This book is your own personal showroom, where you will discover today's cutting-edge and most popular surfacing materials for countertops, including glass, concrete, ceramics, laminates, repurposed materials, stones, metals, and wood. Over 390 beautiful color images display these materials in countertops that will fire your imagination. Discover innovative countertop features, such as optics embedded in concrete, backlighting semi-precious gemstones, unusual textures, and surprising glass colors. The informative text provides the pros and cons of employing each material to ensure you approach your project with all the facts. This book is vital to all who wish to redecorate, and for designers looking to stay current with trends they will enjoy. AUTHOR: Mary Anne Piccirillo studies design trends, decorative techniques, and building supplies as part of her career in public relations. She has written articles for a number of trade magazines, consumer publications, and newspapers over the years. SELLING POINTS: ? Practical discussion of material attributes, including concrete, glass, metals, ceramics, and stone ? Over 300 images of countertops in different materials ? Pictorial dictionary of counter edge profiles ILLUSTRATIONS 396 colour photographs