TIP: "Choose your countertop first before anything. It can cost more per square foot than any other item in your kitchen and has the biggest impact on your colour palette. Be in love with the countertop you chose." - C. Marie Hebson, InteriorsBYDESIGNinc.
TIP: "If your home has an open plan, make sure that the countertops work with the other finishes, colors and fabrics within the same open space. Always be sure to look at stone samples in the actual kitchen itself. As with paint, light can cause the color of natural stone to vary greatly, so you'll want to look at it in its intended environment." - Paloma Contreras, Paloma Contreras Design
Tips for Redesigning Your Kitchen Countertops
TIP: "While many contemporary kitchens feature slab surfaces, tile countertops should not be overlooked. Tiles offer an endless array of color and style options and can be employed in innumerable ways to add personality and color. Never underestimate the importance of grout color, which can turn a dated look (classic white) to current (taupe or gray)." - Lindsay Pennington
TIP: "Get creative with edges and backsplashes. Choosing a built-up edge will give your countertops more substance and personality. Curved or stepped backsplashes are also great budget-friendly ways to add interest." - Terri Pakravan, Decor Dose
If you stick to the allocated amounts in each category and set aside a percentage for mistakes, your project should be completed without going over budget. Check out our article on kitchen remodel costs for ideas on how to properly allocate your money before you get started!
If you do want some flexibility to change things in your kitchen, limit those to finishing touches like fixtures, curtains, rugs, or decor because they can be easily returned, removed, or repositioned.
To avoid this common kitchen design mistake, take a look at your current layout and compare your likes and dislikes. If your list of likes is more than the dislikes, you might be able to make smaller adjustments that still improve the overall flow but don't require placing all your appliances in different places or changing the plumbing.
Maybe just buying a smaller stove can create a better thoroughfare through your kitchen. Perhaps putting floor-to-ceiling cabinets in an existing cabinet space is more practical than figuring out how to make room for a full pantry.
If you have the space in an island or other cabinets under your countertops, try adding a pullout shelf that holds up to two 27 quart trash cans. This not only hides your trash away but can be helpful when preparing food on the countertop above.
When planning your kitchen, it can be easy to underestimate how much storage space you will need, especially if you are planning on upgrading small appliances and other kitchen items during the process. The last thing you want to do is run out of space to store your food and dishware shortly after finishing your remodel.
Mix your cabinets with other kitchen features to add metaphorical whitespace to your kitchen walls. Break up your cabinet blocks with your stove and hood, a wall mounted microwave, or open shelving. We love framing kitchen windows with cabinets when possible, usually where you place your kitchen sink.
If you want taller or shorter countertops than the standard just for design or aesthetic reasons, remember that this could affect the resale value of your home. If you stick to the standard height, you can still accommodate differences.
Though dark colors can match certain aesthetics, they can make your space look smaller than it actually is. That may work for a large, open kitchen, but small kitchens can appear cramped and crowded if too much of the walls, cabinets, countertops, appliances, or flooring is dark.
Also, opening your kitchen up can significantly increase the cost of your renovation if you have knock down walls to make it happen. Improperly assessing the impact of removing walls could also lead to structural issues later. And on top of that, you also have to take more care to match the decor and style of your living and dining room to your kitchen.
If you already have an open kitchen layout or decide to create one, it can be easy to forget the impact your kitchen upgrades have on other furniture and decor. You have to look at your home from all angles!
But if every cabinet in your kitchen is open, things can quickly look messy if dishes are put away chaotically by young children or if you end up needing to store food on the shelves when you run out of room in your pantry. Open shelving also causes dishes to collect dust more quickly.
One of the most frustrating kitchen mistakes is not having enough electrical outlets! Are you the kind of cook who needs to plug in a blender, toaster, griddle, Instapot, and more all at once? Or maybe you just always need an outlet to charge your dying phone as you make your newest online recipe.
