COUNTERTOPS

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COUNTERTOPS


Written by smith
Sunday, 11 January 2009

COUNTERTOPS OF YOUR KITCHEN.

Chop on it, knead on it, serve from it: you ask a lot, every day, of your kitchen countertop. No one material is best for all purposes, but each of the six described below looks distinctive and has specific advantages.
What are your choices
Any one of these six surfaces can be installed throughout your kitchen. But you might want to consider a combination, placing heat resistant materials near the stove, easy cleanup surfaces near the sink, a cool stone insert where it's handy for dough preparation.
The problem is that you prob?ably won't find all the materials in the same place. Some dealers with showrooms are listed in the yellow pages under Kitchen Cabinets &Equipment; they'll probably have tile, plastic laminate, solid surface, and maybe wood. Larger building supply centers and lumberyards usually carry plastic laminate and wood. For the appropriate dealer or fabricator, check listings in the categories Marble Natural, Plastics, Restaurant Equipment, Sheet Metal Work, and Tile. Kitchen designers, interior designers, and architects can also supply samples of countertop materials.

What experts say
The chefs, designers, and architects we spoke with did not agree on any single surface.
Chefs preferred stainless steel, granite, marble, or if it could be kept sanitary—wood. Designers and architects agreed with them, to a point. Restaurant kitchens are decidedly different in three ways: they aren't designed to be aesthetically pleasing; they put far greater demands on each work surface; and they're not usually places to economize, given the need for extreme durability.
Residential designers take a more realistic approach. Although homeowners might jump at the prospect of granite countertops, the cost is prohibitive for many. But, as one dealer told us, "You can combine materials to make a little piece of a really choice one go a long way perhaps spend a lot on a small section of marble, but make up for it with a large section of less expensive laminate and still get the benefits of both surfaces."

Backsplash fever
These days, countertops aren't the only area where designers are making a fashion statement; the back splash the wall surface between the countertop proper and the wall cabinets overhead—is now artistically in vogue as well. (This area usually stretches for about 18 vertical inches—from 36 to about 54 inches from the floor.) The wall behind a freestanding range or cooktop is an?other model for design; there's usu?ally more room there for a special statement. A good backsplash also has a practical side: if properly in?stalled, it seals this vulnerable area from moisture penetration, and it makes the wall a lot easier to keep clean.
Just a few years ago, the average countertop, usually laminate, included a 4-inch lip on the back. Today's higher backsplashes, how- ever, often feature materials that are found there alone. Geometric tile pat?terns and handpainted accent tiles are favorite choices. Stone tiles are an economical alternative to solid granite or marble (for visual spark, try laying these 8- or 12-inch squares on the diagonal). Even stainless steel and mirrored surfaces are showing up in high-tech surroundings. Under-cabinet strip lights can add drama, too.
Need more inspiration? The photos in Chapter 2 present a wide variety of backsplash treatments.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 February 2009 )

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