What's Hot and What's Not

Actually, concrete counters are gorgeous.  Very sleek and contemporary.  But, I've heard many times that they tend to crack.  And, they're expensive, as not many people have the skills to install them.

I believe you can seal limestone, marble and cement counters, similar to how you seal granite.  Marble counters in the kitchen are great for baking.  I've often seen high-end kitchens with one marble counter area just for baking.

I, too, had recently heard from an appraiser that granite counters are no longer in vogue.  I don't believe it.  Every buyer I've ever had has gotten excited when they saw a kitchen had granite counters - it's still seen as modern, as a status symbol, and as an expense they won't need to add in later during a remodel...

Donna - I knew you were going to ask me questions that I didn't have the answers for!

I did some quick online research:  Yes, limestone counters can be sealed.  They're natural stone, so they're sealed similarly to granite and marble.  According to this site, there are different varieties of limestone and some are less porous then others, making them suitable for kitchen countertops.

As for marble countertops, I didn't find this online, but they tend to stay cold, so when your making a pie crust or any pastry, the cold countertop doesn't melt the butter in the dough.  That's why sometimes, in real high-end kitchens, you'll see a section of countertop that is marble, just for baking.

I've been seeing granite in bathrooms for a while now, for both floors and counters.  It does add a bit of elegance to the bathrooms.

Silestone is supposed ot be a good option instead of granite these days.  I think it looks great, but in general, I find that buyers still want granite.

As for Renee's comment above:  large houses with lots of storage.  I love it!  We're looking at options to finish our basement, but without giving up the storage!  Maybe it's because I have three kids with lots of "stuff" but large rooms with lots of storage is great.  The problem is instead of getting rid of stuff, it somehow manages to spread out more and more...

Renee - No offense taken at all. I was just admitting that I am one of those who was always seeking the bigger house...more storage...bigger rooms, etc.  I'm finally in a house that I can see us potentially staying in for the long term.  Though we're already talking about finishing the basement, converting the two-car garage into living space and adding a 3-car garage, expanding the kitchen, etc. I need to win the lottery!

Unfortunately, no matter what size house you have, the "stuff" seems to spread out.  It is a constant battle to avoid clutter.  But my formal living and dining rooms always look good!  (Yes - I keep the kids out of them!)