Countertop designs such as marble, granite, quartz, quartzite, steel, and more catch the attention of the user instantly. Also, it is a solution that has one of the most ‘tangible values’ in the area of its application. Literally! Countertops have major applications in areas like modern modular kitchen designs, bathrooms, and restaurants.
Today, there are various materials available in the market for use on kitchen counters. Moreover, this marks a major shift from the recent past where marble countertops and granite countertops have traditionally held the fort.
Image Source: quantra.in
In addition to marble and granite, we now have engineered stone and within that, there are many categories including quartz surfaces. Moreover, we also have solid surfaces, stainless steel, wood, and more, that are used as kitchen counter decor materials. So, with so many different materials available, making the right choices becomes more interesting as well as perplexing.
Contents
- 1 Marble countertops for kitchen
- 2 Granite countertop designs for modular kitchen
- 3 Engineered stone countertop designs for kitchen
- 4 Solid Surfaces countertop designs for kitchen
- 5 Quartz countertop designs for kitchen
- 6 Stainless Steel Countertop designs for kitchen
- 7 Wooden countertop designs for kitchen
- 8 Quartzite countertop designs for modern kitchen
- 9 Conclusion
Marble countertops for kitchen
Marble or a natural stone has been used in our kitchen counter designs ever since we can remember. Also, this material has been in the market even before the entry of modular kitchen designs, or the kitchen decor as we know them today.
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Advantages of marble countertop
- Being a natural material, it is available in abundance.
- Low priced solution – prices start from as low as INR.50 per sq. ft.
- Moreover, they remain easy to install. Also, contractors can handle the material quite easily.
- Robust and lasts a lifetime.
| Also see: Design of island kitchen: Things to know & 15 ideas to steal |
Disadvantages of marble countertop
- Limited colours – Natural kitchen counter materials have a limitation in terms of availability of colours, and non-uniformity in design and patterns.
- Also, natural materials sometimes have surface defects like spots.
- A bulky material to handle and install.
- Furthermore, the surface of marble sometimes needs to be ‘corrected’ with ‘fillers’ to cover any gaps.
- It’s an unorganized market to quality across lots is not consistent.
- Moreover, marble countertop surfaces are difficult to maintain due to thE porous nature of marble. Also, oil and other stains are difficult to remove.
Marble countertop designs
The rich marble countertop definitely gives a luxurious kitchen decor and feel. So, let’s check out some amazing marble countertop ideas.
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| Also see: 7 Popular kitchen cabinet colour schemes to match your appliances |
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Granite countertop designs for modular kitchen
A granite countertop can be counted among the first of the ‘designer’ countertop kitchen ideas in modular kitchens and other countertops applications like bathrooms and restaurants. Moreover, one of the strongest materials for such applications, granite countertops still occupies a major chunk of the kitchen counters market. But as is the case with marble and Kota stone, natural granite is available only in limited colour options.
Image Source: rkmarble.com
Advantages of granite countertop
- Being a natural material, it is available in abundance.
- Low priced solution – Granite price starts from as low as INR.100 per sq. ft.
- Easy to install. Also, contractors can handle the material quite easily.
- Moreover, it is robust and lasts a lifetime.
- A better modern countertop material over marble and Kota due to its ‘design value’.
Disadvantages of granite countertop
- Limited colours – Natural kitchen counter materials have a limitation in terms of the availability of colours and finishes.
- Furthermore, natural materials sometimes have surface defects like spots.
- Also, it is a bulky material to handle and install.
- Moreover, the surface of the marble countertop type sometimes needs to be ‘corrected’ with ‘fillers’ to cover any gaps. Also, in granite, it’s sometimes tricky to identify such fillings. So, these fillings come off with usage leaving gaps behind.
- Also, it’s mostly an unorganized market so quality is not consistent, except those provided by branded players.
Granite countertop designs
Although available in limited colours, granite countertops transform the look of the modular kitchen. So, let’s look at some stunning granite countertops.
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Engineered stone countertop designs for kitchen
As the name suggests, engineered stone is a man-made material. Moreover, this modern countertop type was designed to counter the inherent problems with natural countertops materials like marble, Kota, and granite. Typically, natural stone is the basic material of engineered stone.
