Glistening Beauty

When you’re building a home that will be listed for over $1.8 million dollars, you want to make sure the materials in the home is first class. The fabulous new home Provident Builders constructed in The Palisades neighborhood for Charlotte’s HomeArama features many extras including an outdoor kitchen, suitable for even the most accomplished chef.

Many local residents know that HomeArama is an annual Charlotte event that showcases the latest in technology and design trends for the home and is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Charlotte. Some of the proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the Children’s Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center.

According to experts, the outdoor room is one of the most popular trends in home improvement. Provident Homes designed their outdoor kitchen to reflect this theme. The builder turned to Design Innovations and Dave Tatanish when deciding on a counter surface for the open-air kitchen. The clear choice was Zodiaq® by Dupont®.

Made from quartz, a common mineral found all over the world, the result is anything but common. Ground quartz is combined with a resin binder to create a product that is non-porous. “Most people can’t tell Zodiaq® from cut stone,” said Tatanish, owner of Design Innovations, whose company also offers granite countertops and Dupont® Corian® countertops.

The popularity of granite has soared in recent years, but the natural stone countertop is not without drawbacks. “Many people don’t like the variations in color of natural stone and the way the seams come together,” said Tatanish. “With a product like Zodiaq®, the color is true over the entire surface and the seams provide a tighter fit.” And because it is non porous, Zodiaq® does not require a sealer. Another attractive feature is the ten-year warranty offered by Dupont® against manufacturer’s defects.

Mike Moore, vice president of Provident Homes, likes Zodiaq® because it is a good combination of function and beauty. “Zodiaq® presents the homeowner with fewer long-term concerns since the surface never has to be resealed,” said Moore. He also likes the consistency of the color and of the fabrication. A Zodiaq® surface is heat and scratch resistant although not heat and scratch proof. Dupont® recommends the use of a cutting board when dicing vegetables or performing other kitchen tasks using a knife.

If you visit the Provident Builders home at HomeArama, you’ll also see Zodiaq® surfaces in the home’s bathrooms. The product comes in 26 colors with evocative names such as Cinnamon Spice, Copper Sunset, Cappuccino, Indus Red and Celestial Blue.

You can also see the Zodiaq® surface and the varied color selections at Charlotte’s Design Innovations. Their kitchen designers will be glad to help you decide what will work best in your home whether you plan a renovation to a kitchen or bath or need design ideas for a new home. Also visit www.zodiaq.com for answers to your questions on the Zodiaq® countertop.

Visit the showroom of Design Innovations at 8350-C Arrowridge Blvd., Monday through Friday from 7am – 5pm or by appointment on weekends. Contact the company at 704-598-1255 or visit them on the web at www.carolinacorian.com.