Kitchens
Continued from Page 48
you, ceramic countertops should be
considered. Big in California for
years, ceramic tiles are just starting
to catch on here thanks to their
"authentic" look and to the fact that
a hot pot won't damage them.
condominiums
"'"
topm,,*
4 44 4114
2 BEDROOM 2 BATH
RANCH CONDOMINIUMS
NATURAL FIREPLACE/WET BAR
SKYLIGHTS/VAULTED CEILINGS
WHIRLPOOL TUB/1st FLOOR LAUNDRY
ATTACHED GARAGE/BUILT-IN APPLIANCES
FARMINGTON HILLS
Open Daily 12-6 p.m.
788-7150
Prices from 5165,900
ANOTHER FINE PRESENTATION FROM:
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• Paintings
• Kachinas
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Gallery Hours:
Tues.-Fri. 10-4 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
or by appointment
32800 Franklin Rd., Franklin, MI (313) 851.9949
74
HOME
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SA AR
"I had it in my last house and I lov-
ed it," says Huntzinger.
But ceramic has disadvantages: if
you drop something on it, it is possi-
ble to chip and/or break the tiles.
Ceramic is also considerably more
expensive than laminate.
If your goal is to have the hottest,
newest kitchen in town, then granite
will be your first choice for counter-
top material. Virtually indestructible,
this black-and-white flecked stone
lends a modern, high tech look to
any home.
Some decorators even say that you
can build a bonfire on it and nothing
will happen to it. If you cut on it with
a knife, it will leave marks — on the
metal of the knife, not on the granite.
But be prepared to pay dearly for
granite. A countertop can cost be-
tween $5,000 and $7500. Incidentally,
plastic laminate and Corian come in
a granite pattern.
To use these new materials in your
kitchen without going broke, try mix-
ing materials for your countertops.A
kitchen with all-laminate countertops
except for the island, which has a
ceramic countertop is an interesting
touch.
Appliances such as self-cleaning
ovens and microwaves are now stan-
dard in most modern kitchens.
According to Russell Danielson of
Farmington Cabinet Co., popular
choices for appliances are the
Subzero refrigerator, Thermador
oven, and Gaggeneau cooktops.
Microwaves are now available
with built-in turntables and automatic
cooking time sensors. Prices range
from $89 for the simplest microwave
to $500 for the most complex. Pana-
sonic, Sharp and Litton are popular
brands.
Russell Danielson of Farmington
Cabinet notes the return to home
cooking. "Cooking in the home as
opposed to going out is a more
popular approach to entertaining."