Home Front Decoration

Your kitchen counter plays an important role in setting the design style of your home. It makes a strong visual and tactile impression. The material you use should be durable enough to resist cooking greases and stains as well as attractive and up to date. If you are thinking of re-doing your countertop, select a style that compliments your kitchen cabinetry and the overall style of your home. Here are some choices that are popular today:

Granite : Today’s housing trend toward modern styling, cleaner lines, and simple patterns has led to less busy patterns in all countertop materials. However, granite is still a very popular surface for countertops. It is resistant to scratching by knives or etching by cooking acids. Granite is a dense stone formed by crystallized minerals extremely high temperatures. Here are several choices in granite finishes:

Tile : Used on kitchen counters for many years, tile is scratch and heat resistant. They offer a wide range of colors and patterns that are a good fit for today’s modern look. Tiles can be made from fired clay or cut from stone. Stone tiles, and some clay tiles, are rectified. This means that they are cut in precise sizes, so that they can be set very close together, keeping the grout joints to a minimum.

Marble:  Sediment from shells and plant matter forms into marble stone after millions of years under pressure. Marbles include limestone, travertine, marble, and onyx. Because its main component is calcium, these stones will react to acids such as vinegar and citrus. Marble can be used on kitchen counters as long as there is some tolerance for stains and scratches. The honed finish is better for kitchen countertops, rather than polished. This is because the softer, less formal appearance will accept wear and tear more naturally.

Limestone: Limestone is an organic stone similar to marble, but not as hard. It can be sealed and used for kitchen countertops. However, there is likely to be some mottling and variations in color over time, as the calcium in the limestone is exposed to acids used in cooking.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel has been used for years in professional kitchens. It is a good fit with today’s chic, contemporary look. Steel is stain resistant and durable, but does scratch, and it can be loud. There are brushed or textured finishes that help camouflage scratches. And, when attached to a wood under-layer, it is more sound resistant.

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