The Options For Kitchen Countertops Are Endless

The options for kitchen countertops

are endless

By Rachael Hanel | Submitted photos

Kitchen countertops are one product that can make a home truly unique. Today more than ever, consumers have an endless array of choices. Whether you go with what’s trending or opt for something different, keeping in mind the following can help winnow down the choices: trends, options, logistics and budget.

What’s Hot Right Now

Homeowners may opt to let latest trends in countertops guide their decisions. All-white kitchens have been trending for a while. Melinda Garry of Elegant Creations in Waseca jokingly calls it the “Pinterest kitchen.” Summer Kath, executive vice president of design at Cambria, based in Le Sueur, also sees a lot of all-white kitchens. She’s been with Cambria 19 of its 21 years and when she first started, dark countertops were the popular choice. While she doesn’t think white is going away anytime soon, she is seeing a shift to warmer whites, such as marble and ivory.

“In 2020 we started to see the whites warm up,” Kath says. “Warm and cool together are very popular in countertops.” The cool complements the warmer tones of natural cabinetry, which is also trending in popularity.

Garry says customers often opt for a two-color scheme. The kitchen island may have veining, while the rest of the countertops are a solid color. A white quartz with grey veining is their top seller at Elegant Creations.

Another popular option is a splash of boldness amidst a white. For example, a marbled countertop may have some veins of navy blue.

“With white cabinets, people are more accepting of bold marble design,” Kath says.

Kath says she sees darker options making a comeback. In fact, Cambria’s best-seller in 2020 was Charlestown, a darker charcoal gray quartz.

Matte finishes are also increasingly popular options. Kath cited a recent industry survey that indicated almost half of customers are choosing matte over glossy.

Bold veining has been trending in popularity. (Photo provided by Cambria)

Advances in technology have made the matte look possible with quartz. Heather Buisman, interior designer at The Design Element in Mankato, says she is seeing more people choose the matte finish.

So Many Options

Consumers have many options when it comes to countertops: quartz, granite or another natural product, laminate and wood.

“Quartz has really seen a surge in popularity in the last few years as homeowners are looking for a maintenance-free product,” Buisman says.

Quartz also is a natural product, but components such as resin and color are added during the manufacturing process. This allows the product to be non-porous and resistant to stains and scratching, as opposed to other natural materials. Granite or other natural stone requires maintenance.

Garry says granite is the most popular choice at Elegant Creations. Since granite can stain or get damaged, Garry recommends using trivets under pots and pans. Granite also should be sealed yearly. Garry says that process is easy and can be done in 30 minutes for a typical kitchen.

Natural materials tend to be porous, which can make sanitation challenging.

“In 2020, sanitization became really important,” Kath says. Marble and granite, for example, can’t tolerate bleach, but quartz countertops can.

Jesseah Martin of Top Shop in Mankato says that quartz is a popular option among customers, as well as granite. “These two materials offer great durability in homes,” she says.

Manufacturing advances in the

All-white kitchens have been popular the past few years. (Photo provided by Cambria)

past few years have made quartz more aesthetically pleasing and more varieties are now offered.

For many years, quartz was more granular, resulting in a speckling effect. But now during manufacturing, the material is crushed into a finer product, which can produce a variety of effects.

“That really makes it so much more interesting,” Buisman says.

Buisman also sees people choosing wood countertops as accents.

Considerations When Choosing

One thing customers need to consider is what may be involved beyond just the countertops, Martin says.

“To stay on budget, we recommend getting costs for all add-ons before starting,” she says. These can include the sink, faucets, backsplash, plumbing and getting a quote for removal of existing countertops.

Garry suggests this order when doing a complete remodel: choose cabinets, then countertops, then flooring, then backsplash.

“Generally people want their countertop to be the focal point of their kitchen, and working around that idea tends to be less daunting than trying to make a countertop fit with a certain flooring or tile they have already purchased,” Garry says.

She advises customers who are getting new cabinets wait to finalize that purchase until after they get a countertop quote.

“Some cabinet makers are more aware of layouts that minimize waste and also consider the standard length of slabs to help minimize the need for seams in the countertop,” Garry says.

Almost certainly new countertops will require a new sink and faucet.

“If you are updating countertops, you don’t want to use an old beat-up sink,” Kath says.

When it comes to installation, homeowners need to contact a plumber first to disconnect the kitchen piping. If you’re replacing old countertops, hire someone to take them out. The installers will put in the new countertop and mount the sink. Then the plumber needs to return to hook up the pipes again. Meanwhile, customers need to decide on the backsplash. Buisman says tile is a popular option and can recommend professional tile installers.

“To stay on budget, we recommend getting costs for all add-ons before starting,” she says. These can include the sink, faucets, backsplash, plumbing and getting a quote for removal of existing countertops.

Charlestown was Cambria’s best-seller in 2020. (Photo provided by Cambria)

Working With A Budget

Each type of countertop comes with different price points, so consumers on a budget can find something affordable no matter the type of countertop.

Garry says customers often say, “Wow, I thought it was going to be a lot more expensive.”

“We encourage customers to get quotes on all options, rather than just assuming that it is not within their means,” Garry says.

Design experts are familiar with the industry and can provide helpful guidance.

“The nice thing about working with a professional is that we can steer a customer to different brands and companies depending on their needs,” Buisman says.

You can find lower-cost options almost anywhere, but as with anything, it’s buyer beware.

“With really inexpensive granite, you get what you pay for,” Kath says. You will want to research the company and where the countertops were produced.

“Less expensive usually means lesser-grade stone. It’s not going to perform as well, it may stain and have other issues,” Kath says.

She compares it to a fashion budget. If you’re going to invest in one thing, you may choose to buy a nice pair of shoes that you wear most often.

“Countertops get the most use,” Kath says. Cabinets can be quite expensive, but maybe you can cut back there by repainting them or changing out the pulls.

Garry also says that people can start small. Updating a small bathroom with remnants can make a huge difference in the look and resale value.

Laminate countertops are a good option for people looking to save money. Buisman says she sees customers also choosing laminate for secondary areas, such as laundry rooms.

Even if you know you can only afford to upgrade kitchen countertops at the moment, Kath suggests to have installers measure in other areas of the home such as bathrooms or a bar area. That way, you can budget for the future. Or you may be surprised to find that adding countertops may not be as expensive as you thought.

In the end, countertop updates are an investment that almost always will add value to the home.

Garry says that one product is not better than another. “It all comes down to the aesthetic you are trying to achieve,” she says.