A Moment of Silence Please

[DD]

You will have to allow me some time to clear off those countertops.

We got the inspiration for those countertops about ten years ago when we were staying at Seaside. Remember the wine bar, where Cafe Rendezvous is now? We were sitting there sipping our wine and eyeballing the copper countertop bar at the same time (I don't think they ever had anyone examining the underside of the bar, not sober, at least ;-)), thinking that we could do the same. Voila! A roll of copper roof sheeting and ten million clamps later, we had our own. It wasn't hard to construct, either.

It complements our granite countertops beautifully.

I'll buy the sheeting...you bring the clamps.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Quartz composite is a nice clean look, and I think it can be done without seams. If it is too shiny I think you can have it honed but I am not sure. The only things I don't like about formica are the edges (unless you have a rolled top, which is hard to do if you have anything but a straight counter) and the lip around the sink. I like having an undermount sink.

Soapstone is heavenly but it is not for everyone.

yes, I'm holding out for soapstone eventually.

 

[Beach Runner]

Also BR I wouldn't worry this time about what is chic, but what suits your beautiful home and what is most functional for you. Granite actually is functional for many reasons but obviously designers have tired of it.

Right now I just want something timeless that won't look dated in 10 years. But maybe that's impossible.

 

[Matt J]

Stainless steel counters are beautiful, but in the wrong light you'll go blind.

 

[Beach Runner]

We rented the Pappas house on Eastern Green at Rosemary once while we were building. They have (or had) stainless steel counters. They are impossible to keep clean and streak-free. I would buy a bottle of Windex a week if I had stainless steel counters.

BTW that house is gorgeous!

I read that stainless steel appliances were going out because they're so hard to keep streak-and spot-free. What's the alternative to that? I saw in a magazine -- can't remember (Southern Living?) that had brown enamel appliances just like we had in our first house. I've also heard that gold and avocado green appliances were coming back in. Yikes!

How about marble countertops? That's what my sister put into her spec house in Seagrove. They look great.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I love the look of marble too. The traditional white with grey veining.

 

[hnooe]

I have tried it all the the countertops around including cement and all the various shades and materials on appliances--I have permanently settled now forever on all matt black appliances and Zodiac countertops.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I have tried it all the the countertops around including cement and all the various shades and materials on appliances--I have permanently settled now forever on all matt black appliances and Zodiac countertops.

Zodiaq is a great choice! It's been a couple of years since I researched this, but I do remember that Silestone was significantly better priced than Zodiaq (it's because of the Dupont name), so if you can find an equivalent in Silestone you will save some bucks.

Marble countertops are stunning (and I definitely want some someday) but you need to do two things so you lessen your chances of going crazy: hone them to a matte finish and then seal the heck out of them. The same goes for limestone, which is also a gorgeous but very brave choice for a counter from a maintenance perspective.

Honing the stone means that any etching that happens when the counter comes in contact with something acidic (lemon juice, wine, etc.) will be much less noticeable. If you install shiny marble counters, the inevitable etching will make you crazy.

Honing does open the pores of the stone more, so proper sealing (reapplied when necessary) is what you need to do if you to avoid stains. Stains and etching are different things but can be equally as annoying if you are a perfectionist.

Soapstone does not stain, but to get that velvety black oxidized look you need to oil it, at least at the beginning.

Mermy I am so impressed with your countertop ingenuity.

 

[scooterbug44]

Right now I just want something timeless that won't look dated in 10 years. But maybe that's impossible.

Anything that is tasteful, functional, not matchy-matchy, and not the inferior desecrater finish du jour won't look dated.

I love a mix of stone (especially soapstone), butcher block, concrete, and laminate countertops depending on their location and function. My grandmother's white laminate kitchen counters are on their 4th decade!

Tile countertops always looks uneven or I worry about keeping the grout clean/uncracked. Metal countertops (esp. copper) are cool, but not very functional IMO.

 

[Chandra]

Here's a couple of other suggestions for counter top alternatives. IMO granite is over done and it's certainly not an environmentally sensitive material, though perhaps there will be a great use for all those granite counters that will be ripped out over the next 10 years.

RichLite makes a composite counter top from cellulous and resin. http://www.richlite.com/

Fireslate is another interesting alternative, also a sort of concrete composite...think old school lab tables. http://www.fireslate.com/pages/home.cfm

and...

last but not least, for an affordable countertop, 3/4" birch plywood with a plaster and water based urethane finish (my special blend). This is what I put in my home for under $200 in materials with the intention of ripping them out as soon as I figured out what I "really" wanted. The thing is, I get so many compliments on the counters and 4 years later, they still look great. I'll probably do a light sanding and throw another coat of matte urethane of them later this year. People can't figure out what it is...looks like slate, or could be concrete, but it's warm to the touch and has a thin profile. It's definitely not for everyone. Just another idea.