Kitchen Countertops Today: Granite and Beyond

Kitchen countertops make a strong design statement in your home.  They are highly visible and tactile.  The material you use should be able withstand heat, stains, and intensive use.  And it should be a good fit with your home style.  The cleaner, greener trend in home design today has opened up new choices in kitchen countertops.  A big thank-you to Steve Rymer, the owner of Architectural Tile & Stone, who patiently shared his thoughts on new ideas in kitchen countertops.    

Granite 

Steve says polished granite is still the most popular surface for countertops, and for good reason.  Granite is a very dense stone made of crystallized minerals formed at extremely high temperatures.  It is not subject to etching by cooking acids, or to scratching by knives or pots and pans.  Steve says selections today have moved away from busy granite patterns.  This coincides with a housing trend toward modern styling with cleaner lines and simple, soothing colors and patterns.  Although non-shiny finishes are now available, he does not see a strong movement toward the use of honed granites on countertops.  When granites are matt finished, the natural colors and patterns are subdued or lost.  In granites, Steve sees the demand at about 95% for polished material, and 5% for honed.

 There are several finishes for granite: 

High Gloss Polished – This is the most reflective and the least porous of the surfaces available.  Fine polishing brings out the depth, color, and pattern in granite.  Each piece has it own natural movement of pattern and color.   

Honed Finish – To create a honed surface, the polishing process is not taken to its full potential.  Rather than a 3,000 grit polished surface, it is taken to a soft sheen 600-grit surface.  The result is a less formal, satin finish.  The surface is more absorptive, so it will show stains easier than a closed-pore polished surface. 

 

Leather Finish – A leather finish begins with a honed surface; then it is swept with diamond tipped brushes.  The process brings back the color and closes pores on the surface. The result is between polished and honed.  It has more sheen and is less porous than a honed finish.

Flame Finish – To create this surface, blowtorch-strength heat is applied to the granite surface.  This causes some of the granite crystals to explode and shatter, leaving a highly textured surface.  This surface is more suited for exterior paving, rather than for countertops.    

River Washed – To create this surface, the granite is first flamed; then it is wire brushed to smooth out the sharpness of the surface.  The result is a rustic texture with an aged, irregular finish.   

 Marble

The marble family – limestone, travertine, marble, onyx – starts out as sediment from shells and plant matter.  After millions of years under pressure, this forms into stone.  Because its main component is calcium, it will react to acids such as vinegar and citrus.  Marble can be used on kitchen counters as long as there is some tolerance for stains and scratches.  Steve strongly recommends the honed marble surface for kitchen countertops, rather than polished.  This is because the less perfect finish will accept wear and tear more naturally.  The honed surface offers a softer, less formal appearance.   

Slate & Soapstone 

A New York designer recently asked for Pietra de Cardosa.  This is a grey stone from northern Italy.  It is a type of slate – but very hard.  It must be cut with granite cutting machinery, rather than tile machinery.  This is a granite alternative that does not have a lot of pattern movement.

Soapstone is also a granite alternative.  It is a very dense stone – more so than even granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain.  It has been used for years as a work surface in chemistry labs.  The colors are mostly grays and blacks.   

 Limestone

 Limestone is an organic stone similar to marble, but not as hard.  It is readily available and easy to cut.  Limestone can be sealed and used for kitchen countertops.  However, there is likely to be some mottling and variations in color over time, as the calcium in the limestone is exposed to acids used in cooking.  Jerusalem Stone is a type of dense limestone found in Europe and the Middle East that is used for countertops.  It offers a warm, soft look in creams and earth tone colors.  Since limestone is absorptive, it should be sealed regularly.  Some staining and variations in color is a part of its organic, rustic look. 

 Engineered Stones

 The trend toward cleaner, greener finishes has led to greater use of engineered, or composite, stones.  Engineered stones are made from about 93% quartz, 7% epoxy, plus resin and color.  The use of crushed material is less wasteful, so it is considered a greener choice.  Quartz is readily available.  However, cutting and shaping of the material is done by fabricators.  So the cost is about the same as many granites or stone slabs. 

