also offer other specialized edge profiles with some additional cost. If you cannot find the edge profile you want represented here please contact us for a quote.

The stone is long-lasting but vulnerable to heat damage, water damage, and issues caused by chemical stains. Homeowners with marble countertops need to keep them properly sealed against moisture. While laminate countertops are fairly durable, heat can damage them. Moisture could also strip the surface of the countertops and make them peel up. Small scratches in laminate can easily be covered up using resin paint. Homeowners can either hire professionals to install laminate countertops or may install them as part of a DIY project.

Awesome Egg Drop Ideas

Table Of Content

• Adobe Illustrator
• CorelDraw Graphics Suite
• The Science Behind the Egg Drop Challenge
• Physics Behind the Demo
• Sciencing_Icons_Fundamentals-Geometry Fundamentals
• Sciencing_Icons_Earth Scructure Earth Structure

Students are given a plastic egg for measuring purposes and the materials that they requested. It is good to stress here that they need to be able to remove their plastic egg and add an actual egg before the drop. The build process will inevitably present issues that the students will need to work with and adapt. This is all part of the process and encourages students to problem solve as they go.

Adobe Illustrator

It should not be loose nor should it be too tight to the point where it will definitely crack the egg. Most egg drop projects use many loose materials, design making, and tinkering that my son isn’t ready for yet. I thought we could expand on it by using materials in our kitchen to protect the eggs including ziptop bags to control the mess.

CorelDraw Graphics Suite

By placing the egg in the center of a web of straws and securing them with tape, the egg is cushioned from all sides. This design is lightweight and can be easily customized to fit the specifications of the egg drop challenge. The science behind this method lies in the property of sponges to absorb and distribute forces evenly. Sponges are made up of numerous tiny air pockets that can compress and expand to absorb shock. When the egg falls, the sponges compress to absorb the force of the fall and then expand to distribute the force across a larger area, which reduces the impact on the egg.

The Science Behind the Egg Drop Challenge

Adding multiple canopies to the parachute can increase its stability and slow down the descent even further. This egg drop idea is the same concept that NASA uses in order to slow the descent of astronauts and components returning from space! Experiment with different sizes and configurations to find the optimal design for a successful landing. You could also explore the parts of the egg and challenge kids to make Bouncy Eggs using chemistry.

Sixth-graders drop eggs in experiment - Seymour Tribune

Sixth-graders drop eggs in experiment.

Posted: Mon, 10 May 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Physics Behind the Demo

If you’d like to try with your kids or students, we have a free design process worksheet to help the design thinking. Many successful egg drop designs use sturdy containers to protect the contents from the initial shock of the drop. These hard containers may be plastic food containers or cardboard boxes. But the hard container alone is not enough to protect the egg completely. Styrofoam, sponges, cotton balls, bubble wrap or even wadded newspaper can all make good padding inside the container.

Idea 3: Origami Parachute

So it's a good option for design amateurs, but pros will appreciate some of its capabilities as well. Procreate is for artists of any level who work on an iPad and who specifically sketch, paint, or illustrate. The app's low cost makes it friendly to practically everyone with an artistic inclination. Procreate is a premium quality yet low-cost iPad app for artists of every kind, from professionals to hobbyists. Adobe XD is one case of a product from Adobe that's not actually the industry standard.

Sciencing_Icons_Fundamentals-Geometry Fundamentals

But most graphics designers are best served by the industry-standard Adobe Illustrator. With it you also get impressive type support and companion tablet apps for creating digital drawings. Photoshop is for professional designers, as well as photographers who want to make detailed pixel-level edits and apply advanced features to their work. Serious amateurs can greatly benefit from learning to use Photoshop, too, and the program includes multifarious help and tutorial resources.

