Countertops

A kitchen island can be the heart of a home, especially for those who love to entertain. It serves as a gathering place, a food prep station, and a stylish focal point that brings everything together. Choosing the right countertop is essential to ensure durability, elegance, and practicality. Stone surfaces stand out as the best choice, offering beauty and longevity while enhancing the overall function of the space.

Granite: Timeless Beauty and Strength

Granite remains a top contender for homeowners who want a balance of luxury and resilience. Each slab is unique, offering natural variations in color and veining that add character to any kitchen. Beyond aesthetics, granite is highly resistant to heat, making it an excellent choice for those who frequently cook or serve hot dishes. With proper sealing, it stands up well to spills, stains, and everyday wear, ensuring that the island maintains its striking appearance for years.

Quartz: Low Maintenance With High Impact

For those who prioritize easy upkeep, quartz offers an excellent alternative to natural stone. Engineered from crushed stone and resin, quartz provides a non-porous surface that resists stains, scratches, and bacteria. This makes it particularly well-suited for entertaining, as spills from wine, coffee, or sauces can be wiped away without worry. Available in a vast range of colors and patterns, quartz can mimic the look of natural stone while offering consistency in design. Its durability and lack of required sealing make it a favorite for busy households.

Marble: Sophistication With a Unique Touch

Marble has long been associated with elegance, making it a stunning choice for those who want to elevate their kitchen island. Its natural veining creates a one-of-a-kind look that adds a sense of refinement. While marble requires more maintenance than other stone options, regular sealing helps protect against stains and etching. Many homeowners embrace the way marble develops a patina over time, seeing it as a testament to years of shared meals and celebrations. For those who love to bake, its naturally cool surface is ideal for rolling out dough or working with delicate pastries.

Quartzite: The Best of Both Worlds

Quartzite combines the durability of granite with the luxurious appearance of marble, making it an excellent option for entertainers who want the best of both. Unlike quartz, which is engineered, quartzite is a natural stone formed from sandstone and heat. It offers high resistance to heat and scratches, and when sealed properly, it holds up well against stains. The intricate patterns and natural colors of quartzite bring depth and character to a kitchen, making it an eye-catching choice for an island that will see frequent use.

Maximizing Functionality for Entertaining

The right stone countertop is just one piece of designing a kitchen island that works well for hosting. Size and shape matter, as an island should provide enough space for guests to gather without disrupting the flow of the room. A waterfall edge, where the countertop extends down the sides, can create a striking visual effect while protecting against scuffs and spills. Choosing a finish also plays a role. Polished surfaces reflect light and add a glossy touch, and honed or leathered finishes offer a more subtle, textured appearance that can hide fingerprints and smudges.

Creating a Space That Invites Conversation

A well-designed kitchen island encourages interaction. Whether it’s a casual brunch with friends or an evening of cocktails and appetizers, a thoughtfully chosen countertop enhances the experience. Durable stone surfaces withstand years of use, providing a reliable workspace that remains as beautiful as the day it was installed. With the right material, an island can serve as a place for meal prep, serving, and gathering, all while adding value to the home. And if you’re ready to invite a new kitchen island into your home, KG Stevens has the stone selection and expertise you need. Reach out today for a free quote for your kitchen island!

If you’re a first-time homeowner, especially if you’re building a new home, you have a lot of choices to make. Or maybe you’ve owned your home for a while and want to invest in a major countertop upgrade for the first time. 

Either way, if you’ve never gotten to choose your kitchen countertop before, this is a great opportunity that can even be fun! But you have a lot to consider– and that’s what we’re here for. At KG Stevens, we love helping people find the perfect countertop and can guide you through every part of the process.

Balancing Durability and Maintenance

A kitchen countertop must handle constant use, from meal preparation to entertaining guests. Some materials offer exceptional resistance to heat, stains, and scratches, making them ideal for busy households. Others, like marble, require regular sealing to maintain their appearance and prevent damage. 

Homeowners who prefer minimal upkeep may lean toward non-porous surfaces that resist moisture and bacteria, like quartz, while those who value natural stone’s unique beauty may be willing to invest in occasional maintenance to preserve its elegance.

When it comes to stone countertops, you have two choices at first: natural or engineered stone. Engineered stone like quartz is lighter weight than natural stone, comes in more colors than natural stone, and does not need to be sealed. 

Natural stone, like granite, marble, and quartzite, has a very specific look that is hard to replicate, and while it does need occasional sealing, natural stone is extremely durable and will last for years in your home. Your fabricator will be able to talk to you about your specific needs and how they can be met by different types of countertop.

Considering The Look

The countertop serves as one of the most visible design elements in a kitchen, influencing the overall look of the space. Whether the goal is a sleek, modern feel or a warm, traditional atmosphere, the right material and color choice can bring the vision to life. 

Some options feature bold veining and dramatic patterns, while others offer subtle variations for a softer, more understated effect. A polished finish creates a glossy, light-reflecting surface, while a honed, chiseled, or leathered finish provides a textured appearance that can help hide fingerprints– which is often appreciated by parents with small children. 

You should expect to make at least one, if not more, showroom appointments with your fabricator, and ask if you can take samples home so that you can see how different stone samples look in your home’s lighting. 

Customizing the Details

Beyond material and finish, additional design choices refine the look and functionality of a countertop. So you need to think about edge profiles and countertop thickness! Edge profiles, for example, range from simple, straight cuts that suit contemporary kitchens to rounded or beveled designs that add a classic touch. 

Waterfall edges, where the countertop extends down the sides of an island, create a striking visual effect while offering extra protection against scuffs and spills. 

Selecting the right thickness can also influence the overall feel, with thicker slabs making a bold statement and thinner profiles offering a more subtle, lightweight appearance. Depending on where your countertop is and what it will be used for, your fabricator will likely have advice about the thickness of your slab.

Making a Long-Term Investment

A well-chosen countertop provides lasting value, offering both beauty and practicality for years to come. So when you invest in a new kitchen countertop, you need to make sure it’s just right for you! 

High-quality materials maintain their appeal through daily use, resisting wear while enhancing the kitchen’s design. By considering durability, maintenance requirements, and personal style, you can make a confident decision that suits your needs and elevates the space. And don’t feel like you have to do this all on your own! 

Here at KG Stevens, we have your back every step of the way. Reach out to us for a free consultation today!