Kitchen Countertops

Down to the details in our kitchen remodel plan! Stumped on countertops - leaning towards granite, looking for neutral that plays nice with brick and a vintage hood. Any suggestions?
Here's the overall plan so far...
The hood/brick are intended to be the focal pt of the room.
  20 answers
  • Kimberly Barney Kimberly Barney on Jul 07, 2013
    I think that the granite may compete and take away from the brick. I would suggest a concrete countertop.
  • Your Home, Only Better. Your Home, Only Better. on Jul 07, 2013
    That would look great. I'm also tying to think what backsplash (which only goes on the sink wall) would bring out the brown hood. Any ideas?
  • Niki Hart Niki Hart on Jul 08, 2013
    As a retired kitchen/bath designer, I suggest you do a little research on the surfaces you like. Granite is beautiful, but some upkeep is required, and you need to know the facts and if you are willing to re-seal it regularly. Quartz is granite-like, and easier care, but does not have the beauty that mother nature puts into granite. Corian is another surface to consider, but is not as durable as quartz or granite although the integral sinks are so easy to keep clean...so you see you have to be the decider, and you need to have all the facts and choose the one that fits your life style. Granite can chip, and stain, needs resealing occasionally. Quartz does not chip as easily, can take more heat on its surface, has a microban built in, no sealing. Corian is not heat resistant (even the sinks) but no seams, no sealing, no chipping, and sink and counter top are one solid piece due to the processing. Ask your dealer how far the counter will go before it needs a seam if you choose granite, as the seams will never "match" in pattern. Try to choose an edge that will resist chips, unlike the ogee edge. Know that each edge has a cost per running foot....see, lots of things to research! Good Luck!!
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Jul 08, 2013
    I used a granite looking formica ,cheaper I can change it more often when I get tired of it and have had many people think it WAS granite .I also do not the fact of if you drop something slass on granite it is broken ,not always so on formica.
  • Lorraine Chipman Lorraine Chipman on Jul 08, 2013
    Butcher block counter top would be beautiful in that kitchen and you can stain it whatever colour you like. Subwway tile for the backsplash in your sink area. It will complement your farm sink.
  • Hamtil Construction LLC Hamtil Construction LLC on Jul 08, 2013
    I also like the suggestion of quartz. It seems to me that with the brick already setting the tone for the space, adding another surface filled with natural flows and variations might clutter the look of the space. A quartz top will give you a high quality look and feel of a stone top, but with a very even pattern. Also, the low maintenance benefit can't be ignored either. We defer to quartz all the time, and our clients love it!
  • Shanna T Shanna T on Jul 08, 2013
    I can't tell the color of the hood. But I like the wood counter top idea. In a darker stain not natural. I would not do subway tile on the back splash because it's shape would compete with the brick. Soap stone would be nice on the counter too. Maybe leave the back splash the wall color or use the metal on the hood on it. Or maybe if you went with the granite or even soap stone, pull it up under the cabinets and over sink for the back splash. To me anything else would be to busy.
  • Blake eames design Blake eames design on Jul 08, 2013
    I was thinking butcher block too...and I always like slate when paired with brick...a small scale slate mix tile would be nice as a backsplash. Or leaving the backsplash and painting it? The subway tile would be nice as suggested by someone else earlier but I would not do white...it would be stark. Maybe a more neutral subway like caramel or sand tones?
  • Z Z on Jul 08, 2013
    I'm with David from @Hamtil. We did allot of research while in the designing stages of our kitchen ten years ago and chose quartz . We bought ours (Silestone) through HoDe, but had direct contact with the fabricator/installer too. We are still as happy as when it was new. It's beautiful and very easy to keep clean. Silestone now has Bacteriostatic protection as an added bonus. Though ours do not have that protection I am very comfortable about how clean my counters are capable of being since Silestone is a non porous product. I'm very obsessive about things like that especially in a kitchen. Silestone: http://www.silestoneusa.com/?gclid=CP7avtO3oLgCFa5DMgodekEAwA
  • Debbie M Debbie M on Jul 08, 2013
    You will never regret choosing the quartz. I have to disagree with the other commenter about its looks; mine is as pretty as any granite top, and costs less. I've had them in for about six years and done nothing except wipe them off. You have a wide choice of colors. For the backsplash, get the sheets of patterned copper, which will look stunning with your brick and wood and give an old-world tavern feel to your kitchen. Please post photos of what you choose!
  • Diane Diane on Jul 08, 2013
    I just read that granite could contain radon! New one on me.
  • Your Home, Only Better. Your Home, Only Better. on Jul 08, 2013
    I think we found one today - it's a brushed granite - absolute black but looks gray, and it actually looks like the slate mantel on the brick fireplace in the family room. I wish I had more kitchens so I could try all these awesome ideas - thanks for the tips!
  • Bigaug Bigaug on Jul 08, 2013
    I am partial to polished concrete but this is an interesting product http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/
  • Make sure you use a good color enhancer to help seal the brushed granite. it will darken it a bit but really helps a lot with regular maintenance. Feel free to give me a call if you have any questions. Your actually not that far from me. Love the hood and the brick. Good luck with your project
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on Jul 12, 2013
    black granite can sure show every little fingerprint and drop of water etc! I think I would decide the color based on sitting back from the room and see what "fits" in the entire kitchen. if you have a lot of lights (whites light blues etc) i would go for warmer darker countertop, if everything is going to be darker colors you might consider something with some light in it, or like many say butcher block (which I personally get tired of) but bring in the color of the granite and sit back and see how the kitchen is going to look all together. @Your Home, Only Better.
  • Your Home, Only Better. Your Home, Only Better. on Jul 14, 2013
    Concrete was another serious contender - but we decided the brushed granite was the right look and durability for this project (and market longevity). It's more of a charcoal gray, and it passed the fingerprint test we did at the shop.
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on Jul 14, 2013
    Oh and our contractor suggested we use manufactured marble (looks like granite) because it seals so good, and i am so glad I did it...they were so good at making it fit in perfectly..and the entire tub to the ceiling was under $900
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on Jul 14, 2013
    Oh and it is true that Granite contains radon. So does the dirt under your house. If you worry about it have them do a Geiger counter on it before you buy it. Also our granite came from the factory already sealed so we never have to seal, here is the granite I chose (it is very neutral in case we needed to sell it soon, however my moms cancer has spread and speeded up our time frame leaving no time to look for a house. I shared this before in a different before/after of my kitchen so I THINK this is the photo I shared then http://www.hometalk.com/diy/home-tours/updated-pictures-of-my-home-2-years-later-903560
  • Tanya Peterson Felsheim Tanya Peterson Felsheim on Jul 14, 2013
    well didn't end up going to the direct photo i wanted which was #5 of the $10