A few months ago I noticed something new in our hardwood supplier's showroom. It was a large slab of rock with natural edges, very dramatic, about an inch and a half thick, and polished to a beautiful sheen. It was noticeable because one of the employees picked it up and moved it with considerable ease. If he hadn't, I would never have known that it was... plastic.
The product stands out from other solid surface materials because it does such a realistic imitation of natural rock and wood. Available in a wide array of colors and patterns, Mystera's company slogan is actually "Like Nature. Only Better." That's a pretty strong boast, but the product lives up to it. Like any other solid surface, it can be worked with standard woodshop cutters and equipment. The difference is in the appearance.
Made in the USA by Hudson Solid Surfaces in Catoosa, Oklahoma, Mystera comes in over forty different varieties. (To go directly to the Mystera site and see larger pictures, click on any image on this page.)

Burl Accents
From a woodworker's point of view, there are four colors that will immediately grab your attention. These are the Designer Woods colors, and they replicate wood burls.
"These let a cabinetmaker add the look of natural wood accents to wet areas such as showers and tub surrounds," says Curtis Turner, executive VP of Hudson Surfaces. "Or, you can use one as a border on a countertop". Turner recommends including the four colors as accent pieces, or on surfaces that receive less traffic. They come in 1/4", 1/2" and 2cm (strong 3/4") thickness, and in a wide variety of sheet sizes. Easy to clean and maintain, the Designer Woods can be renewed for a lifetime of enjoyment.
The colors are, clockwise fromtop left, cameroon, cognac, espresso and mahogany.

Terrascape
There has been a huge swing away from plastic laminate and monochromatic (one color) or flecked solid surface materials in the past few years. More and more commercial and residential casework customers are demanding the luxurious and enduring look of natural stone or marble, and especially granite, in countertops, vanities, desktops, bars and shelving. Every cabinet built in a woodshop requires a top, and the market is telling builders that the natural look is in. The Mystera Terrascape line (at left and below) delivers that look.

Vanities
Mystera also allows shops to integrate sinks, which can be a very tricky thing to do with natural stone. The company also offers 2cm thick vanity tops (no need for a build-up) in over forty colors, each with the look of natural stone. Six of these colors, selected by designers, are in stock and available right away, in sizes that fit most standard vanity cabinets (up to 22" deep and 80" long). The veining pattern runs all the way through the material.

Mystera is non-porous, carries a class I fire rating, resists chemicals, stains, mold and bacteria, and is easy to clean and repair.

For more information, contact the company...

Hudson Solid Surfaces
1120 Main Parkway
Catoosa, OK 74015
Phone: 918-280-2700
Fax:918-280-2701
Toll Free Phone: 1-866-394-8037
Toll Free Fax :1-866-394-5549
E-mail