Sciencing_Icons_Earth Scructure Earth Structure

Creative Cloud Express is a relatively new offering from Adobe that goes directly against the highly successful Canva. That is, it's a template-based graphic design tool for nonprofessionals who need to create marketing materials or social media posts. The software brings with it Adobe's vast depth of imaging smarts and lets you create something good-looking without a lot of fussing and tinkering with details. It works with both video and still images and lets you output in formats suited to all the popular social networks or to PDF. Create a frame out of toothpicks and place the egg inside. The toothpicks will protect the egg from breaking by acting as a crumple zone, which absorbs the energy of the impact by breaking, rather than transferring it to the egg.

With it, you get Adobe's top-notch technology innovations that just keep coming, along with strong collaboration options. Unlike Sketch, Adobe XD is cross-platform, running happily on both macOS and Windows. Many students were participating in their first egg-drop event.

Create your own egg drop designs to protect your egg from breaking when it is dropped from a height. The height from which you drop the egg will depend on the specific requirements of the egg drop challenge. Some challenges may specify a certain height, while others may leave it open to the participants to decide. It’s important to consider the height when designing your egg drop contraption, as a higher drop will require stronger protection for the egg. Surround the egg with cotton balls and then place it inside a small cardboard box.

Once you completed your housing and it looks like the one above, your halfway from completing your contraption. Gumdrop Bridge – Build a bridge from gumdrops and toothpicks and see how much weight it can hold. How Strong Is An Egg – Test much weight one egg can hold before it breaks. For more graphic arts software reviews and related information, see our graphics arts page. There are a handful of free or freemium apps if you look for Photoshop alternatives, such as the free and open-source GIMP, or the best mobile photo editing apps. As alluded to above, Affinity Designer is primarily for those who don't want to pay the Adobe monthly tribute.

Easy and Lightweight Egg Drop Protection Device : 5 Steps

Table Of Content

• Best for Low-Cost, Full-Featured Vector and Raster Editing
• Successful Egg Drop Contraptions for a Science Project
• STEM Challenge: Egg Drop Project Design with Straws
• Further Reading
• Paper straws egg drop
• What materials can I use for the egg drop design?

Next, cut 3 small straw pieces, each being 3 1/4 inches, and tape them to the base corners (in other words, tape each straw piece to the corners of the triangle) facing upwards. Tape each straw piece together at the top to create a pyramid. Test to see if it will hold the egg by (carefully) inserting it in between the straws.

Best for Low-Cost, Full-Featured Vector and Raster Editing

Looking for more ideas that incorporate parachutes in your egg drop challenge? Place the egg in a red Solo cup with some cushioning (shredded paper, cotton). Then, attach a plastic bag to the cup and launch it in a place where the wind can catch the bag. Another common egg drop design is to use straws and tape to create a protective shell around the egg.

Successful Egg Drop Contraptions for a Science Project

Each iteration uses data from previous tests to meet all of the initial requirements. Building Materials, this is where you want to raid your tinker kits, recycling bins, cupboards and really encourage kids to get creative! I highly recommend doing this project outside or somewhere that allows for easy clean up. You may also want to avoid this activity on really hot, sunny days, to avoid the splattered raw egg cooking before you can clean it up. If you want to try cooking some eggs on those hot days, check out our Solar Oven Project.

STEM Challenge: Egg Drop Project Design with Straws

Our goal is to make science relevant and fun for everyone. Whether you need help solving quadratic equations, inspiration for the upcoming science fair or the latest update on a major storm, Sciencing is here to help. These STEM questions for reflection are perfect to use with older kiddos to talk about how the project went and what they might do differently next time around. Use these questions for reflection with your kids after they have completed the STEM challenge to encourage discussion of results and critical thinking.

Humpty Dumpty's date with gravity - Arlington Catholic Herald

Humpty Dumpty's date with gravity.

Posted: Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:00:17 GMT [source]

Another way to use straws is to design a framework that suspends the egg during the drop. The frame absorbs the shock, preventing the egg from coming in contact with the surface. Egg drop projects teach students to use logic and teamwork to protect their eggs from a fall. Begin by explaining the process and handing out eggs to the students. Set the parameters of your egg drop and a deadline when your students must be ready to drop their eggs or go bust. Here are 10 simple egg drop design ideas for kids to try.

