Our Total Guide to Countertops

When you are at the design stage of a kitchen or bath remodel, it pays to consider the right countertop for your design. It needs to suit your chosen style but also be hard wearing and easy to maintain. You should also think about how you use your countertop as each material has different strengths and weaknesses.

Once you have chosen a style for your kitchen or bath design, you can decide on a countertop that works with it. It can transform your cabinets, sink, or backsplash so factor in how your chosen materials will co-exist in a cohesive design. Here is our complete guide to countertops for your ultimate bath or kitchen design.

1. What Do You Need from Your Countertop?

Before embarking on a bathroom or kitchen remodel, assess what exactly you want from it. Aside from updating your look, you also want it to be efficient and express your personal style. At Lang’s Kitchen & Bath, our kitchen and bath design experts have the experience and knowledge to guide you through the process from inception to installation. A design expert can manage your project so there are no surprises throughout the process.

A kitchen countertop has different requirements from a bathroom one, so it is not one size fits all. Colors can also look different depending on the light so take home a sample to see what it is like in situ. You can also mix materials to incorporate a section suited to your specific needs. For example, marble is ideal for bakers but is expensive for an entire countertop and more difficult to maintain. You could splash out on a section of countertop in marble and then choose a more budget friendly countertop material for the rest of your kitchen design. If you do this, create a baking zone around your marble countertop with customized storage and a mixer lift built into your cabinets.

Who is in your household? If there are children or people with mobility issues, then it is better to have rounded edges than angular ones. Your countertop can also dictate the type of sink you choose. A vessel sink makes a design statement sitting on top of a chic countertop and a sink that has been molded into the countertop or an undermount sink is perfect for a more streamlined design.

2. What Is a Classic but Versatile Look?

Quartz is ever popular for good reason. It can closely imitate other materials such as marble or granite for a classic countertop look. However, it is exceptionally durable due to being engineered from quartz and resin, which strengthens it. Adding pigment to it enables it to take on another look entirely. It can withstand a moderately high heat and is scratch resistant. It is not porous and does not have to be sealed like any natural stone it mimics, so is all round low maintenance. As it is water resistant, a quartz countertop is also the ideal partner for an undermount sink in a busy kitchen or bathroom design. You can’t go wrong with choosing a quartz countertop for any room in your home.

3. How Can I Achieve a Contemporary Look with a Countertop?

Choosing something with the best of both worlds can be hard. Contemporary styles demand elements of current design with the functionality and durability required for a countertop. Recycled glass could be the answer to a countertop in a contemporary kitchen or bath remodel. It is probably most suited to a bath remodel as it can chip and stain but is heat and scratch resistant. A recycled glass countertop can be custom made to your specifications as it involves grinding down glass pieces to the size you would like. The pieces can either be clearly visible or reduced to a powder for a solid block in a color of your choice.

4. How Can I Get a Stylish but Durable Countertop for High Traffic Areas?

Granite is the best material for durability. In fact, knives can be damaged when used directly on its surface so always use a cutting board. As a natural material, granite does need to be sealed regularly, but it is very hard wearing. It comes in a choice of colors and patterns so you can be sure there is one to suit your kitchen or bath remodel. An undermount sink is the ideal choice for a granite countertop. It is also worth noting that granite is heat resistant, so this is another key benefit and a reason to choose it as a base for styling tools or hot pans.

5. What Is the Most Luxurious Countertop Material?

If you want to invest in a countertop that will really elevate your kitchen or bath remodel, look no further than marble. It is not cheap but provides a high-end feel and each slab is unique. It is very durable but can scratch, so use a cutting board for food prep. Marble comes in a selection of colors to complement any interior design. Each has its own pattern of natural veining that can be matched up for dramatic effect, if placing slabs side by side. It is a natural stone, and therefore is porous, so it needs regular sealing. You also must be quite careful with a marble surface to avoid staining. However, if you are looking for a luxurious addition to your bath or kitchen design, this is a small price to pay for the beauty of a natural marble surface.

6. What is the Best Way to Bring Warmth to a Design?

White or soft neutral kitchen and bath remodels look cool and clean but need an element of warmth to balance out components. Wood is the best way to introduce warm tones into a potentially cold remodel.

Why not go for a butcher block countertop? It is composed of different pieces of wood that are joined together for a variable surface appearance. It is not ideal over a dishwasher or right beside a sink as water can affect this porous surface. Also bear in mind that unsealed butcher block is food safe, but it can stain. If you take these factors into account, you will not be disappointed with the warmth and style a butcher block can bring to your kitchen or bath design.

Or go for a sealed wood countertop, which is ideal for an island or even as a tabletop end to your island. Give your countertop a live edge, which is the perfect accompaniment to a rustic or farmhouse style kitchen design.

7. How Can I Keep My Countertop Understated?

Sometimes the best way to complement your cabinetry is to choose a countertop in a neutral shade. As well as focusing on the cabinet design, it draws attention to the countertop material itself rather than colors or patterns. Limestone is a natural stone that is subtly colored and patterned. As a natural material, it is porous and requires regular sealing but is heat resistant and less expensive than other natural stone countertops. It can stain, scratch and dent so is best placed in less busy areas of a kitchen or bath remodel. It is durable enough to perform well and bring an organic texture to your design.

8. Which Countertop Is a Blast from the Past with a Modern Twist?

Terrazzo is not the most typical choice, but it is an ideal way to make a statement with your kitchen or bathroom countertop. An added bonus is that it does not release VOCs and uses recycled materials. It is made by using an age-old method of pouring fragments into resin that can be pigmented with a color of your choice. The fragments can be any size, shape and material you desire. A word of warning though, don’t go for colors that can date your terrazzo as you want this durable, long-lasting material to have staying power. The fragments can be from materials such as marble, glass, or shards of cement, among other things, and the price can vary depending on which materials you choose.

9. What Countertop Should I Choose on a Limited Budget?

If your budget is more limited, you might want to invest in a high-quality countertop for an island or focus more of your budget on cabinetry. So, what is the best option for balancing this investment with a more budget-friendly countertop alternative?

Whether you are starting out, remodeling a guest bathroom or laundry room, or just do not want to blow your budget on high-end countertops, laminate is a good solution. It has come a long way since it first came on the market and there are many stylish options available. It is made from resin-imbued fabric or paper that is built up on top of wood composite. Any visible seams on your countertop can be melted away through a heat process. A textured surface is preferable to avoid any heat damage or scratches, to which laminate can be susceptible. It is also bacteria resistant, which is a huge bonus when choosing a countertop material for a busy home.

10. How Can I Give My Design an Industrial Feel?

Industrial style kitchen and bath designs are still in vogue, and concrete is the ideal choice for a countertop in this type of remodel. It makes any traditional space immediately modern and edgy. Concrete countertops are expensive though, as they must be cast on site, due to their weight. They are very durable, apart from some cracking, chipping, or scratching, which just adds to their character. Damage is also easily repaired by filling it with more concrete. These countertops can stain but this is prevented with a sealant on the top. A penetrative seal means that they are then heat resistant and good to go.

Talk to us today at Lang's Kitchen & Bath. Our bathroom remodeling and kitchen design experts can guide you through your design project from start to finish, including finding the perfect countertop to accent your design.