Comprehensive Guide About Kitchen Countertops - Beautiful Homes

Kitchen Design

May 07, 2022

Kitchen countertop perfect for your kitchen interiors - Beautiful Homes

A kitchen countertop has a very demanding and crucial role in your kitchen and hence needs to be chosen very carefully. Looking for new countertops?

The options for kitchen countertops available these days, both in quality and quantity, small countertops and large countertops can be pretty mind-bending, and we wouldn’t hold it against you if you get lost in choosing your pick. We are here to help you make an informed decision based on the various types of countertops available out there, so read on for one of the most informative guides on choosing a modern kitchen countertop from some of the best kitchen countertops.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a Kitchen Countertop?

A kitchen countertop is a surface that is used for food prep and cooking. It is a part of any modern modular kitchen design. It is installed on top of the lower level of cabinetry in the modular kitchen. The standard width of a kitchen cabinet is around 2 feet. The kitchen countertop can span one, two, or even three sides of your kitchen. If your kitchen has an island, the countertop spans that too.

Now, how do you ensure you pick the right countertop? There are a few things you should keep in mind.

Functionality

What is the frequency of usage you can expect from your countertop? Is your cooking style regular, or is it more of a ‘once in a blue moon’ type of occurrence? Are you an enthusiast when it comes to cooking, or do you not feel like it most days of the week? This is just one question.

Next, you want to be sure of the type of cooking that can happen. For example, if you and your family are into Italian or French cuisine, there is a lot of baking involved. You want to ensure that the kitchen countertop design you choose then should be able to withstand the heat. If you are into Indian food, you want to choose a material for your countertop slab that does not stain easily as Indian cuisine uses a lot of spices and turmeric. Small countertops are less helpful when you cook frequently, but get the job done.

Aesthetic Appeal

How do you ensure that the theme in the kitchen matches your home décor? By using the one part that takes up the most space - the countertop. The materials you choose for your modern kitchen countertop should complement the vibe of your home, and the colours of the countertop should be aligned with the overall colour scheme of your house. You can even experiment with a mix and match style. A good example would be to use quartz for your gallery counters but maybe opt for say wood or a warm wooden tone for the central island. Almost all countertop materials are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes. You can also experiment with contrast such as orange countertops and mauve walls.

Aesthetic kitchen countertop for your luxurious kitchen interiors - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, KNS Architect

Durability

If you want the countertop to last long and continue to look great over the years, then your modern kitchen countertop must be resistant to wear and tear. It also needs to be stain-proof and immune to the effects of moisture. It may also need to be scratch-proof depending on your usage requirements.

Budget

For some of you, this may be the most important criteria to consider. If you are working with a low-cost budget, the most effective kitchen countertops would be granite ones. Engineered stones like quartz or heavy metallic stuff like steel could be more on the pricier side. Most designers, for a coherent look, tend to use the same material for the backsplash as the kitchen countertop. This would be an important item to consider in your budget as well.

Installation

It would be bad if you get stuck with an uneven kitchen countertop with ups & downs, after all those efforts to get your perfect dream kitchen done. To make things worse, a leakage problem would be another nuisance. Hence, as much as it is important to choose the best design or colour, it is equally important to ensure that you find a skilled professional team to install your kitchen countertop design. Professionals would ensure that you get the right seating of the countertop and a strong bond with the base. Sealing your stone-to-stone gaps, in case your countertop is quartz is also an important part of the installation process that is better handled by a professional team.

Maintenance

The countertop material you use should require bare minimum maintenance. Ideally, it should be something that can be wiped clean with merely some soap and water. White-coloured countertops could stain due to the usage or spillage of acidic spices, turmeric, saffron, and so on. So to ensure that your kitchen countertop lasts long, you’d want to wipe spills immediately. If you are using a soft stone like marble, the surface of your countertop should be resealed every few years to make it water-resistant and to prevent any pitting.

Materials used

The materials you chose to use for your kitchen countertop make a lot of difference. You can choose from granite, marble, steel, engineered quartz, and a variety of other options. Let’s see how the materials have their own pros and cons.

