Kitchen countertop?

[Greenman]

Cost wasn't the issue in the 20's, '30s or, 40's but, there were almighty few homes that had stone counters. Also, as much as I dislike Stainless consumer grade appliances, I love Stainless counter tops. Why don't clients consider them? Because, stone is the fashion.

It's because they are ugly. SS tops work great in a slaughter house or morgue, but they're completely synthetic looking and utilitarian. The same applies to cabinets, there are several good choices available, but most people prefer wood and Granite because they're natural and beautiful. They have value because of that. Fads don't. Fads are cheap and trendy, they don't stand the test of time, they don't last for thirty years.

 

[nageov3t]

ultimately, different options exist for different people. :thumbsup:

stainless steel would make my kitchen feel like it was a professional/industrial kitchen, which I'm sure it great for some people, but for me, my kitchen is the place where my friends and I eat and drink and hang out primarily, and the place where I happen to cook secondary. (of course, who knows how/if that'll change when we move into a house in a couple years)

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

And that's what you'll be doing all the time. Cleaning it.

They make sense for restaurant kitchens because they are durable, economical, and only the workers generally see them.

I said clean not, shiny without visible water marks. Only people who obsess about looks would think you have to clean stainless all the time. I keep a bucket of soapy water handy when I'm working in the kitchen and a spray bottle of bleach water. Clean when you're done and spray with bleach water. It looks just fine. If you don't like how my kitchen looks, stay the hell out. Oh, that's right, you're also a fan of the open floor plan. :thumbsdown:

 

[Midwayman]

SS is used because it is resistant to industrial cleaners. That same stuff would etch your shiny granite. I wouldn't want it in a kitchen personally. Something like a laundry room? Sure.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It's because they are ugly. SS tops work great in a slaughter house or morgue, but they're completely synthetic looking and utilitarian. The same applies to cabinets, there are several good choices available, but most people prefer wood and Granite because they're natural and beautiful. They have value because of that. Fads don't. Fads are cheap and trendy, they don't stand the test of time, they don't last for thirty years.

Once again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Polished stone counter tops aren't synthetic looking? How many places do you see that in nature? Fads don't have to be cheap. Can you say iPhones? You still haven't answered my previous questions about the lack of stone counters in even high end homes til recently since the era of the modern kitchen began in the 20's. I appreciate your 40 years of experience in the California market but, while the stone counters will be around in thirty years, I'll bet the fashion will be something else.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

SS is used because it is resistant to industrial cleaners. That same stuff would etch your shiny granite. I wouldn't want it in a kitchen personally. Something like a laundry room? Sure.

That's just one of the benefits. Personally, I use basic soap and water for clean up of stainless counter tops. I like woods and stone, I just prefer stainless kitchen counters.

 

[K1052]

I said clean not, shiny without visible water marks. Only people who obsess about looks would think you have to clean stainless all the time. I keep a bucket of soapy water handy when I'm working in the kitchen and a spray bottle of bleach water. Clean when you're done and spray with bleach water. It looks just fine. If you don't like how my kitchen looks, stay the hell out. Oh, that's right, you're also a fan of the open floor plan. :thumbsdown:

Oddly enough I don't own the development company that designed my unit/building or any of the comparable ones in buildings not over 30 years old so I didn't have a lot of input into the layout...so yes the kitchen is part of the living space.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Oddly enough I don't own the development company that designed my unit/building or any of the comparable ones in buildings not over 30 years old so I didn't have a lot of input into the layout...so yes the kitchen is part of the living space.

I agree kitchens are part of the living space whether they're open to the rest of the house or not but, they are first and foremost kitchens. I don't decorate my kitchen for my friends or, possible home buyers. The trend to open floor design came from parent's who wanted to keep an eye on kids or, feel more a part of whatever is going on. Never mind that most current families needs could be met with a refrigerator that has a built in microwave. Open floor designs also make smaller spaces appear larger which does nothing for actual utility. Back to counter tops--

Stainless counter tops can easily be retro fitted to existing kitchens, can be seamless with built in splash guards with rounded corners to allow no place for crumbs or grime to hide. Built in counter top appliances (fryers, pasta or, rice cookers etc.) can easily be added later. Try that with stone counters.

 

[mikeford]

Standard advice for home remodeling, go look at some higher end new construction, model homes etc. and see what the trend is. If you don't like it, ignore it, but if you do it will mean serious $$$ down the line when your house is sold.

Recently I've seen a kitchen done with what looks at least like some kind of wood counters, but I forget what they called them, looked really nice.

As for a hot pot, I always put down a trivet.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Standard advice for home remodeling, go look at some higher end new construction, model homes etc. and see what the trend is. If you don't like it, ignore it, but if you do it will mean serious $$$ down the line when your house is sold.

Recently I've seen a kitchen done with what looks at least like some kind of wood counters, but I forget what they called them, looked really nice.

As for a hot pot, I always put down a trivet.

Possibly bamboo? The problem is people do this all the time whether they're intending to sell or not. How many houses have you seen with boring off white walls that have been lived in for years and years? When they repaint, it's the same boring color within a shade or two. Most folks are unthinking creatures of habit.

 

[mikeford]

Possibly bamboo? The problem is people do this all the time whether they're intending to sell or not. How many houses have you seen with boring off white walls that have been lived in for years and years? When they repaint, it's the same boring color within a shade or two. Most folks are unthinking creatures of habit.

The whiter the white the better it sells the house.

 

[Micrornd]

This -
http://www.dekton.com/usa/

Available at HD, Lowes, etc.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This -
http://www.dekton.com/usa/

Available at HD, Lowes, etc.

Looks like a good product although that website is horrendous. Who do they think they're selling to? What are the costs on that?