Additionally, the natural stone (this also comes from the unutilized stone from quarries) is crushed and mixed with a bonding material to give a seamless look to the final product called engineered stone. Moreover, since it’s made in factories, design patterns and color options are limitless. Also, these are getting popular across markets.
Image Source: Love Daily Dose
Advantages of engineered stone countertop
- Seamless finishes on the kitchen counters.
- Furthermore, a man-made kitchen counter material, it is available in a vast variety of colours, shades, sizes, and thicknesses.
- Moreover, owing to the availability of variety, this countertop type gives more creative flexibility to Architects and Interior Designers.
- It uses up the unutilized stone from quarries and hence helps in reducing manufacturing wastages.
- Also, it is reasonably priced, though higher than marble, Kota, and granite. Moreover, prices start from INR 500 per sq. ft.
- Moreover, easy to work on during installation – Engineered stone, because of its structure is easy to ‘mould’ around the corners and tricky places like the sink area in bathrooms and kitchens.
- The finishing of this countertop type is better compared to natural materials like marble, Kota, and granite.
Disadvantages of engineered stone countertop
- Awareness about the engineered stone not very high.
- Moreover, it faces competition from granite owing to its cost.
- Low-quality suppliers in engineered stone are a challenge.
Additionally, Brands like Neolith, Dekton, and Lapitec (sintered stone materials) provide quality solutions in this category.
Engineered stone countertop designs
The beautiful textures of engineered stone countertops make them very popular in domestic kitchens. So, take a look at some gorgeous countertops.
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Solid Surfaces countertop designs for kitchen
Solid surfaces have been used as countertops and cladding material for some time now. As a category, solid surfaces was made popular by Corian – a DuPont product. Moreover, Corian, as a name, became so popular that the category itself was loosely referred to by that name. Additionally, when modular kitchens started gaining traction in the market, colour elements also became important.
Therefore, the kitchen suppliers could provide colour in their kitchens through cabinet finishes – from basic laminates to high-end lacquer finishes. So, even the kitchen sinks gained colour flexibility with the introduction of ‘quartz sinks’. Moreover, it left the countertops market open for colour experimentation. And solutions like Corian countertops fit in quite well.
Today, in addition to DuPont, there are many more well-known players like Staron, Greenply, Durlax, and others.
Image Source: corian.in
Advantages of solid surfaces countertops
- Extensive colour options.
- Moreover, kitchen sinks can also be made out of this material giving a uniform look to the countertop area.
- Seamless. So, no joints are visible.
- Additionally, it is a light material and easy to handle.
- Quick installation time. So, this can be done in a couple of hours for a standard size kitchen.
- Consistency in quality – Many reputed players in the market.
- Resistant to stains.
- Moreover, it is ideal for cold and warm weather conditions, including outdoor seating areas.
Disadvantages of solid surfaces countertops
- Soft material – gets scratches easily.
- Cannot tolerate high temperatures. So, if the kitchen or restaurant handles hot pans, it tends to deform at the heat touch-point.
Modern solid surfaces countertop designs
You can never go wrong with solid surface kitchen counters. Moreover, these go well with all types of kitchen interiors. So, check out some statement solid surface countertops.
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Quartz countertop designs for kitchen
Quartz or composite stone material is the next step in kitchen counter decor material. Moreover, it can also be classified as engineered stone. Also, we see quartz countertop surface as a separate category as it remains a standardized ingredient in these materials.
Moreover, it has a composition in which a majority of the material is quartz held together by resins. So, this lends strong structure to the quartz countertop surface making it very useful for various applications. Additionally, some of the leading suppliers include Corianquartz, Caesarstone and Quantra.
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Advantages of quartz countertop
- Strong material for kitchen counter applications
- Moreover, it comes in wide variety of colours and finishes
- Seamless span across the countertop type
- Sold by well-established brands so quality is high
- Additionally, installation is handled by trained installers and so the fit and finish are good.
- Also, it comes with a long life.
Disadvantages of quartz countertop
- Product awareness
- Price – though with the market attracting new players, prices are coming down.
Quartz countertop designs
The flawless finish of quartz countertops makes it a perfect kitchen countertop material. So, choose your favourite quartz countertop.
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Stainless Steel Countertop designs for kitchen
By its very nature, stainless steel is one of the most robust materials for countertops. Moreover, the real challenge with stainless steel countertop for modern kitchen design idea is that it is a work-hardy material.
