Design Tips

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Countertops & Sinks
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Don't be Afraid of Color

Countertops & Sinks Tips

By Debora Gracey, Lifestyle Designer Southern California

It's fair to say that the countertop is like the carpenters work bench: It is where we lay out supplies (grocery bags), peel and chop (vegetables), toll and knead (bread), toss and serve (entrée's). It needs to be tough, level, smooth and large enough for the work we do. It's not enough to be big, tough, and versatile, however counter tops have to look good, too. But the sky is the limit when it comes to selection, not only for counter top material but also for finishes and edge details, connections to sinks and backsplashes.

Choosing a countertop is best done when choosing a sink so the two functions, visually and practically, connect with one another. It may not be as visible as a range or refrigerator, but a sink is the hardest-working item in a kitchen, so you won't regret spending a little more for a strong, attractive sink.

The accompanying backsplash serves many purposes, from visual interest, to wall protection, to easy cleanup. The material chosen for both the countertop and backsplash should be carefully considered on all fronts, from budget, to durability, to looks.

Range tile makes a handsome heat and moisture proof backsplash available in ceramic tile, porcelain tile, natural stone, granite slab, quartz, hand painted mosaics, glass, brick, etc.

Backsplash heights should be varied to suit the needs of the particular area. It is a good idea to extend backsplash heights at cooktops and sinks to avoid damage caused by splashing (i.e., water, oil).

Light colors often lighten and brighten a kitchen with no windows.

Incorporating Stone in the Kitchen
Stone is the grandmother of all countertop materials not only because granite is hundreds of millions of years old and slate a mere million or so; stone is valued by its strength and natural beauty.

Stone is generally available in two sizes: 2cm and 3cm, although you can double up on the edges of a countertop to make it look like 4cm.

There are several edge details available:

Finishes range from rough (recommended for a backsplash only) to honed, which is soft and smooth but not highly reflective, to polished, which is smooth as glass and highly reflective.

Stone may be hard, durable, sophisticated, heat resistant, and resistant to scratching, but nothing is perfect. Many stones can stain if not sealed property and regularly. Both the sealer type and the maintenance schedule depend on the stone and your comfort level with how stone can change color over time with use. Just because a stone is soft does not mean it is porous, soapstone is soft but less porous than most types of granite.

Soapstone is extremely dense and won't stain as much as unsealed granite, plus it is softer (it consists of talc, a soft stone, streaked with quartz) so stains can be sanded out. Soapstone darkens from bluish color to a rich charcoal; you can make that change more uniform throughout a slab or tiles by applying mineral oil periodically. Like slate, soapstone is more authentic in look than granite. It is easily worked and thus can be given edges of various profiles, but squared, slightly eased edge offers the most traditional look.

Slate is subtle and soft in appearance, although it can have a visible figure and it's good at hiding dirt. Like soapstone, it looks at home in any traditional American kitchen, such as Arts and Crafts, Shaker and Colonial style. Slate is fairly soft as a material and shouldn't be cut on; it can also chip if you drop a heavy object on it, so consider easing the edges for a more resistant nosing design. It's available in black, green, red, gray and purple. Much slate for counter tops needs no sealer. Slate looks best honed rather than polished and typically have a square edge with slightly eased corners.

Engineered stone is a new composite countertop material that mixes 90+ percent ground-up quartz or granite with a resin binder. These countertops are non-porous, like solid-surface, but heat resistant, scratch resistant, and supremely durable, like solid stone. Many colors and patterns are available and the finish can be polished, honed or sandblasted. Engineered-stone countertops have the look of stone to a large extent, but are very consistent in color, unlike solid stone, which often varies in color and veining from slab to slab.

The Versatility of Concrete
Concrete has long intrigued designers and builders and recently homeowners have become captivated by this chameleon-like material. Colors are infinite and can be integral or applied, finishes can be glossy, satin, or matte and edges are just as varied. But this miracle countertop has some limitation. First, concrete must be sealed for food use, either with a topical sealer (better at protecting against stains but vulnerable to scratches and heat) or a penetrating sealer (easy to apply and reapply, more natural looking, and not damaged by scratches or not pots, but susceptible to staining or etching by acids).

Second, and more, critical, the quality of the finished work is directly related to the skill of the artisans, although an amateur with patience and a love for concrete can make a beautiful countertop. Paradoxically, this makes concrete one of the most accessible and one of the hardest to perfect of all countertop materials.

Don't skimp on a sink. With any solid surface you should always upgrade to an undermount sink. Undermount sinks may be available in stainless steel, which are easy to care for (brushed is a lot easier than polished). They are relatively immune to going out of style.

An undermount sink in a granite counter top (or solid surface) makes it easy to sweep water or crumbs into the sink.

Enameled cast-iron looks great and is tough as nails especially to dropped dishes. A soft rack or cushion at the bottom and laid across the dividing dam can solve this problem. It may be available in a variety of colors, but white is both timeless and stylish.

Ceramic Sinks are similar to enameled cast iron in looks but not as strong or resistant to chipping. Hand-painted cottage-style ceramic sinks make an artful, but somewhat fragile, statement in the kitchen.