Granite kitchen countertop for your luxurious kitchen design - Beautiful Homes

Image courtesy, ADND

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are one of the most popular options when it comes to kitchen countertops. They look great and they are very durable. Every countertop is unique as it is a natural material and can be available in a wide variety of speckled, veined, and solid colours. Polished granite, which is the texture most suited for kitchens, is shiny and reflective, and completely impervious to water. It is also scratchproof and can literally last forever. Prices range from INR 80 per square foot onwards and above for a 19 mm thick countertop slab.

Engineered Stones (Quartz) Countertops

Quartz is an engineered, man-made material that is manufactured from quartz stone chips, pigments and additives (like glass), and a binder. Quartz countertops deliver a very high degree of high performance while being able to look stunning. Quartz countertops are durable, stain-resistant, and scratch proof. Some varieties of quartz may not be completely resistant to heat, so do check before you buy. A professional installer is needed for the best finishing. Prices start at INR 200 per sq ft.

Marble Countertops

Marble is a natural stone used in high-end kitchens. It is a soft material that may not be as resilient as granite and hence needs to be polished and sealed to render it impervious to moisture. A marble countertop looks very luxurious, hence the high price tag. Any spills on marble should be wiped up as soon as possible, failing which it could stain and get pitted over the years. Marble can be made available in a variety of colours. Marble prices start at INR 120 per square foot and above. If you want to opt for Italian Marble, be prepared to loosen our purse strings out even INR 10000 and up.

Steel Countertops

Stainless steel countertops are a staple sight in almost all industrial kitchens. Steel is very high on hygiene and durability. Steel is resilient enough to stand up to virtually anything. Completely non-porous, these countertops are resistant to water, heat, and stains. It is also very much possible to integrate a full stainless steel sink into the counter sans any messy edges. Steel surfaces can get scratched pretty easily, so avoid chopping right on the countertop. Stainless steel countertops could be perfect for contemporary home kitchens as well. Stainless steel countertops differ in pricing based on the size and gauge. They are priced based on weight, and prices start at INR 350 per kilogram, which could roughly mean INR 7000 per square foot or even more.

Marble kitchen countertop for your kitchen interiors - Beautiful Homes

Kitchen countertop ideas for Island kitchen interior - Beautiful Homes

Solid Surface Countertops

Solid surface countertops made of engineered stones are becoming increasingly popular. The Corian from Dupont is a good example. They are very highly versatile and they can be molded for a seamless finish without any cracks or crevices. It is also possible to create an integrated sink and backsplash of the same material when you opt for a solid surface countertop. A wide palette of colour choices and increased durability are among the reasons why this material is preferred by many humans for modular kitchens. While it is completely nonporous, a solid countertop lacks the warmth and unique look of natural stone.

The surface is matte and cannot be polished to achieve a reflective sheen. Corian countertop prices range from INR 750 to 1500 per square foot on average.

How to Maintain your Kitchen Countertop?

Vinegar, turmeric, and citrus juices are acidic, and some ready mixes have coloured additives. In case of a spill, always wipe them down immediately.
On a similar note, avoid cleaning solutions and scrubbers that are acidic. Always use warm water and organic cleaners to wipe the countertop down thoroughly once you are done with cooking.
Always do a second wipe with a dry cloth to seal in the shine.
Food spills should not be allowed to set and harden on the surface of the countertop.
As much as possible, avoid doing any food prep directly on the countertop. That includes chopping, slicing or kneading dough.

At Asian Paints Beautiful Homes, we understand how significant it is to build each corner of your home. You simply need to let us know about the sort of interior design you are looking for, and we will assist you in transforming your vision into reality by fine-tuning your ideas. Whether you want to create more aesthetic appeal or align the vibe of your space with existing structures or play with colour combinations - we will be able to meet your needs well. We also help with specific furnishings such as the best kitchen countertops and can guide you through the whole process of selecting or renewing one.

Our approaches to modern interior design come in a wide range. The designs are splendid yet functional enough to create an elegant environment and make your experience memorable. From the right furnishings and materials in diverse colours to a variety of options and accessories for your home—find what you’re looking for, and get your house design just right. Our Beautiful Homes Service Advantage includes:

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Comprehensive Guide About Kitchen Countertops - Beautiful Homes