Layer-on the durability with Wilsonart's new Quartz and Solid Surfaces

Leading high-pressure laminates producer Wilsonart has debuted the Quartz and Solid Surface lines, adding to it’s already impressive and varied gamut of composite material products that are used in furniture, office and retail spaces; as countertops, worktops, and other applications. Stain-resistant, non-porous, and food-safe, these two new highly-engineered collections champion durability but don’t skimp on aesthetic quality. Both Quartz and Solid Surface solutions come in a wide selection of finishes, many of which evoke natural materials, specific landscapes, and other wellness trend-driven sources of inspiration.

a spoon with powder on a laminate surface — Grey Moonstone from Wilsonart’s new Solid Surfaces collection (Courtesy Wilsonart)

a casserole, cutting board, basil, and kitchen cloth on a quartz surface — Upper Wolfjaw from Wilsonart’s new Quartz collection. (Courtesy Wilsonart)

The Quartz collection exudes a sense of serenity with six white-to-dark variants that form the perfect backdrop canvases for any high-traffic residential or commercial interior. Developed from a similar source of inspiration, the Solid Surfaces collection comprises 10 neutral-toned iterations, some of which are translucent. This series is constructed with a sense of dynamic depth that entices the user to engage with the material in both a visual and tactile way.

Ceramic and wooden bowls, a bundle of flower, wooden sticks, and crystals laid out on a solid surface — Peace Grey from Wilsonart’s new Solid Surface collection. (Courtesy Wilsonart)

food in a bowl, sauce in a bowl, a spoon, a salt and pepper dish, all placed on a quartz surface — Grayton Beach from Wilsonart’s new Quartz collection. (Wilsonart)

While visiting Wilsonart’s central Texas production facility earlier this summer, The Architect’s Newspaper had to chance to visit the historic Wilson House. The 1950s-era, amoebic modernist ranch-style home was designed and built by the company’s founder Ralph Wilson in 1959, to serve as both his private residence and as a “test-kitchen” show house. Throughout the years, Wilson covered the home in different grades of laminate surfaces to demonstrate the composite material’s flexibility and adaptability.

different color laminate surfaces cover an island kitchen — The listed Wilson House once served as both the residence of Wilsonart’s founder Ralph Wilson and as the high-pressure laminates brand’s show house. (Courtesy Wilsonart)

The interiors of the Wilson House feature extensive use of decorative laminates in innovative applications, most of which had never before been seen in the home. The kitchen countertops reveal some of the earliest work in post-forming, a process in which laminate is bent and wrapped to form continuous curves from the top to the side edge of the counter. Other applications include laminate-clad built-in cabinetry in the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, and even within the home’s showers. In 1998, the Wilson House was awarded National Landmark status by the Texas Historical Commission and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a significant architectural structure.