Browse Forums Kitchen Corner Re: Why not laminate? 23Mar 09, 2011 12:30 pm Do you really think though that a house will be more highly priced because it has a few sqm of stone benchtops? Re: Why not laminate? 24Mar 09, 2011 12:59 pm same could be said with softclose drawers & doors, over counter LED lights,pullout pantry mechs, and European appliances. so, in a word, yes, i do think stone represents a higher class of finish over laminate, and i think its held in higher regard when the selling price of said house. Kitchens sell houses, simple as that. it also depends on the style of kitchen too. is it ultra modern with glass splashbacks and 2pac or is it country house timber doors with a tiled splachback? G Re: Why not laminate? 25Mar 09, 2011 1:12 pm star-anise Do you really think though that a house will be more highly priced because it has a few sqm of stone benchtops? I would think that if a house has stone tops, it would generally have a higher level of finish overall. Or, that would be the perception. Some properties when for sale will have something like "Granite and European appliances" in the advertising. We've just extended our house in keeping with the era (1930s bungalow) so the bricks, windows, skirting, achitraves and cornices all match - that costs a lot money and is a better quality of finish. We could have used plain common bricks or weatherboard, aluminium windows, small skirtings and architraves and plain cornice but not only would the old not flowed with the new, the resale value would be affected when we go to sell. In our area, people will pay for a properly renovated property over one that has a dog's breakfast of an extension attached. We did our research. You really have to gauge what is suitable for the home you live in - if it is yours and will be for years, have what "you" want, not what you think someone else will want in 10, 15 or 20 years time. Laminate has its place and had I not been able to have granite, I would have happily chose laminate as there are some fantastic designs that do like like stone. It comes down to a personal preference. Re: Why not laminate? 26Mar 09, 2011 8:53 pm I posted something similar a few days ago. We are building a 500k+ home and I have gone for laminate! My kitchen is a german kitchen with all the bells and whistles and I just loved the look with the laminate. The stone looked dumb. Sorry for poor use of language - only way to aptly describe. I was also keen to move away from what everyone else was having so this has really allowed me to do it. Also not a fan of the 'resale' saga. If someone loves your home, they will buy it regardless of stone or laminate, because the chances are you arent going to sell it in the short term when stone is still 'in'. My premise for builing this house has always been form and function. For me laminate ticks my boxes and I have a pretty amazing kitchen. To put it in perspective our kitchen is about 30k before appliances so it is a pretty flash kitchen with a laminate benchtop ... and I dont care!!!!!!! Re: Why not laminate? 27Mar 09, 2011 11:08 pm kayandandy To put it in perspective our kitchen is about 30k before appliances so it is a pretty flash kitchen with a laminate benchtop ... and I dont care!!!!!!! Exactly same view point as mine - I don't care what other people think of my kitchen because I am the one that has to cook in it, not them. We always have our reasons for choosing what we do. Re: Why not laminate? 28Mar 10, 2011 5:43 am kayandandy I posted something similar a few days ago. We are building a 500k+ home and I have gone for laminate! My kitchen is a german kitchen with all the bells and whistles and I just loved the look with the laminate. The stone looked dumb. Sorry for poor use of language - only way to aptly describe. I was also keen to move away from what everyone else was having so this has really allowed me to do it. Also not a fan of the 'resale' saga. If someone loves your home, they will buy it regardless of stone or laminate, because the chances are you arent going to sell it in the short term when stone is still 'in'. My premise for builing this house has always been form and function. For me laminate ticks my boxes and I have a pretty amazing kitchen. To put it in perspective our kitchen is about 30k before appliances so it is a pretty flash kitchen with a laminate benchtop ... and I dont care!!!!!!! I'd love to see this kitchen...do you have any pics yet? Thanks Janice Re: Why not laminate? 29Mar 10, 2011 4:03 pm Quote: same could be said with softclose drawers & doors, over counter LED lights,pullout pantry mechs, and European appliances. so, in a word, yes, i do think stone represents a higher class of finish over laminate, and i think its held in higher regard when the selling price of said house. Kitchens sell houses, simple as that. So then should we all be doing stone benches, soft close drawers, Euro appliances...just for resale? See I don't think a kitchen sells a house. I think things you CAN'T change sell a house. Our house is in a cul de sac, walk to school, biggish block. No one can change those things. Your granite colour might be hated by someone looking when you go to sell! Given we have an 1980s house there is no definitive character as such to guide us so we can go either way. Thanks! Re: Why not laminate? 30Mar 10, 2011 4:58 pm star-anise Quote: same could be said with softclose drawers & doors, over counter LED lights,pullout pantry mechs, and European appliances. so, in a word, yes, i do think stone represents a higher class of finish over laminate, and i think its held in higher regard when the selling price of said house. Kitchens sell houses, simple as that. So then should we all be doing stone benches, soft close drawers, Euro appliances...just for resale? See I don't think a kitchen sells a house. I think things you CAN'T change sell a house. Our house is in a cul de sac, walk to school, biggish block. No one can change those things. Your granite colour might be hated by someone looking when you go to sell! Given we have an 1980s house there is no definitive character as such to guide us so we can go either way. Thanks! I wonder if real estate agents realise making statements within advertising such as, "Granite kitchen & Euro appliances" for homes in more upmarket areas may make no difference to the selling price. It is quite common in advertising to see kitchen finishes specified - it may attract some potential buyers and not others. Must speak to my r/e friend about that next time I see her. Maybe it's also a case of not what you use, but how you use it. I am happy with stone benches but I think it is far too much to have it as a splashback too. Some laminates seems luxurious as opposed to others that just look cheap due to the their colour/patterning/finish. It is all about how it comes together. Re: Why not laminate? 31Mar 10, 2011 5:03 pm I remember reading somewhere that one of the top things on a lot of people's list of things to change when they buy a house that has been lived in is the kitchen. Units might be a bit different as people tend to have a slightly different mindset regarding renovations, especially the nice new ones that are proliferating all over Queensland, particularly the many of those heading for the investment market. As S-A says, the qualities in a house that people tend to look at are the amenities of the location and the potential for modification. If I were in the market for a house I know I wouldn't care about the paint colour, the carpet, the kitchen or the landscaping. I believe that laminate is incredibly versatile, durable, appropriate for purpose and excellent value for money. Engineered and natural stone can definitely add a sense of perceived quality/value and has it's own tactile and aesthetic appeal. If I were specifying a new kitchen for myself I would choose neither but I have said all that before. Cheers, Earl That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 17888 Hi All, I just wanted to close this topic out with an update. So we ended up agreeing to a number with the insurance company, and after an extensive amount of hand… 8 23405 A Sabco spin mop, minimal moisture, not very regularly. I was told these hybrids are water resistant 🤷♀️ 2 7644 |