Selecting Kitchen Countertop Materials

Kitchen countertop material selection is not hard, but it is full of more choices than ever before. You now have a range of new countertop materials and applications that have expanded choices in patterns, colors, and textures. While, mixing and matching different countertop materials and elements has gained in popularity.

For instance you might pair one counter top material for the island countertop and pick another to pair with the cabinetry that runs along the walls. Or, you could use stainless steel adjoining the cooktop with a marble insert for a bake center and solid surface material around the perimeter. When looking at choices for your countertop material give some thought also to them as a matching or completely different backsplash

Besides enhancing the function of your kitchen work surfaces, counter top materials that you choose can be the anchor for your kitchen design and decorating theme.A natural choice for a rustic or country style kitchen is wood, while a concrete countertop looks at home in a contemporary setting. Concrete is gaining in popularity as a kitchen counter top material because it is becoming available in a wide array of colors and the relative ease of acquiring it. You can get concrete prefabricated or it can be poured into a mold on site. Then you have the flexibility to add the color of your choice to the concrete and/or create a personalized inlaid design by adding shells, glass, china, stones or whatever your imagination can come up with.

When it comes to selecting kitchen countertop materials your personal taste and the function it is intended for will ultimately determine your choice. Really, there are no hard and fast rules to apply to the countertop material you choose. However the one factor that it is important for you to consider while choosing is the maintenance required. Before you make a final choice remember that some materials require more care than others. It does not matter how perfect a counter top material fits into your kitchen design if it requires more care and attention than you are are able or willing to give it. For example marble countertops are beautiful but they must be sealed periodically. Because it is a soft porous stone sealing must be done so that it does not absorb liquids, even water can leave a mark, which could stain it.

In essence the new counter top materials and applications give you options that did not exist in the not so recent past. This can be a good thing. You now have more choices in colors, pattern and textures than ever before when deciding what material will best fit your kitchen's design. Whether choice of kitchen countertop material is wood like butcherblock, laminate, stone such as granite, solid source, man made engineered stone or any of the other choices keep this in mind. Just make sure that the material you pick is practical for the area it is to be placed in to ensure longevity. And, be aware of the maintenance and care required to keep your choice looking as beautiful as the day you selected your kitchen countertop material and had it installed.

Want more specific information, such as the countertop materials qualities and care/maintenance requirements? To help you select the best countertop material for your kitchen Click here at Kitchen.Countertops-And-Cabinets.Com to recieve what you need to make informed decisions in one place.

Also, to get or share kitchen design ideas and to see what is happening in kitchen design today go to http://Countertops-And-Cabinets.Com