#Five Ideas For Kitchen Countertops

The kitchen is the centerpiece to any home. It’s where you cook, eat, relax and entertain. There are two important things to keep in mind when selecting your countertop for this busy space: It must meet the functional needs and compliment the d cor and cabinetry. Knowing how the material will suit your taste and lifestyle is key to narrowing down the variety of choices available. Here are some ideas on how to begin the selection process.

1. Think Tile

Custom tile hand crafted by an artisan is a great choice if you’re looking for unusual color hues and textures, which will give your space a unique character. Consider using different size formats of the tile, which will add an interesting appearance, and reflect a little more personal style.

2. Go “Green”

This countertop is Caesarstone 2003 Concrete.

Concrete is a natural, environmentally-friendly material that can be colored and textured. It’s versatile, and allows for a lot of flexibility with the design. If this modern look is not for you, there are concrete counters that are made to look like real wood which helps to add a different dimension to the kitchen.

3. User Friendly

Engineered quartz countertops are a great, straightforward option. The material is manufactured by mixing 95 percent ground natural material quartz with polymer resins. The resulting material is non-porous, stain, scratch and heat resistant—perfect for a kitchen that gets a lot of traffic. Engineered quartz countertops are available in variety of colors and textures, which can enhance any design direction, whether classic or contemporary.

4. White is the New Black

For a contemporary feeling, crystal white engineered non-porous slabs are the perfect solution. This pure white material resembles white thassos, a natural stone, by the appearance of its crystal formation, but without the high maintenance.

5. Back to the Stone Age

The countertop is a honed marble with wood island. Design by Clive Christian.

The beauty of natural stone can enhance any kitchen environment. Slate, granite, marble and soapstone all have specific properties that may be more suitable for certain kitchen applications, as some stones require more upkeep than other counter materials. Natural stones enhance the beauty of any environment, which gives the kitchen a refined appearance.

For over 20 years Anna Marie Fanelli has designed homes for the most discriminating clients in New Jersey and beyond as co-owner and designer at Floor D cor in Tenafly, NJ, which offers tile, stone, plumbing, cabinetry, hardware, lighting, and more for both new construction and renovation projects. Fanelli’s award-winning talent has been showcased locally, nationally and internationally and has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Newsday, and in numerous consumer and design-industry magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens.