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We’re designing a new kitchen, at last; I like to tell people I get such fine work ’cause I sleep with my contractor–he’s my husband of 27 years!
I am still searching for the perfect kitchen countertop. Granite is a little upscale for this neighborhood, but not out of the question. I like it, though it’s maybe a little hoity toity for me personally…
I’m feeling somewhat adventurous; the current FH cover article is intriguing, tho I don’t know about a counter top that looks like leather….I’ve always had formica, which I guess I’ve now outgrown.
Tile counters?!? Having grown up on the East coast, where such things were unheard of, I have never gotten over the weirdness of putting grout near where meat juices, vegetable leaves, etc. contact. Always has seemed to me a handy way to grow lots and lots of bacteria….
Butcher block? High maintenance, same concerns about bacteria.
Corian looks like jack cheese to me….
Stainless steel? I’m not into a high tech look, though the concept appeals.
My taste is old world elegant funk…if that makes any sense. Clean lines, flagstone floor, warm woods, candelabra, ferns, purple velvet.
So–my questions are:
Anyone know anyone in the west San Fernando valley (might as well be specific) who could accomplish a knockout cement kitchen counter?
Any other ideas for a sanitary, attractive, not outrageously expensive kitchen counter surface?
Thanks much!
Replies
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may no one doubt that you certainly understand the choices--good luck making up your mind.
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You are concerned with a little grout (cement and sand)between the tiles, but you would consider making the whole counter out of concrete (cement, sand and gravel).
I suggest you reconsider tile. Perhaps with small joints and unsanded grout. I think your concerns re tile's sanitation are unfounded.
*The only problem with ceramic/concrete surfaces that I have is that the carelessly toppled glass with face certain death. I agree with you about Corian. Pick what you like, sanitation be damned (most of that is just marketing nonsense.)There is a really cool granite called ubatuba or some such -- check it out -- beautiful color, we wanted to buy some. But at $100 a foot, it is more than 5 times the price of formica. We went the laminate route -- my theory being that I liked it fine and we could change the color as often as we repaint the kitchen at modest expense. You may like the color now, but forever?Wood makes a nice counter -- away from the sink. And copper looks neat, if you like polishing it all the time.
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Just as a off-beat suggestion, how about stone tile? It's much less expensive than a solid stone counter, and comes in a large variety of beautiful colors and shadings.
And I've never heard of anyone doing it - so there's probably a damn-good reason why - but how about surfacing it with shatter-and heat-proof glass? That would give you the "sanitary" surface that's both high-tech and lower cost. And if you get tired of the tiles, they're easier to replace (but not as easy as laminate).
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The stone tile route doesn't save much compared to granite slabs...you have a few less grout lines with 12" tiles. Cost wise, there is alot of edge shaping and polishing which pushs the price up. With regular mortar bed tile, the edges are pre-made. With stone tiles they have to be fabricated. In my experience you save 25% over the cost of a slab job, and loose the broad expanses of flowing stone.
BTW, just ran across a new granite called kinawa (?) light grey-taupe with shades of red and pink and dark grey.
The glass idea sounds wild. No more looking to figure out which drawer the barbeque tongs are in...
Adam
*Look at some older threads for extensive discussion on butcher block, but we've been very pleased with it.All of your alternatives can perform well and have certain advantages and disadvantages (can you cut on it without dulling your knives or scarring the surface? does it stain? is it easy to clean? etc.) After considering all those, the look really should work with the rest of your choices: cabinet style, material & color; floor; appliances; lighting and windows. Stainless for example may be great with SS appliances and contemporary cabinets but look out of place with painted wood "Shaker" style cabinets. Think about the whole picture.
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Pauli:
Just to give you an idea:
HDP w/ a 2" Oak trim at the perimeter, Oak has a routed edge that curves gently back to the cab at the underside. 3 coats of Spar Varnish (marine grade finish, impervious to water) w/ elbow grease to rub out the sheen and leaves a fine amber luster.
We've used it and everyone really marvels at the color and texture which looks like a slightly ambered sheet of sand granules w/ a black stipling effect. Inexpensive, unique and durable.
