9 Top Kitchen Countertop Materials

You might think you know what kind of countertop you want for your luxury home...until you start shopping for countertop materials. The choices are dazzling, and all have compelling characteristics, but the options have become almost limitless.

It’s important to put a lot of thought into your countertop choice. Counters, just like flooring, are not easily torn out and replaced. Plus, you’ll be looking at the decision you make every day.

When selecting your countertop material, balance how you use your kitchen with your home’s style. This will help narrow down the choices.

Here are nine top countertop materials that will bring beauty and luxury to any kitchen.

1. Granite

You can’t start a conversation about counters without talking about granite first. It’s beautiful, durable, low maintenance, and popular. It comes in a range of light or dark earthy tones and has few vulnerabilities to moisture or heat. Another desirable quality of granite is its resistance to staining.

This stone demands a hefty price tag due to its durability and beauty. Many variables affect granite pricing, including the country of origin, the grade of stone stock, the thickness, and pattern variations.

2. Quartz

If you want more color or pattern options, consider quartz. This material is an engineered stone made from crushed quartz, resins, and polymers. Manufacturers add pigments to create hues beyond what natural granite can offer.

In addition to a multitude of color choices, quartz counters are:

• Very resistant to scratching and staining
• Nonporous and impenetrable by bacteria
• Low maintenance

Cambria, Caesarstone, and Silestone are some well-known quartzite brands. Despite its engineered status, quartz is a premium countertop material worthy of luxury homes.

3. Marble

Marble has been synonymous with luxury since ancient times and comes with a price tag worthy of a Roman emperor. Bold streaks of color on contrasting backgrounds define the look of marble and make it instantly recognizable as a high-end material.

No one can dispute that marble is gorgeous, but you need to know what to expect from it in a kitchen. This stone lacks the hardness of granite and can be scratched or stained. For this reason, you may want to reserve its use for counters where you don’t expect to do much prep work.

On an interesting note, pastry chefs adore working on marble. The stone naturally stays cool so you can work that delicate pastry dough on the surface with greater success.

If baking is one of your hobbies, you might love to install a baker’s marble counter area in your kitchen.

4. Metal

Metal counters have come out of commercial kitchens and into homes. They have emerged as a new kitchen trend because of their style and utility.

You have a choice of metal materials, including:

• Stainless steel
• Copper
• Bronze
• Brass
• Zinc

Stainless steel is tough, easy to clean, and ready to perform for decades.

A copper metal counter infuses a kitchen with warmth due to its color. Copper will develop a patina and darken with age, but you have the option of keeping it shiny with regular polishing. It also has antimicrobial qualities.

Bronze and brass offer alternatives to copper while providing similar colors. Once again, you can let the metal darken or keep it polished. As alloys, these metals are stronger than copper.

Zinc is a specialty metal countertop traditionally used for oyster bars. It can be used throughout the kitchen for a gorgeous effect. Instead of being nonreactive, like stainless steel, zinc reacts with most materials that touch it. The result is blue-gray patina that gives your kitchen a unique look.

5. Solid Surface

This budget-friendly alternative to stone countertops appeals because of its versatility. As an engineered product manufactured from acrylic and resin, counters can be formed into any custom shape.

Available from multiple brands such as DuPont Corian, Samsung Staron, and Formica, solid surface material is:

• Hygienic
• Stain resistant
• Similar in appearance to stone
• Vulnerable to hot pans

6. Butcher Block

Hardwood countertops are back in style. Classic butcher block adds warmth to a kitchen. Current kitchen trends have adopted butcher block as an accent look on an island or other workstation. However, the wooden counters work effectively throughout the kitchen and pair nicely with white cabinets.

What to know about butcher block countertops:

• Available in a variety of woods
• Long-lasting
• Should be sanitized regularly with vinegar water rinse
• Damage can be sanded out
• Can be oiled or sealed
  
  

You can use the counters directly as cutting boards if you don’t seal or oil them.

7. Poured Concrete

Admittedly, poured concrete is the least sexy name for countertop material. Even so, it can produce excellent results in many home interior styles.

A big positive with concrete countertops is the ability to achieve custom colors and textures. You might not even realize it’s concrete with some of these counters.

You will need to seal the concrete surface, but it’s still at risk of chipping, cracking, or staining. Aside from those concerns, poured concrete is scratch resistant and not troubled by contact with hot pans.

8. Soapstone

For a unique look, you could consider soapstone. This natural stone comes in grayish or almost black tones with pale veins.

As a lesser-known luxury option, soapstone costs more, but investment delivers a durable countertop that will develop a unique patina as time goes by. You will need to stay on top of maintenance because soapstone should be oiled about three times a year.

9. Tile

Tile gives you a multitude of options in terms of color and pattern. You can go with a solid color, choose decorative patterns, or use both. There are even quartz and granite tile options if you want stone without using weighty slabs of solid stone.

Tiles resist staining and are easy to clean. Keep in mind that tiles are vulnerable to breaking if something heavy is dropped on them.

Tile introduces decorative possibilities that can make a luxury kitchen an eye-popping delight.

The Kitchen Is Just One Element of a Luxury Lifestyle

Kitchens are a focal point of any home. They are top gathering spots for family and friends, so choosing the right countertop material is essential.

At Bella Collina, our custom home sites give you a blank slate where you and your builder can fine-tune every detail of your dream home, including selecting a beautiful material for your kitchen countertop. If you choose one of our move-in-ready homes, you’ll find premium materials in the kitchens.

Whether you build a home at Bella Collina or move into an existing home, luxury will be at the center of your life.