Last week we covered the pros and cons of beautiful stone countertop options for busy families. Here's the link in case you missed it Let's Talk Kitchen Countertops . This week I want to talk about some non stone options that can look great and cover a wide variety of price points. One important design tip to remember is that you can mix and match countertops in your kitchen as long as they blend and work together. Islands, wet bars and butler pantries are great places to use different countertops while keeping the kitchen perimeter all the same.
Concrete countertops are made from rock, sand, fly ash and cement binder. They can be mixed into many different colors, stains and textures for a custom look. Today's concrete is lighter in weight and often has polymers mixed in to prevent staining and cracking. Some manufacturers add bacteria and stain proof polymers as well. Concrete countertops are porous and must be sealed with periodic sealing to maintain its appearance over time. Typical cost is $75-$175 per square foot installed. This is an indestructible family countertop! The only drawback is they are cool to the touch if you have little ones propped up.
Stainless Steel is a the material of choice for commercial kitchens. The benefits of stainless steel are its light weight, heat resistant, bacteria resistant and easy to clean. The cons are it scratches, dents and fingerprints easily. A brushed or patterned stainless finish helps to conceal this. Also, stainless steel comes in different thicknesses or gauges. Contrary to how it sounds, the lower the gauge the stronger the steel with 16-18 gauge most commonly used in residential
applications and 14 gauge in commercial.
$75-$150 per square foot installed. Did I
mention fingerprints?
Recycled Glass countertops are considered a sustainable surface made of recycled glass and cement. They are nonporous and never require sealing. However they are sensitive to heat and sharp objects and can crack. They work well as accent countertops for areas like islands, wet bars or butler pantries where there is not a lot of food prep. Recycled Glass countertops usually run $75-$100 per square foot installed.
Butcher board countertops are boards pressed together and glued to create
a solid slab. Wood countertops are durable, bacteria resistant and are great for food prep but will scratch if cut on directly. They offer warmth and have a beautiful natural finish that only needs to be sealed if used around sinks or on bar tops. Unsealed wood when wet can lead to long term rot and discoloration. $75-$100 per square foot installed custom but precut wood countertops are available for much less. Wood
would be a great option for busy families.
Laminate countertops are created by layers of plastic bonded to particle board. Thanks to advanced printing techniques they have come a long way sometimes making it hard to tell the difference between laminate and real wood or stone. They are not as durable however, susceptible to melting, scratches, chips and cuts. Also the joints where corners meet can be obvious. They are a budget friendly option and using a patterned laminate helps disguise any damage. The
average cost is between $40-$80 per square
foot installed. Good for families on a budget.
I'd love for you to join me in my new FB group Kitchens, Baths and Mudrooms by Design to share your projects and see what other design loving mamas are up to. Each week I'll pick one members design challenge to solve on a FB Live! Can't wait to see you there!
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