Countertops choices have extended a long way beyond the basic Formica and laminates of several decades ago. Now, homeowners can select from a dizzying array of diverse surface materials, from wood to natural stone to stainless steel. The best countertop for your kitchen depends on the look, feel, and finish that will fit into your overall aesthetic.

The current trend for countertops is to use 2-2 ¼" thick rather than typical 1 ¼” thick counters, whether they are made out of marble, granite, or wood.  If thicker counters prove price prohibitive for an entire kitchen, you can instead install them only in certain areas as centerpieces, such as an island or a breakfast bar. Europeans are also using much thinner countertops ( ½-1" thick), a style that will probably catch on soon here in the US.

In terms of the specific materials available, many people often start with stone. Rather than the spotted, granular look of granite, many people want a softly veined appearance in their stone. Also, polished stone is no longer as popular, and most counters are now honed, leathered, patina'ed, or antiqued. All of these treatments reduce the shine to a satin finish or to no shine at all. 

There are several stones that offer a veined look. Marble, for one, has finally made its way here from Europe. Carrera was always a quintessential choice, and though is still very popular, but there are other marbles that have caramel veins as well as Carrera’s gray and black colors, such as Valley Gold (used in some of Washington DC's monuments) or Calacatta. Though people used to avoid marble due to its variances and tendency to stain, people are becoming more relaxed about perfection and the beauty of marble has overcome past reservations about the material—making marble often the preferred choice. Marble is also a favored choice for contemporary kitchens, especially when the rest of the house is a traditional style. The marble helps tone down a contemporary feel and bring a bit of classic elegance back to the kitchen.

In addition to marble, various types of soapstone are also desirable due to the dramatic veining that they offer. When oiled properly (every few months with a plain mineral oil until they become saturated), they are very durable. Soapstone comes in various shades of gray, dark grays, and greens, and it can have green or white or off-white veins. 

Other options can solve performance questions. If you are concerned with the vulnerability of marble or the maintenance of soapstone, for example, a good choice is a lighter-toned granite called “Mother of Pearl.”  It’s a grayish light green with dark gray and caramel veins running through it, giving it an appearance more like marble than granite. If you have decided on this or another light-colored granite, however, make sure to ask the supplier how dense it is, since the less dark the granite, the less dense it is—and therefore, the more prone it will be to staining.

Or perhaps you like the look of concrete but you are concerned about its durability? In this case, a smart way to get a dark gray/black concrete look is to use Absolute Black Granite with an antiqued finish. This granite is indestructible, so if you want the appearance of concrete with high performance, Absolute Black Granite is definitely the way to go.

Stepping away from stone, manufactured quartz countertops are wonderful for a contemporary style kitchen, whether polished or honed. These countertops are indestructible and come in a variety of colors. They are also a good choice for helping create a beautiful and balanced composition of shapes and color in any contemporary kitchen. 

Stainless steel counters are becoming more desirable. Due to its tendency to scratch, however, most people prefer it with a patina to counteract any etching, rather than in a polished or satin finish. Stainless is great if you want a thinner counter than 1 ¼” thick. 

Last but not least, don’t overlook wood. Butcher-block tops have made a big comeback in both traditional and contemporary kitchens. Rather than the maple butcher block that we all grew up with, more exotic woods are being used like wenge, jatoba, mahogany, and teak. It’s best to not have a top coat of varnish put on these counters; simple mineral oil will do the trick as far as keeping the top looking good and inhibiting stains or damage. Wood is also easily repaired: a light sanding will remove any scratches or light stains, and another coat of oil will then make it look new again. There is a coating called “Durata” that can make a wood top impervious to water damage, but it can scratch and cannot be repaired with sanding, so it’s best to use this finish on tops that are not in the main work area. (Glumber is Grothouse’s website where you can find more out about butcher-block tops). 

There are numerous options available for your countertop; the fun is in finding the one that fits your look and lifestyle best.