Terrazzo is the Beyoncé of surfaces: It's mesmerizing, it's strong, it's one-of-a-kind, and we all want to be near it. Also similar to Beyoncé, terrazzo is completely out of reach for most of us. Why?

Countertops made of laminate serve up a variety of colors and patterns that mimic the look of more expensive surfaces such as stone, concrete or metal. “Today’s laminate countertops aren’t your ...

Middle America breathed a sigh of relief this month when the Formica Corp., makers of the plastic laminate countertops that graced millions of American kitchens in the 1950s and ’60s, promised to ...