You Can Use Custom Countertops to Achieve More Than Functionality

People will tell you that your home is your canvas. All too often, however, the final product is a paint-by-numbers piece. You're going to have a floor, walls, hopefully a ceiling. You'll probably have a fridge, and it'll likely be white, black, or stainless steel. There's going to be a bathroom, maybe a laundry room, and an oven. There's abundant room for expression, of course, but nobody is going to be the E.E. Cummings or Pablo Picasso of interior design. Your home is an extension of yourself, but it can no more escape the form of its functional necessities than you can run without your bones. Fortunately, the skeleton of the place will be fairly standard, but the possible combinations of colors, textures, and materials are virtually limitless.

Specifically, custom Granite Kitchen Countertops are a great way to express your creativity. Used properly, they can interact with the natural light, floor plan, and decor at your disposal to give your home a cohesive feel that is more than the sum of its parts. Of course, not every countertop material is right for every part of the home. This article lays out some of the most common materials on the market and their relative benefits to the homeowner.

Granite Kitchen Countertops

 Metal

Stainless Steel is a favorite of professional chefs and, not surprisingly, is commonly used in home kitchens. It cleans easily, it's heat resistant, and it'll stand up to just about anything you can dish out. It's also generally less expensive than most stone options. If you're going for a modernist look, stainless steel can integrate seamlessly with sinks and faucets of the same material to create a clean and understated aesthetic. Be warned, however, that it is susceptible to scratches and fingerprints that could distract from that stark theme if not maintained.

Wood

Wood countertops are enjoying a surge in popularity despite occasional concerns about upkeep. In many ways, wood is the antithesis of stainless steel. It offers a warm and organic surface that blends well with earthy wall colors to create a natural motif that blurs the division between interior and exterior space. The most important thing with custom countertops made of wood is the choice of wood and the sealant. Common options are cherry or maple butcher block material finished with a mineral oil. The deep red grains form beautiful and unique natural patterns and the darker hues mask stains better than oak or cedar. If you plan on using wood for kitchen surfaces, a mineral oil will ensure that it is food safe while vegetable or grain oils can turn rancid.

Stone

Custom countertops made of stone are generally considered of bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Marble, for example, is a singularly beautiful metamorphic stone that exudes quality. Though common in kitchens, it is a comparatively soft stone, susceptible to scratches and stains. Granite is the go-to stone for kitchens as it is far more durable. Like marble, it is from natural deposits in the earth and can contain a practically infinite number of grains, colors, and patterns.

Your home is a design space that you will inhabit for a long time. Aside from those above, there are many other options for custom countertops. When painting your live-in masterpiece, don't restrict your palette.