The Granite Look
by Patrick Galvin
Up until a few years ago, choices for
"working" kitchen tops were threefold:
ceramic tile (the old standby);
Corian (introduced by DuPont in
1971); and high-pressure decorative
laminates. Laminates proved to be the
overwhelming favorite because of the
variety of textures and almost unlimited
range of colors, patterns, and
woodgrains they provide.
Genuine marble or granite was too
bulky and too pricey for most situations.
But this changed dramatically
when laser technology allowed European
marble and granite to be sliced
wafer thin—as thin as ¼-inch. And
4x8 sheets of reinforced thinly-sliced
marble and granite quickly won favor
on commercial walls. When high-end
West German cabinet manufacturers
began introducing the panels in their
U.S. kitchens, the die was