Stone

No two stones countertops exactly alike because no two stones are identical. The veins, speckles, and mineral deposits on the surface of granite, limestone, and marble are as varied and eye catching as nature itself. Stone is one of the toughest countertop materials, but it needs to be immune to standing water, hot pans, and knife blades. One more caveat; The acids in everyday liquids such as coffee, vinegar, fruit juice, wine, and even ketchup are harmful to all stones, some more than others. A limestone, marble, or soapstone counter will literally dissolve a little bit wherever it comes in contact with one of these acids — and it’ll happen faster than you can wipe up the puddle. So if you choose stone, regular sealing is essential (though minor acid damage won’t be noticeable and conspicuous problems can often be repaired by a professional). Or you can use granite, the gold standard for countertops, which is affected far less by food acids. In any case, you’ll need to ask your stone seller for a piece that’s suitable for kitchen countertop use; he or she can also tell you how often you’ll need to seal the counters to keep them protected.

A custom-cut slab of stone is one of the priciest countertop options, but stone tiles offer a similar look for about half of a one-piece counter in the same type of stone. Just pick tiles without much “activity” — the term for veins and flecks that appear on the surface — so they’ll match up nicely, and use a color-matched grout, and you’ll get the beauty and durability of stone for a bargain price.

Materials

Before we get to all of the countertop and backsplash materials that are available these days, think about this: You don’t have to choose only one. Backsplashes and countertop need to be done in the same materials. And it’s even possible to put different countertop surfaces in different work zones — such as something very durable in a spot designed for food prep and something more fragile and decorative in an area used primarily for storage. Or you might use a costly countertop in a highly visible area, such as a breakfast bar island, and something more moderately priced fort you other counters.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Hiding Command Central

When a busy northern New Jersey family decided it was time for a kitchen renovation, their goals were simple. Of course, they wanted state-of-the-art appliances and beautiful cabinetry, but they also needed space for handling the calendars, Little League schedules, car pool schedules, dentist appointments, bills, and other stuff that comes in the mail and out of backpacks and briefcases. They needed a ‘command’ central for their home, and the kitchen was the logical place for it.

Cleverly hidden behind doors in an extra-deep wall cabinet is a system of drawers and dividers that helps keep the family organized. Three small apothecary drawers hold postage stamps, rubber bands, paper clips, school lunch money, and the like. Cell phone and camera chargers are on a shelf with an electrical outlet. Incoming and outgoing mail sit in individual cubbies, and important books have a place to stand up. Corkboard was fastened to the back of the doors to hold schedules, appointment cards, and favorite photos. Under the cabinetry is a four-in-one electronic device: It’s a DVD player, radio and TV that offers Internet access. The screen flips up when not it use and the keyboards fits nicely into a base drawer. When the doors of this command hub are closed, no one would ever suspect the workhorse that exists behind them.

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