~ Wilsonart Targets the Kitchen Trends to Watch in 2004 ~

TEMPLE, Texas, Jan. 14, 2004 - Known for creating and bringing life to the most beautifully designed kitchens, top kitchen designers may be partial to one style or another, but they undoubtedly have the pulse on what is happening design-wise in the kitchen. Leading laminate manufacturer Wilsonart International interviewed the following four designers to reveal the latest trends and discover what really is cooking in the kitchen:

The Hidden Kitchen. According to Mark White, Kitchen Encounters, Annapolis, Md., the hidden kitchen is a new trend in decorating. After a decade or more of kitchens boasting flashy stainless-steel appliances, designers today are embracing the opposite -- the hidden kitchen. The latest style is to make kitchens resemble rooms such as libraries, complete with paneling and paintings to cover appliances. Having top-of-the-line appliances is still very important to consumers, but now they are being displayed in more subtle ways, such as adding laminate panels to the front of appliances.

“Using a laminate finish on appliances and walls creates a smooth sheen and adds convenience instantly,” White explains. Aside from helping appliances blend in with the décor, laminate panels also give kitchens an immediate facelift. They are great for those who cannot afford new appliances and keep a room looking new longer.”

Less is More. If there is one thing Christopher Peacock, Christopher Peacock Cabinetry, Greenwich, Conn., Chicago and Palm Beach, Fla., sees as a strong trend in kitchen design for 2004 it is “less is more.” “Removing clutter from the kitchen area and maximizing space is key,” he explains. To accomplish this, Peacock points out that more and more architects and developers are utilizing islands in kitchens to achieve this end.

On the color front, Peacock exclusively uses shades from either ends of the spectrum while avoiding those hues in the center. “Stay light or dark, but nothing in the middle ranges should be used, as it dulls the effect,” he says. To achieve this look, Wilsonart offers two patterns from its recently launched Topaz line, which replicates engineered stone. They are Kalahari Topaz, which features a mix of light and dark beiges to create a neutral pattern with depth and dimension, and Smoky Topaz, which consists of a dark and sumptuous charcoal gray with chocolate brown accents.

Mix up Metal. Known for his use of stainless steel, Yves-Claude of Yves-Claude Design in New York City offers some new ways to use this material for 2004. According to him, mixing stainless steel with marble and concrete is a growing trend in the kitchens he designs, and he sees metallic laminates being used as a replacement for stainless steel as well. “Metallic laminate is great for backsplashes and other surfaces that you want to retain. “You still get the look of stainless steel but laminates are flexible and can be installed on a curve, where as stainless steel cannot because it tends to pop,” he explains.

“I am a metal guy,” says Yves-Claude, but not everyone can afford stainless steel. “At one-third the price, metallic laminates can be used and also offer many benefits,” he says. They are easier to cut and don't require welding like steel. In addition, laminate adheres easily to surfaces, which leads to better application. Wilsonart has applied its cutting-edge laminate technology to creating Aluma, a new addition to its METALAMINATES line of metallic foil-faced laminates that combine metal and laminate in one product. Aluma provides the much sought-after stainless steel look in a laminate pattern, and is ideal for vertical applications, such as backsplashes. The METALAMINATES Collection includes seven other cool metallic looks.

Where the Heart Is. “The kitchen is the new family room,” says Nancy Mullan of NMD Kitchens Inc. in New York City, “and it is important for the design to reflect that.” Homeowners are doing laundry, feeding pets, working on crafts, entertaining kids with television and cooking all at the same time in this multi-purpose room.

Laminates are typically used on countertops and backsplashes, but now they are covering other surfaces in and around the kitchen, such as craft tables and walls. Expanding the room and making it appropriate is the difficult task at hand for many. The multi-purpose usage can be achieved by changing the surfaces rather than the style. Mullan states, “Synthetics, such as laminates, are a great solution.”

Wilsonart International, based in Temple, Texas, is a leading manufacturer of decorative surfacing products, including Wilsonart® Laminate. The company's laminate was a nominee in the 2004 Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum's National Design Awards.

For more information about Wilsonart Laminate or any Wilsonart product, please call the Customer Service Hotline at 800-433-3222, or visit the Wilsonart Web site at wilsonart.com.

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	Kalahari Topaz - 4588-7