Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/734400
OCTOBER 2016 | 45 Kitchens For Merit Kitchens, a recently launched line of ther- mofoil doorstyles and finishes are already one of the company's most popular products. "These are not your traditional thermofoil that people know from the 1990s," says Johnstone. "They feature fresh and modern door profiles." The most requested finishes for these designs are silky-smooth super-mattes that replicate the look of painted surfaces and highly tex- tured wood-grain finishes, too. The innate properties of quartz – it's non-porous, won't stain, and is easy to clean – have made it a serious contender for the must-have countertop material of the year. "The advancements in terms of what's possible within quartz are incredible," says Derek MacDonald, marketing manager for Floform. "It's beginning to push the limits of what people thought was possible to do with a hard surface like quartz." All this is to say that there are more ways than ever for designers to work with quartz, both for com- mercial and residential applications. "I think the days of using quartz only when working on simplistic design are past," says MacDonald. "Now quartz can be the focal point and centrepiece of the kitchen with its rich design. You can really develop your kitchen around it." Cosentino's new ultra-compact surface, Dekton, is similar to porcelain, but incredibly durable: it's heat- proof, scratch-proof, and more stainless than stainless steel. "People are even using it in outdoor applications," says Quinn Prince, president of SSC Countertops. But despite Dekton's impressive qualifiers, Prince says that the demand for bulletproof countertops var- ies quite a bit. "People with busy families can be really concerned about getting something super durable, but others could care less," he says. "In Europe, peo- ple have been using marble for years, and don't worry about etches or stains. They allow it to build a patina, and it looks beautiful." For those who are looking for surfaces that hold up to the demands of everyday life, Formica Group devel- oped EliteForm Surfacing Technology, which features industry-leading scratch resistance and impressive durability. It's a technology they've applied to Formica Canada's new residential laminate collection, which features 10 trend-based patterns, including some designed by Jonathan Adler. "To develop the new 2016 designs, we definitely did our homework," says Gerri Chmiel, North America residential design lead at Formica Corporation. "Through our research we're seeing three major trends – stunning woods, greys and concretes, and the desire for stone alternatives." MasterBrand Cabinets' new base utensil knife block pullout; Minimalist designs and smart storage solutions from Blum Canada Ltd.