For the past decade, granite has been the creme de la creme in the realm of kitchen counter tops. Is it going to continue to dominate kitchens in 2017? Not necessarily, say designers and consumer advocates like Consumer Reports Magazine.

Your kitchen counter tops not only lend a distinctive look to your kitchen, they also arguably receive the most abuse since they’re used day in and day out for food preparation. Toughness and durability are key, since they need to stand up to chopping, cutting, hot pans, and more. Here are the materials designers say can take the abuse — the materials that will be the most popular kitchen counter tops in 2017 and beyond:

Choosing tile for your shower isn’t as straight-forward as you might think. Some considerations are slip-resistance, the shape of the shower (curved versus straight lines), and even the mineral content of your water.

Making the right tile choices for your shower definitely requires a little forethought and planning. Consider the following when making your decision:

Slip Resistance

Mosaic tiles have lots of grout lines, meaning it’s more slip resistant than many larger-scale tiles. If you prefer a large-scale tile, look for one with a good slip-resistance rating — an A or a B rating is preferable. Bear in mind, too, that if you’re using glass or a sheet-type mosaic tile, it’s up to the manufacturer or retailer to let you know if the tile is acceptable for submersion.