So Many Choices For Kitchen Counter Tops

by Sara
(Chicago, IL, USA)

For me perhaps the most difficult feature of my newly redesigned kitchen was the choice of kitchen counter tops. In the era in which my house was built, the kitchen counter tops would have been wood countertops.

I wanted to remain true to the 1900s look of my home yet I wanted the benefits provided by a modern material. I began asking family and friends for opinions and guidance.

For days I kept hearing my older sister’s voice echoing “granite, granite” while my mother’s sang “Corian countertops are marvelous.” My best friend, the chef, chose stainless steel countertops, and my other best friend the artist chose recycled glass countertops.

My younger eco-minded sister had just installed bamboo countertops and my brother crowed about the benefits of slate. Can you begin to see my dilemma?

Granite is gorgeous, no doubt about it, and certainly holds the focal point in my older sister’s historic Charleston, South Carolina kitchen but she had more funds to spend than I allocated to this portion of my kitchen remodeling budget.

The same proved true for Mother’s marvelous Corian countertops and Chef Nancy’s stainless steel (though I liked the antibacterial feature of the stainless, with an eight year old child in the house I couldn’t imagine spending the time needed to wipe away handprints made every time he walked by).

Artist Jeri used recycled glass to decorate her countertops with an image which could have come straight off of one of her canvas paintings. She often gets requests for customized work after she’s hosted a party in her home.

In fact, remodeling contractors call her to ask if they can brings clients by to show the versatility of glass.

When my younger sister installed bamboo countertops in her Fort Lauderdale home, I imagined swaying palms and poolside wicker chairs. She has neither but the image was lovely yet didn’t quite transfer into my midwestern home.

Finally there was slate countertops. It is easy to take care of and offers the beauty and durability of granite at a fraction of the cost. Congratulations to my brother’s wisdom! I love my slate countertops!!