*> How about Soapstone?
*Maybe your solution isn't one kind of counter, it's a combination of several -- slab of granite near the stove, butcher block for chopping, etc. In terms of being sanitary, they've discovered that a wood chopping block holds less bacteria than those "clean" white plastic ones. Although it's expensive, have you considered slate? I have areas of slate counter in my kitchen with a honed finish. It's beautiful and old-worldy (great with purple velvet). You can get a sheen on it with a rub of oil.
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how bout porcelain. fiberglass? duct tape? duct board?
*Purple crushed velour under plate glass. With ferns placed strategically against the splash.
*Bondi blue translucent plastic, definitely.
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pebbles, shells, fossils, old utensils, plates, plastic veggies, flowers, the stuff in the back of the junk drawer, etc etc in an acrylic cast, like those paperwieghts. Or under glass, if you are a cronic re-organizer.
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Yes, we're definitely trolling now....
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For daydreaming: what about pyrolave. French slabs
of volcanic rock glazed with ceramic finish of any
colour, like purple! Any size. Various hardnesses.
Great depth of colour. Impervious to everything,
"Warmer" than granite they say (volcanic heat??)
... and so upscale you could use it and no one
would know the difference. Maybe just a little
tiny piece.
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I've got concrete and maple (both end and edge-grain maple). I truly love them both.
As others have mentioned, there have been several previous postings re: countertop material, try running a few searches or troll the archives. Also, you may want to get ideas from over at the Fine Cooking Forum.
If you need any additional advice regarding concrete drop me a line.
Regards, Mongo
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Pauli,
We just finished a major renovation, kitchen included. We had planned to have concrete counters next to the range, but found a great alternative before we took on that job.
In an area 'bargain bulletin' type publication we saw a listing for 3' by 4', one inch thick slate. The people selling them had purchased a large supply of slate pool table top sections.
They were selling them for $20 each. I bought four. We had a stone mason cut them to size for us.
We put them in. Oiled them with mineral oil. They look great.
The only warning I came across in researching slate counter tops is that you would want to aoid them where you will be using dishes often (like a stacking area by the sink)-- because of the noise.
Bob
*Anybody seen a counter made of metal plate? Such as one inch copper or stainless steel?
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Once heard of an architect who had a couter top made from the marble stall of a mens room in an old building being torn down. Word is after having the top cut & installed on a beautiful new cabinet the smell of urine penetrated the air once inside the house with the heat running. Seems someone peeed on the stall and it was absorbed into the pourus marble forever. I would think twice before using second hand materials or you might get peed off.
*Marble is a poor choice for kitchen counters, regardless of the source. It is too chemically reactive to too many different substances to make a good choice for a kitchen.
*... especially if previously soaked in urine ...Well, it is the most sterile fluid in the body. Probably beats any poultry you might bring home.
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We're designing a new kitchen, at last; I like to tell people I get such fine work 'cause I sleep with my contractor--he's my husband of 27 years!
I am still searching for the perfect kitchen countertop. Granite is a little upscale for this neighborhood, but not out of the question. I like it, though it's maybe a little hoity toity for me personally...
I'm feeling somewhat adventurous; the current FH cover article is intriguing, tho I don't know about a counter top that looks like leather....I've always had formica, which I guess I've now outgrown.
Tile counters?!? Having grown up on the East coast, where such things were unheard of, I have never gotten over the weirdness of putting grout near where meat juices, vegetable leaves, etc. contact. Always has seemed to me a handy way to grow lots and lots of bacteria....
Butcher block? High maintenance, same concerns about bacteria.
Corian looks like jack cheese to me....
Stainless steel? I'm not into a high tech look, though the concept appeals.
My taste is old world elegant funk...if that makes any sense. Clean lines, flagstone floor, warm woods, candelabra, ferns, purple velvet.
So--my questions are:
Anyone know anyone in the west San Fernando valley (might as well be specific) who could accomplish a knockout cement kitchen counter?
Any other ideas for a sanitary, attractive, not outrageously expensive kitchen counter surface?
Thanks much!