 Engineered stone is more homogenous in appearance than natural stone slabs.  There are no swirls and veining showing its creation over millenniums.  Some familiar names are:

 Caesarstone – evokes the look of limestone

 Cambria – a mock granite look

 Silestone – a very dense, polished surface

 Okite – introduces a veined marbled look

 Tile   

 Ceramic tile continues to be used mostly on backsplashes in kitchens.  On kitchen counters, it is scratch and heat resistant; however, the grout needs to be sealed for optimal stain protection.  Tiles cut from stone, such as granite or marble, can be set tighter together than ceramic tile, keeping the grout joints very narrow.  Stone tiles come in a variety of sizes, and are less expensive than slab material. 

Icestone

IceStone is a slab product made from recycled glass in a cement base.  It offers a clean, modern look, in a variety of colors.  Because it makes use of recycled glass, it is considered a green choice.  The cost is similar or higher than many natural stone slabs.     

Concrete

Concrete is a porous material that absorbs stains easily.  A good fabricator can build a beautiful, soft colored, well sealed countertop.  Although it is sealed, the homeowner should expect some mottling and staining over time.  That is a part of the more organic look of concrete.  A professional fabricator must be able to pour and finish the counter in place.  There is a lot of art and craft to making a concrete counter.  Although concrete is inexpensive, the labor brings the cost up to that of some stone slabs. 

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a good fit with today’s chic, contemporary look.  It has been used for years in professional kitchens.  Steel is stain resistant and durable, but does scratch and can be loud.  There are brushed or textured finishes that help camouflage scratches.  And, when attached to a wood under-layer, it is more sound resistant. 

Happy holidays to everyone!

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Thanks,

Roselind Hejl, CRS

Coldwell Banker United

512-327-0385 office

512-789-4563 cell

www.weloveaustin.com

Remodeling Decisions That Add Value: Better Living Areas

 

 The main living room is the central core area of your home.  It is both a private and public space that you share with family and guests.  The main living room should easily connect with dining areas, kitchen, and hallways to bedrooms.  This space should be given top priority in the hierarchy of rooms.  However, too often it is not. 

Sometimes the front door opens right into the living room, and the passage deeper into the house cuts right through it.  Please!  Before you go a step further, stop to imagine how you would furnish and enjoy being in a room like this.  If you home has this layout, consider some serious surgery to correct this problem.  Never allow walkways to cross through the middle of living areas.  This creates an unsettling division within the space which no furniture placement will solve.  If you have this floor plan, face up to it, and make the necessary changes before moving on.   

Most buyers today prefer two or more living areas.  In addition to the main living room, these may include a family room or den, a study, and a game room.  The trend today is to avoid wasted space.  Rooms that are used primarily for display have very little actual use and value.  Consider converting an unused formal living room into a study.  Sometimes a wall can be opened up to bring a seldom used room into a real relationship with the house.  This is much cheaper than adding on more space.  Remodeling tip:  Make better use of the space that you have.  It is cheaper than adding on. 

The “greatroom” is a popular layout that combines the living-dining-kitchen space.  This open style is efficient in its use of space, combining multiple uses.  The house seems bigger than it would if divided into small rooms.  You will be able to work in the kitchen and talk with family members and guests in the living area.  If you can open a wall to allow a better connection and more light to flow between spaces, you will be making a change that most buyers prefer.

If budget allows, a gameroom is a space that serves a multitude of functions.  It is a more private living area that is often used for TV watching, computers, pool table, or children’s toys.  The gameroom is often an upstairs common area that connects to bedrooms.  Special media rooms are sometimes added, although the trend today away from extra rooms that receive infrequent use.  Consider combining a media room with pool table, ping pong, or other gathering room functions.  

You cannot think about living areas without considering the traffic flow through rooms.  A natural and logical flow will guide people from the front door into the heart of the home – the main living area.  The pathway should not cut through the middle of rooms, or make you skirt around furniture.  Visitors should not be confused as to where to go.  A logical floor plan is crucial to making visitors feel welcome and comfortable in your home.  A great living area draws people into it in a natural way, and provides a center for common activities.  Remodeling decisions that place great importance on the main living area add value to the home.   

 Austin Texas Real Estate and Homes For Sale