There are so many unorthodox materials that are making their way into the bathroom. Glass, acrylic, chrome, concrete and even stone has made a comeback in the turn of the century.
Unusual and creative innovations are constantly being seen in contemporary homes like a sheet of metal being sandwiched between two sheets of glass, this glass can also be treated with textures or etched and lit from the bottom or the sides to let the design show through.
Glass is also fused with stronger materials like stone to form a layered material that is superior in looks and quality.
Gain the knowledge to make your home a better living space for your family and yourself, "Do It Yourself Tips" is a by-weekly newsletter loaded with valuable Home Improvement Tips & Tricks. Simply fill the form & click on "Sign Up!".
Tiles that seemed lackluster are being regarded as a contrivance for effete sophistication. Various exotic, handmade tiles are being regarded as a veritable option for setting into concrete counters.
Ornate Moroccan Zelige tiles that are colorful and unique are being seen on countertops in high-end bathrooms. Even common materials like concrete are gaining increasing popularity for bathrooms as well as kitchens.
Concrete sinktops are moldable and therefore are available in every imaginable size, shape and color and are totally customizable. These are not only durable and highly decorative but they can make a very bold design statement when the concrete is mixed with different kinds of aggregates.
For the environmentally conscious, waste glass from post consumer and industrial centers are recycled and turned into pieces of art. These countertops are manufactured without resins or polymers with the glass generally formed into mosaic-like patterns.
Another such material would be industrial scrap metal molded into a polyester resin to form a very resilient and unusual looking countertop. They are a beautiful and green option for your bathroom. Recycled polymer sheets are a stylish and innovative way to help the environment. HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) is fabricated into panels that are available with a multitude of possible alternatives in form and feel.
Cultured stones are an excellent option as they are waterproof, bacteria-proof, crack and scratch resistant. Stones like marble and onyx are finely powdered and mixed with pigments and binding agents before they are poured into moulds that can mould them into a never-ending array of shapes and colors. These are popular because they are pleasing to the eye and extremely easy to maintain. Quartz is also a very strong material that is not only durable but also gives an elegant finish.
Quartz countertops are made by combining quartz with resins and pigments to create dense and non-porous slabs. If you fancy something slightly more out of the ordinary, lava rock is also being introduced as an emerging material of choice.
If you really want to spend some serious money then you can consider splurging on inlaid, thinly sliced semi precious stones and resinous fossils that are suspended in a translucent material and the surface is lit from beneath for a truly dramatic effect.
These just scratch the surface when it comes to what is being used and can be used in bathroom interiors. With most of these countertops you will easily be able to find complementing sink bowls and mirrors or other accessories for a bathroom that’s above the ordinary.
by Mani Arquer
