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by Lauren Busser The House Designers’ Editorial Director
Your kitchen is the room you use most in your house and that means your countertop is probably one of the most heavily used surfaces. It goes without saying that your countertop should be tough! It should stand up to chopping, slicing, pounding and general abuse over time. When you are selecting your countertop you want it to compliment the appliances and cabinets that you have selected but you might also look at choices that stand out to become a focal point of your kitchen.
Wood countertops are a trend that is coming back into fashion. Butcher block countertops offer a timeless and classic look that is warm and inviting. They look perfectly at home in any style kitchen and make the perfect complement to a farmhouse sink. Because of their soft surface butcher block countertops should be sealed and oiled once a month in order to make everyday cleanup a breeze.
Gaining popularity in kitchen design you’ll find concrete countertops. You may think of concrete as a material best suited to bridges and roadways, but concrete can also work great as a countertop. The benefits of concrete countertops include strength, style, and a timeless appearance. You can buy countertops made of poured concrete, but they need to be sealed well and seal coats need to be renewed periodically in order to resist staining. Once a concrete countertop is sealed, it has an appearance that improves with age.
In line with the appearance of concrete are recycled glass countertops. Companies are using recycled glass from old bottles and mixing them with concrete to create beautiful and unique surfaces that quickly become your kitchen’s focal point. Recycled glass countertops are easy to care for and last a lifetime. Plus if you buy from a company such as IceStone® you don’t just get a product that recycles materials but is also manufactures in a sustainable way.
Metal is another countertop option that is slowly making itself known in the home kitchen design industry. Just like how your appliances have gone stainless, the countertops are starting to take on the same sheen. If you don’t want to go for a bright stainless steel then you might find pewter to be more to your liking. Pewter is an alloy made up of several metals that results in a more muted gray color allowing it to transition between many different styles of décor.
Quartz is yet another surface that has seen a rise in popularity. Quartz and granite surfaces have been going head to head in the kitchen industry for years but quartz continues to gain popularity since it's easy to maintain and rates a seven out of ten on the hardness scale. (The only thing that rates a ten on this scale is diamonds.) Quartz is not only easy to maintain, needing only a wipe with a damp cloth or paper towel, but the lack overt patterning allows it to fit seamlessly into an existing plan. The array of color options also means that you can use your countertop as the perfect place to add a pop of color into your décor.
Finding the perfect kitchen countertop can be fun and the number of new choices out there means that you can be sure to get a kitchen countertop that exactly fits your personality and style. Whether you want something that fits into your modern kitchen or you want the welcoming farmhouse feel, these countertop trends can fit any décor.