Add padding such as foam, bubble wrap or packing peanuts between the egg and the side of a small plastic bag. Place the small bag into a medium-sized bag and add more padding around the small bag. Place both bags into a large plastic bag with additional padding around the medium bag.

Toilet paper roll egg drop

The focus of this egg drop is on the change from potential to kinetic energy and how energy moves when it impacts the ground. When I was a kid, we had a book about this egg drop engineering project, and ever since then, I have wanted to try it. We live on the third floor, so we have quite a long drop from our balcony, which is perfect for this experiment.

Now that your Egg Drop Protection Device is finished, test it out first without an egg and drop it from a high place. If your device survives, try it now with an egg and see if it cracks. If the straws appear to be cracked, try to evaluate the drag force of the parachute. If any part of the device starts falling apart, make sure to reinforce it with more adhesives or glue. If the egg cracks but nothing else on the device is broken, make sure that the egg holder is not too tight for the egg. For storage, wrap the string and plastic sheet around the top of the device and tuck the end of the parachute inside of the egg holder.

I love the egg drop engineering project because it involves creativity mixed with a bit of physics. Canva targets nondesigners who need to create promotional, marketing, and social media content. But professionals will certainly appreciate the ease it brings to creating compelling designs. "There are some really unusual designs, incorporating Nerf footballs, parachutes, peanut butter, stuffed animals, you name it," Ellinger said. We analyzed the causes again, and realized that pyramid is not a good shape to start with.

The cotton balls will absorb the shock of the impact, protecting the egg from breaking. This works because the cotton balls are made of fibers that have tiny pockets of air. These pockets of air compress on impact, absorbing the energy of the impact and preventing it from reaching the egg. Looking for tried-and-true ideas for the parachute egg drop method? Give students a variety of materials—straws, Popsicle sticks, paper, bags—and see who can make a parachute that helps the egg float instead of splat. Try limiting your class to specific groups of materials such as ensuring that all padding is edible.

ACT/SAT scores have been removed from rankings to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process. For example, while Adobe Photoshop is the go-to photo editing tool, it also creates awesome photo-realistic text effects. In 1989, no one could have guessed Photoshop would become the favorite front-end web design tool (with nods to Sketch, XD, and other capable newcomers). "No subscription" sums up the main reason to go with Affinity Designer.

Try using cereals such as puffed rice or wheat as padding. Use grapes, cherry tomatoes or orange wedges between the egg and the side of the box or container. The fluid-filled cells work in a similar way to the air-filled bladders of bubble wrap. Consider that the egg must drop but is not required to hit the ground.

Combining the thrill of engineering and the wonders of physics, these experiments are perfect for young scientists. Today, we will explore a variety of egg drop ideas using parachutes and delve into the science behind each concept. The egg drop challenge is a classic but it never ceases to amaze the kids, and I am always amazed with their ingenuity! With STEM we are always working to build creativity, problem solving skills, curiosity, and a passion for experimentation and learning. The Egg Drop Project is the perfect Summer STEM project for developing all of those areas.

Create a protective shell for the egg using paper mache. The hardened shell provides a protective barrier against impact. Inflate a balloon and tape it securely around the egg. Outside of these apps, your options are to pay a recurring subscription or a one-time fee, though some apps only offer one option. For those who don't need to collaborate with other Adobe Creative Cloud users and don't want to pay the high ongoing subscription fees, PaintShop Pro is a good choice. It gets you most of the effects, layer tools and image manipulation found in Photoshop, but without the super-slick interface and whizbang new AI tools.

These parallel straws must have hit the egg hard.With this realization, we started the next design. Then tape or glue the full-length straws along the edges of the pyramid holder, so each edge is extended with a straw to stick out of the pyramid vertexes. The goal is to have the extended straws bear the forces upon touching the ground, thus deviate the force on the egg. The Classic "Egg-Drop" experiment has been a standard in science instruction for many years. Essentially, students are asked to construct some type of container that will keep a raw egg from cracking when dropped from ever-increasing elevations.