When designing a new kitchen layout, it may seem like a good idea to put your sink in a new spot or get a fridge with a built-in water dispenser. But many homeowners underestimate the practicality of moving plumbing to accommodate new additions and get stuck with a pushed back timeline and significantly extra costs.
Tasking lighting is meant for illuminating your counter or stove top for detailed tasks. You can install linear track lighting on the ceiling (usually over a bar or island), undercabinet lights to focus on your countertops, or hood range lights over your stove.
While the maintenance and durability of tile depend on the material, all tile countertops have one issue in common, which is that grout lines can be a challenge to keep clean and fresh looking. So, if your kitchen countertop tends to get dirty, you may want to consider darker-colored grout like gray or black.
Starting your remodeling project off on the right foot will help make the entire process much smoother. Before you plug in the first power tool or have a contractor start work, there are a few items that need to be addressed to install your countertops with as little hassle as possible.
Selecting the right contractor, including how to identify a good project bid, are out of scope for this article, but there are a few other tips we can share to help make your countertop installation go smoothly.
While installing new countertops, complete other kitchen upgrades before or after this project. It may be tempting to repaint the kitchen while installing new countertops, but juggling multiple projects in the same room can be a lot to manage. It can also lead to problems.
While the hard work is done, caring for any type of countertop is a long term investment. Be sure you know what your countertops need to maintain their appearance for years to come. Proper maintenance will help extend their life and preserve their value if you ever decide to sell the property.
With decades of experience, The Hardwood Lumber Company is a trusted manufacturer of butcher block countertops for kitchens. Shop our full selection of edge grain, end grain, and wide plank options to find the perfect look for your home.
Making the best use of your space is the most crucial part of a small kitchen remodel. If you plan to DIY your remodel project, make sure you have the necessary tools and materials and a floor plan that makes sense. If you can hire a kitchen designer, they can give you ideas for maximizing your square footage and cabinet storage that you may not have considered.
The budget for a kitchen remodel starts with the most significant items, including cabinets, countertops, and appliances. Once you've determined what you're spending on those three things, you can decide on the rest, including flooring, backsplash, lighting, and the sink and fixtures. Then comes decorative touches, such as paint, window treatments, and artwork.
Lighting can make a world of difference in a kitchen. It can make it look larger and brighter. And it will help you work safely and efficiently. You should have two different types of lighting in your kitchen:
And a final tip to help keep your frustration level down while the construction is going on: plan for a temporary kitchen. along with the plans for your new kitchen. You'll be happier (and less frustrated) if you've got a way to have dinner while construction is ongoing.
Quartz is one of the most common choices for countertops since it doesn't need to be sealed, and its seams blend well. Granite has been the standard for years and remains popular for its durability, high-end look, and added value to your home. Both are expensive, although quartz countertops are engineered stone, requiring more work and are priced higher."}},"@type": "Question","name": "Which countertop is the easiest to maintain?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Several countertops take the prize for easiest to maintain, namely laminate, quartz, and stainless steel. Quartz can withstand hot pots, sharp knives, and red wine spills without additional sealing or care. It's also waterproof. Stainless steel never needs sealing or refinishing, is easy to clean with mild soap products, and won't be stained by foods or dyes. They are heat resistant, standing up to hot pots and pans. Laminate is also non-porous and doesn't need any sealing but can eventually chip, but since it's the least expensive, it's the cheapest to replace.","@type": "Question","name": "What is the most affordable countertop?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Laminate countertops are the least expensive countertop option. You can dress them up by getting extras like end caps, mitered corners, or rounded, bullnose edges. You can get custom laminates made to look like granite, marble, or butcher block. They're lightweight and easy to install, but they can get scratched, burned, stained, chipped, or start peeling."]}]}] .icon-garden-review-1fill:#b1dede.icon-garden-review-2fill:none;stroke:#01727a;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round > buttonbuttonThe Spruce The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook NewslettersClose search formOpen search formSearch DecorRoom Design
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