In planning a new kitchen or bath, there are hundreds of decisions to make. Often clients come to me just overwhelmed with all the choices and options available. Cool websites like houzz.com can be great to narrow down likes and dislikes, but it can also become quickly overwhelming. There are truly millions of photos and ideas to sort through.

One small area I want to highlight is countertops. The typical choices for residential countertops are laminate, granite, marble, quartz (slab), tile, cement and wood. Each have their pros and cons but for now I want to focus on quartz and a new product which falls between tile and slab material.

Beyond Surfaces Distribution is a division of Stone Age Marble & Granite at 345 John St. They have a fabulous new product to the industry called Neolith. It is a porcelain slab from Spain that is heat resistant, easy to clean, resistant to scratches and is made up of natural materials. It can be used for hundreds of applications and is both applicable for indoor or outdoor use.

I love the modern, clean look of it and can think of some very cool ways to apply it, especially since it can come in sheets up to 12-feet in length.

Colonial Countertops, 646 Alpha St., has served Victoria many years with the best selection of both laminate and hard surfaces for countertops. One in particular is Cambria. This material is a 93 per cent natural quartz mineral that is manufactured into a hard slab surface. There are more than 100 choices of Cambria available and quartz requires no maintenance, is easy to clean, is nonabsorbent, and nonporous.  When I want non-staining white countertop, this is where I go.

Remember, when you are overwhelmed with all the kitchen and bath choices – call for professional help. It can save you time, stress and money in the long run.

Sheri Peterson has been an interior designer for 22 years in Victoria. She designs for commercial, residential and hospitality clients.