 

[Micrornd]

Looks like a good product although that website is horrendous. Who do they think they're selling to? What are the costs on that?

The site is not really aimed at consumer sales, just general info.
Consentino is international and has showrooms.
http://usa.cosentinocenter.com/locator/

Lowes and HD have consumer info in my area, but it is still a pretty new product for both of them, been in use in Europe for a while
$80-$150 sq.ft installed depending on region, competition, thickness, etc.
So generally cheaper than good granite and about the same as good quartz. :biggrin:

I particularly like how in some of their literature they caution about setting a hot pot or pan on the Dekton surface.
Not because it will damage the surface, but because the surface will show no sign of damage and you may burn yourself by leaning on or touching the hot Dekton surface.

Really interesting company.
I was researching quality quartz for our planned spring kitchen remodel, when I stumbled on to Consentino and Dekton.
Family owned Spanish company, est.1940 and considered the world leader in stone, marble, and synthetic stone and quartz.
Silestone, the original and first quartz surface product, was their biggest hit to date (and what all others copied), but Dekton looks to be bigger.

 

[AMCRambler]

Gets too cold and the old lady doesn't like to make whoopie on it. Corian stays warmer on her delicate derrierre.

 

[purbeast0]

Once again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Polished stone counter tops aren't synthetic looking? How many places do you see that in nature? Fads don't have to be cheap. Can you say iPhones? You still haven't answered my previous questions about the lack of stone counters in even high end homes til recently since the era of the modern kitchen began in the 20's. I appreciate your 40 years of experience in the California market but, while the stone counters will be around in thirty years, I'll bet the fashion will be something else.

did you really just call the iphone a fad? or is my sarcasm meter broken?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The site is not really aimed at consumer sales, just general info.
Consentino is international and has showrooms.
http://usa.cosentinocenter.com/locator/

Lowes and HD have consumer info in my area, but it is still a pretty new product for both of them, been in use in Europe for a while
$80-$150 sq.ft installed depending on region, competition, thickness, etc.
So generally cheaper than good granite and about the same as good quartz. :biggrin:

I particularly like how in some of their literature they caution about setting a hot pot or pan on the Dekton surface.
Not because it will damage the surface, but because the surface will show no sign of damage and you may burn yourself by leaning on or touching the hot Dekton surface.

Really interesting company.
I was researching quality quartz for our planned spring kitchen remodel, when I stumbled on to Consentino and Dekton.
Family owned Spanish company, est.1940 and considered the world leader in stone, marble, and synthetic stone and quartz.
Silestone, the original and first quartz surface product, was their biggest hit to date (and what all others copied), but Dekton looks to be bigger.

Stainless is $40 to $60 a sq. foot installed. Although it has the same heat problem. I always forget after taking a sheet pan of bacon out of the oven and setting it on the counter when I go to do some paperwork in the same spot.

 

[nageov3t]

did you really just call the iphone a fad? or is my sarcasm meter broken?

the aesthetic is a bit, I'm sure.

I can easily see our kids asking us wtf we were thinking with everything all white/minimalist, everywhere.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

did you really just call the iphone a fad? or is my sarcasm meter broken?

Tell me what 'magical' attributes iPhones have brought to communication that can't be found in other cheaper technologies.

Stone counters are great! I'd put them in a butler's pantry in a heartbeat. For kitchen counters, nothing beats the durability, cost and, ease of maintenance of Stainless Steel.

 

[K1052]

Tell me what 'magical' attributes iPhones have brought to communication that can't be found in other cheaper technologies.

multi-touch was kind of a big deal
increasingly iMessage
inconsistent build quality among Android based products
app ecosystem
touch id
now apple pay (as a merchant I love this)

 

[purbeast0]

Tell me what 'magical' attributes iPhones have brought to communication that can't be found in other cheaper technologies.

Stone counters are great! I'd put them in a butler's pantry in a heartbeat. For kitchen counters, nothing beats the durability, cost and, ease of maintenance of Stainless Steel.

i don't think you know what fad means.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

multi-touch was kind of a big deal
increasingly iMessage
inconsistent build quality among Android based products
app ecosystem
touch id
now apple pay (as a merchant I love this)

These have enhanced communication how? This isn't the thread for this argument. OTOH, I can build built in cooling, heating, internet access and ventilation into a counter top. Does it make it a better counter top? No. Are there stand alone products that do all these things better? Yes. Am I willing to pay more for a counter top made by Apple? Hell no!

 

[Carson Dyle]

I went with quartz when I remodeled. Non-porous, available in lots of colors, and basically indestructible as long as you don't do anything really stupid.

+1

I've been really impressed with the quartz countertops that we had installed three years ago. Not a single scratch, stain or blemish yet. It's amazingly durable and much lower maintenance than granite, which requires sealing. I also like the more uniform coloring/patterning of quartz.

 

[K1052]

These have enhanced communication how? This isn't the thread for this argument. OTOH, I can build built in cooling, heating, internet access and ventilation into a counter top. Does it make it a better counter top? No. Are there stand alone products that do all these things better? Yes. Am I willing to pay more for a counter top made by Apple? Hell no!

Well there is this thing called the internet...

Edit: I have to ask. What stand alone products would you use to replace a smartphone without any loss of convenience or functionality?

 

[TheAdvocate]

I vote for synthetics... same look w/o the seams
even laminates are tempting these days

Depends on where you get it. I have a ridiculously long single piece of granite (uba tuba) that runs about 6' from my stove to my sink, makes a bend for the country (double) sink, then makes a second bend for another 2+ feet on the other side. People don't believe it's possible til they see it, but it can be done.

This isn't mine, but it's about the same size.

That said, I'm burned out on granite. Stained concrete seems interesting to me.