COUNTER INTUITIVE

Endless options for stone, tile, granite and more

If you are baffled about what counter top material to select for your kitchen, here are a few helpful tips. There is no shortage of choices. Choosing a material that suits your lifestyle as well as your aesthetic and budget, makes sense and takes some consideration before taking the plunge. If you have a houseful of kids or precious glasses that could break easily on a countertop, consider your choices wisely. Check with the experts—they know best — since chances are you may be living with your new countertop for a long, long time.

Choosing A Material: Natural surfaces

Granite, Quartzite or Soapstone?

Granite, which comes in a variety of shades, is a top choice for many homeowners.

Most people are still using solid surface for kitchen counters—leather or honed finish in granite is very popular. Be prepared to make your selection based on grading, patterns, colors and thickness. Slab prices can range from $25 to $1,000 a square foot, depending on the stone. You can polish stone to a high sheen or go for matte soapstone in jade green, but be prepared to maintain any natural stone.

Manmade stone surfaces

CaeserStone is an engineered manmade surface made of quartz used for countertops. Cambria is more durable than granite and also manmade.

Endless Possibilities with Tile

Tile is durable, stain and heat resistant which makes great surface for a kitchen.

There are endless options, colors and even patterns available in porcelain tile, including porcelain tiles that look like Carrera marble. From traditional to contemporary styles, Italian and Spanish styles remain popular in Santa Barbara.

Gina Flint, VP of sales and marketing at TileCo notes that exciting new technology developed in Italy has created large format porcelain tiles. Homeowners usually think of 24” x 24” tiles, but now come in huge 3’ x 5 ‘ pieces which can be cut and bull nosed like a stone slab.

“These tiles are durable, non porous and require no maintenance,” noted Gina, adding, that, “If you still want smaller tiles that require grout, there is new stain resistant grout. If tile is installed correctly it will last forever!”

Concrete

This is a popular but difficult to install option and surfaces can be smooth (by trowel), ground (sanded) or pressed, which reveals a veining pattern. Concrete can crack and stain.

Butcher block

This might be best for a section of your countertop rather than the entire surface, as butcher block does require maintenance. Butcher-block not only provides a great look—but is practical and handy for serious, knife wielding chefs!

Steel

Love the look, but maybe not the upkeep or cost. This industrial-strength surface provides a sleek finish in modern kitchens. It’s easy to clean with soap and water, and it takes hot pans, no problem. But stainless steel can scratch and dent, so don’t cut your veggies on stainless.

—Andrea Blandino