Countertop quest

(Okay, so it's been nearly nine months since I last posted. We've since bought a house -- an, um, interesting story I plan on telling in flashbacks a la Lost -- and we've embarked on our first major reno job: the kitchen.)

January 14
We've spent nearly three weeks looking at countertops. Turns out we didn't need to go any further than our stop (even though we did): Rona/Home Depot. Both offer the same choices -- laminate, corian, marble, and quartz -- and colour selection. So it comes down to price (which is nearly identical at both retailers) and convenience.

We bought the cabinets at Ikea, but didn't like their countertop options. It's too bad the Rona and HD don't offer more contemporary styles for their cabinets. They'd do brisk business in urban centres like Vancouver and Montreal if they offered a few kitchens with a European look to them.

But you can't beat the look and price of Ikea cabinets. And you know what? They last a long time. A couple of contractors I spoke with sung the praises of its modular design for both ease of installation and sturdiness.

Last weekend we made a trip to what's known as Contrator's Row (or something like that). It's the neighbourhood of Castlefield and Caledonia in the west end of Toronto.

What a waste of time. We stopped at a handful of kitchen stores. None would only sell and install a counter. (Hello?) Then we visited one of the cabinet stores from the list we'd researched. Closed. On a Saturday. Who are their clients that they're closed on a Saturday? (That doesn't beat a story a colleague of mine related of her visit to a kitchen retailer. Her husband suggested she visit a store where he, who is in construction, uses to supply kitchens. They ushered her out the door soon after she walked in because she didn't have an appointment.) We called the other three retailers on our list. No answer at any. It appears they don't need weekend (drop-in) business.

I wonder how they stay in business. There can't be that many rich housewives left in the city who don't work weekdays. (I'm convinced at least one of them is a front for a money laundering operation.) Besides, I'm convinced they won't offer us a better price than we'll pay at Home Depot. And if anything is wrong with the product, I'm more confident of geting results from dealing with a big name like Rona than some third-rate independent whose doors are locked on the weekend.

So we're weighing the choices: corian or quartz. Laminate, the cheapest option, isn't possible with the undermount sink that we're planning. Corian and quartz are pretty much the same price. And both offer almost the same durability.

Here's something really interesting we found out about the Silestone quartz. It has this microban feature that's achieved using the same ingredient that's in your toothbrush to prevent the bristles from developing mildew.

Corian, while not as attractive (I would say), is a repairable material whereas quartz isn't.

The other big difference -- corian has a matte finish, quartz is glossy.

Today, we hunt for light fixtures and cabinet hardware...