Also, what this means is that the more you work on stainless steel countertop, the more difficult it becomes to ‘handle’ it. Additionally, if there is a good supplier who knows this material, a stainless steel countertop is a life-long solution.
Image Source: neelkanthsinks.com
Advantages of stainless steel countertop
- Strong material and being stainless steel, is rust-free
- No maintenance
- Long-life solution
- Easy to clean
- Robust and lasts a lifetime.
- Moreover, it remains ideal for commercial kitchens and restaurants and public washrooms
Disadvantages of stainless steel countertop
- Colour limitations – only steel colour, though coloured steel options available.
- We need the right installer to do a neat job. So, that’s the real challenge in stainless steel for use in countertops for kitchen.
Moreover, Neelkanth Sinks and Fabrinox are some of the sources if you are looking at stainless steel countertops.
Stainless steel countertop designs
Not just highly functional and efficient, steel countertops also give a minimalist look to the kitchen. So, look and take delight in the following steel countertops.
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Wooden countertop designs for kitchen
As a kitchen countertop decor, wood looks very elegant and is timeless in its appeal. Moreover, western markets appreciate wood as a kitchen countertop type. This is also due to the climatic conditions and usage patterns – especially in cooking areas. Also, areas like dry kitchens with limited water usage suit very well to this material.
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| Also see: Kitchen cabinets: 15 trendsetting designs & storage configurations |
Advantages of wooden countertop
- High on aesthetics.
- Moreover, it remains easy availability of wood and wood derivatives across most markets.
- Easy to install. Moreover, contractors can handle the material quite easily.
- Additionally, if maintained well, it should last longer.
Disadvantages of wooden countertop
- Natural knots visible on the surfaces.
- Moreover, it is not suited for wet areas.
- Additionally, it needs reliable wood suppliers for quality material.
- Easy absorption or stains on wood.
Wooden countertop designs
Who can stay away from the rustic charm of the wooden countertops? So, take a look at the most beautiful wooden countertops for your kitchen.
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Quartzite countertop designs for modern kitchen
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The quartzite countertop is made of hard metamorphic rock. Sandstone, through a process of pressurization and high heating, transforms into quartzite. Therefore, the quartzite countertop makes for an extremely durable and strong natural stone kitchen countertop decor material. Moreover, the kitchen countertop material has a highly modern design and aesthetic value as well.
Advantages of quartzite countertop
- Colour never changes.
- Moreover, this kitchen countertop type resists UV radiation.
- Heat and fire resistance.
- Additionally, it has anti-graffiti and anti-stain properties.
Disadvantages of quartzite countertop
- Prone to scratches.
- Moreover, this kitchen countertop material is expensive.
- Additionally, installation remains a challenge.
Quartzite countertop designs
The detailed crystal look of the quartzite countertops is an absolute show-stealer. So, let’s look at some scintillating quartzite countertops.
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Another modern kitchen countertop design material, the Kota stone kitchen material has been with us for ages. Moreover, kota stone is the usual ‘grey’ stone that again finds applications not just on kitchen countertops but also in other areas like floorings, claddings, etc. Additionally, Kota stone is a natural material and is widely used, especially where costs need to be kept low.
Being a natural kitchen countertop material, it is available in abundance. Moreover, it remains an indigenous countertop material. These low-priced solutions – prices start from as low as INR.25 per sq. ft.
But they do not come in any other colour except grey. Also, they get stained easily as they absorb oils and colours. Also, the thickness of this kitchen countertop material does not remain uniform.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that there are various materials available for countertop applications. Also, we have seen, these are both natural and man-made. Moreover, each material comes with its own set of plusses and minuses.
What is important is to weigh the materials based on the application, budget, and creativity. And make a decision accordingly.
Moreover, one rider in countertop materials is that unlike many other categories in the home improvement market, this is an installation-dependent solution. So, you must take care not only while selecting the material suitable for your project but also do a careful selection of installation service providers.
Also, the various kitchen decor options make the selection even more exciting. So, you can choose the countertops for your kitchen decor from designer finishes in glossy, shiny, and matte texture, and numerous colour options.
The article offers a detailed insight into the different types of modern kitchen countertop materials so that you can make versatile choices when it comes to your modular kitchen design & decor projects.
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