Tips When Choosing a Kitchen Counter
If you're revamping your kitchen to bring it up to date, you'll need to choose a new countertop. To help you narrow your choices and end up with the perfect option, consider the following tips.
Organic Materials
A trend in both home and workplace design is to connect with nature. One approach to this trend is to bring organic materials inside. For example, you could install a granite, marble or timber counter in your kitchen. Natural stone displays varying colours, streaks, and patterns that arise from the minerals swirling around the rock over countless years. Similarly, a timber benchtop shows interweaving grains and knots that vary between each slab. Organic counters are different from manufactured ones that have more uniform and consistent tones and patterns without the same natural connection.
Contrast Countertops
You might assume that you need to install the same countertop material throughout the entire kitchen. However, if you have a kitchen island, you can fit a contrasting benchtop to add visual interest. You can also use this strategy to stay within budget. For example, install an exclusive granite counter on the kitchen island, and fit laminate benches around the room's periphery. Thus, you'll have a stunning centrepiece of rock and save money.
Additionally, this approach allows you to bring nature inside in a limited fashion. Contrasting two materials also adds visual interest. For example, you can contrast warm brown timber against black stone or white laminate against dark wood. The combinations are endless.
Upkeep
When choosing your counter, consider its upkeep also. While natural stone is tough and long-lasting, it requires regular sealing. Rock is covered in tiny pores, and sealants help block the holes and prevent them from taking on stains. Timber similarly requires periodic oiling or sealing. On the other hand, counters such as laminate and engineered stone don't need this treatment. In fact, combining materials between the kitchen island and other benches provides a way to balance upkeep. For example, if only the kitchen island features timber or stone, the sealing process will be quicker and easier as it only covers a small area.
Thus, when choosing kitchen benchtops, consider bringing organic substances such as wood and rock into the design to connect to nature. You can play with different materials when installing counters on a kitchen island and other areas, contrasting two diverse elements. Doing so will help you to save money and increase visual interest. And don't forget to factor in ongoing maintenance when choosing the counters.