There are so, so, so many choices and things to consider when it comes to countertops, it is the number one thing that overwhelms people when starting a remodel but it is also one of the decisions I like to start with when designing. The first factor is budget, then application, then aesthetics. I am going to go over the pros and cons of each of the following items, starting at the lowest end of the budget and working our way up.
LAMINATE - What is often referred to as Formica. Formica is actually one of a number of manufacturers of laminate counters. I grew up with bright orange counters in our kitchen, am I giving away my age? Laminate has come along way since the 40’s when it was first introduced to the market. It now comes in thousands of color choices and is actually a pretty good product. It works in a plethora of locations, kitchen, bath, laundry, garage, office virtually anywhere. It lasts forever, is non-porous, and therefore does not retain bacteria and is easy, easy to install and repair, and it’s the most affordable. So, why don’t we all have it? It’s just not as sexy as the other options. There are other cons, it’s easy to damage, burns, knife marks, etc. Also, it does not increase the value of your home.
TILE - Whether ceramic or granite tile is an option and was very common before the introduction of laminate counters. Granite tile had a little moment in the ’90s when Granite slabs were making the rounds again but the slab did not fit into the budget. Personally, I’ve had both ceramic and granite tile and anyone who has ever had tile counters knows the headache of trying to keep the grout clean. Nights when I could not fall asleep I would tell myself, “if you’re still awake in 30 minutes you’re going to get up and scrub the grout” invariably I would drift right off to sleep. The pro’s, they don’t melt if you put a hot pan on them, that’s about all I can think of without having flashbacks.
GRANITE - Boy, granite slab counters were all the rage in the ’90s and early ’00s. Practically indestructible, you really have to bang on granite to get it to chip or crack, but drop a cast iron pan on the edge and it certainly will. It comes in a huge array of colors but is mostly known for its grainy appearance. It has fallen out of favor in the last 15 or so years since the big box stores started all carrying 10 or so most affordable stones. But I warn you, don’t give up on granite. It’s more affordable now than ever and given an updated finish, think honed or leathered, and staying away from the most commonly used stones it is still quite beautiful. I have a solid black, leathered granite on our bar and I love it, it’s very dramatic with the white cabinets and because it is not polished, it does not show fingerprints.
PORCELAIN SLAB - Not very common yet and while the product is reasonably priced, installation can be difficult to find and pricey. Apparently, it takes a special blade to cut through, meaning that it is very durable. What they do is actually scan real stone and “print” it on porcelain panels. They are perfect for a modern-looking kitchen or bath as they are so slim, giving a very sleek look. Check out the video at Bedrosians and see what you think.
SOLID SURFACE - Once known by its manufacturer Corrian and now known as Quartz, this is not a very popular opinion but it really is one of my least favorite products on the market. I’m a naturalist and Quartz just screams, man-made to me. It’s priced on the high end of affordable and is durable and for someone that wants the marble look without the maintenance or cost, it is an option. Personally, I would urge someone into looking at Porcelain Slab before jumping into Quartz.
CONCRETE - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE concrete, when it’s new. Concrete is probably better suited for a bathroom or laundry room rather than a kitchen as, while it is durable, it does stain and requires a lot of love. It also requires a great installer, you don’t want any cracks. But if you can embrace imperfection and you enjoy the look of a well-loved piece then put this beautiful material in your kitchen and watch evolve for years to come.
CONCRETE TERRAZZO - Oh this is a beautiful material in a variety of colors and choices, check-out https://www.concrete-collaborative.com/ to take a look. I am using it for a bathroom project I have coming up so keep an eye out on my Instagram or right here on my website for images.
SOAPSTONE - Used in high school science labs all across the country this is an indestructible material and when honed it just glows.
MARBLE - Absolutely beautiful!! Elegant and timeless right up until you stain or etch it. While remodeling our kitchen I considered marble (Lincoln marble, quarried right here in Colorado and used in the Lincoln Memorial) We are not big cooks and I’m rather fussy, certainly I could keep them looking good. Then I spoke with my Aunt, also a decorator but she has no kids, cooks even less than I do, and is even fussier! She etched her marble, UGH! Had a couple over for dinner, it got late, she decided to do the dishes in the morning. She woke up and one of the dishes had salad dressing on the bottom and there was a big, round, etch mark right in the center of her new marble counters. That’s when I decided to go with Quartzite.
QUARTZITE - Ahhh, the perfect material, other than cost. It looks like marble but acts like granite, the perfect marriage. But like any good trophy wife, she’s going to cost ya.