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SSC Countertops Ltd., like FloForm, is seeing a change in consumer choice from granite to quartz. "Homeowners in Vancouver are realizing that quartz is a good option as it is a low-maintenance product that is, in many cases, better priced than granite," says Adrienne Toye, sales consultant. "The trend that we are seeing right now is quartz colours mimicking the look of white marble with grey veining." Another popular option from SSC is soapstone. "This is a great product and all of our clients that have it are very happy," says Toye. "The type that we offer is a dark green, almost black. This goes well with the West Coast theme décor that is common in our area." She says SSC brings the product in by container loads from Brazil, giving customers a wide choice of slabs. "Because soapstone is a natural stone, every slab is different. The customer can choose which slab they want to make it a totally custom countertop. They can even choose which area will be cut on the slab to capture a specific pattern of veining." She adds soapstone is completely resistant to heat and because of the nature of this product, SSC can offer very incon- spicuous site joins and seams. To keep its lustre, the countertop only needs two coats of an enhancer oil for the rest of its life. The Continental Cabinet Company Inc. has been providing high-quality cabinets since 1960 and has grown to a modern manufacturing facility spanning 40,000 square feet. The company handles a wide range of projects from residential interiors to commercial, industrial and institutional designs. "We create indi- vidually-designed cabinets that often come straight from renderings created by architects or interior designers," says Peter Volk, president. "We will see a rendering and redesign the look to suit the client's needs," he says. "They might not even understand what is possible until we change an island position or change angles on cabinetry, which provides a better workflow. While components are available from any kitchen manufacturer, we develop something that is more unique for each client. There seems to be a trend towards simple, clean lines for cabinets, but some customers still prefer painted finishes. However because of the increased cost, the high-gloss option is limited as there are only a few suppliers that can pro- vide this product." Volk says on new home builds, there are restrictions on the allowances. "Set sizes and set patterns have already been established by the developer. With these allowances being less than what they were 30 years ago, most companies are restricted to certain species of wood such as oak and maple. Another consideration is that different sectors of cities and provinces want different looks, such as high-end versus mid-range." ■ Modern display kitchen from Excelsior Kitchens. Kitchens october 2014 /39 ESTABLISHED 1964 • BONDED PROFESSIONALS CERAMIC TILE, MARBLE, GRANITE AND TERRAZZO CONTRACTOR PHONE 604-254-9864 www.startilevancouver.ca ✪ info@startile.ca 2121 E. HASTINGS, VANCOUVER, B.C. Celebrating 50 years of craftsmanship Tile.indd 1 14-09-16 3:05 PM • Institutional, Commercial & Industrial Roofing • Roof Service & Maintenance FLYNN CANADA LTD. total building envelope When you work with Flynn, you can expect the best processes and the latest material and technique. We transform your vision from concept to breathtaking reality with innovative solutions – no matter how complex or technically challenging it may be. • Contract Glazing & Curtain Wall • Architectural Building Products + Green Roofs + Solar Photovoltaics For more information, please visit www.flynn.ca or e-mail info@flynn.ca Traugott is proud to have completed The Stockyards Project • Composed of over 550,000 square feet of multi- level retail space • Features 2 parking garages with 1,850+ capacity • Built on a 20 acre urban property 95 Thompson Drive, Cambridge Ontario N1T 2E4 T: 519 740 9444 W: traugott.com Traugott Bldg Ad 1.indd 1 14-09-24 3:48

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