The 6 Best Countertop Materials for a High-End Kitchen

The 6 Best Countertop Materials For A High-end Kitchen
The 6 Best Countertop Materials For A High-end Kitchen

One of the hottest kitchen trends in 2018 is decluttering counters to create open space where friends families can come together to work, play and relax.

This means that your kitchen counter is now, more than ever, the centerpiece of your kitchen. Whether you’re having friends over for a glass of wine or you’re hosting a dinner party, people inevitably congregate in the kitchen.

If you’re getting ready for a high-end kitchen renovation, you’ll want to spend some time choosing the best kitchen countertops for your home.

Read our guide to some of the high-end options for designing your dream kitchen.

Beautiful Countertop Options for a High-End Kitchen

When it comes to choosing the material for your kitchen countertops, the choices are practically unlimited. When you’re thinking about materials, try imagining your dream kitchen and what kind of atmosphere it has.

1. Wood or Butcher Block

Wood countertops are coming back into fashion and will give your kitchen a warm centerpiece. Wood countertops come in many different colors and finishes and are available in a variety of materials. Most commonly, they’re made from oak and maple but teak, cherry, and walnut are also options.

With a wood countertop, you have the choice between edge grain, end grain, and wide plank. The wide plank is a beautiful style where boards are glued together edge-to-edge, but this style is more likely to warp or crack.

End-grain counters, also known as butcher blocks, are made from short, square sticks of wood. These are popular for people who want to do food prep right on the counter. Edge-grain counters, by comparison, are made with long strips of wood.

Prices vary depending on the type of wood you choose and the style that you prefer. Butcher block counters range from $30 to $95 per square foot for the materials. Edge grain and end grain counters are even pricier at $100 to $200 per square foot.

2. Granite

Granite has long been the most popular choice for upscale homeowners looking for an elegant finish to their kitchen. Some of the advantages of granite countertops are that it holds up to heat and is extremely durable, with the second highest hardness rating after diamonds, and it will increase the resale value of your home.

Its popularity stems from its elegance and versatility. This is another material where you have a lot of options. There are nearly 3000 colors of granite to choose from, and it requires only minimal maintenance.

While you can cut directly on the material, you need to be careful that your stones are fully sealed. Furthermore, you need to avoid abrasive cleaners and only use a stone cleaner to avoid damaging the seal.

Depending on the color and how the countertop is fabricated, expect to pay between $75 and $250 for granite countertops.

3. Engineered Quartz

Quartz is the next big trend in kitchen countertops. Quartz is another natural material that is very durable, ranking just below granite for hardness. Engineered quartz is manufactured by mixing quartz crystals with a polymer resin.

The result is a highly durable, low-maintenance countertop that’s available in a wide range of colors.

Unlike wood or granite, engineered quartz has a non-porous surface so you don’t have to worry about permanent stains or damage from water exposure.

In terms of the cost of installing engineered quartz countertops, you’re looking at about $100-$200 per square foot.

4. Soapstone or Slate

Soapstone is a popular option for homeowners wanting to give their kitchen a dark and calming air. Slate, on the other hand, comes in understated shades of green, red, purple and black which can give your kitchen subtle elegance.

Both materials can be fabricated into sinks giving your kitchen a modern finish with clean lines. The downside of soapstone is that is porous and must be sealed and maintained to prevent stains. Slate, however, is nonporous and requires little maintenance.

Slate countertops will cost you about $100 to $200 per square foot and soapstone a little less at $100 to $150.

5. Copper

Copper is a divisive choice for kitchen countertops, but one that definitely makes a statement. Copper has a lot of benefits, but it’s important to understand that its age will show in its appearance.

Copper countertops are surprisingly easy to maintain. Just clean them with ordinary dish soap and periodically wax or oil them.

Depending on your opinion, the patina of copper can be a good or bad thing. Known as a “living surface”, your copper countertops will oxidize and gradually change from a shiny copper to a mix of matte reds and greens. Look at samples of aged copper to see if you will like how it will look down the road.

For cost and installation, copper countertops come in at about $100 to $175 per square foot. It’s a tricky installation process, so make sure your contractor has experience working with the material.

6. Recycled Glass and Cement

Give your countertops a fun pop of color with recycled glass and cement countertops. Similar to terrazzo, recycled glass and cement countertops are a composite material made using pieces of glass from post-consumer sources will add character to your kitchen.

These countertops are very easy to maintain, incredibly durable and have a life expectancy of 50 years. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about teenagers mindlessly placing a hot pot on the counter or your kids playing on them since they are both heat and scratch-resistant.

Manufacturers let you chose the pigments of the glass pieces used in your countertops so you can pick a color scheme that matches your home and take pride in the fact that these countertops help reduce the amount of glass in landfills.

Recycled glass and cement countertops cost $100 to $160 per square foot.

Start Planning Your Dream Kitchen Today

Remodeling a kitchen is a big home renovation plan and one that is best not left as a DIY project. To get the great looking kitchen you’ve always dreamed of, it’s time to sit down with an interior designer and start thinking about how you want one of the most important rooms in your house to look.

Once you have an idea of how you want your high-end kitchen to look, contact us and we can start making that dream kitchen a reality.