Personalized Kitchen Countertops

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There’s been a change in consumer attitude, marked by people following their own style sense rather than the trends. “Consumers have become more assertive,” says Gin Guei Ebnesajjad, manager of Product Styling and Development for DuPont Surfaces, Corian and Zodiaq. They are smart and color savvy, too, she says. As a result, their kitchens carry a creative punch that standard kitchens just can’t match. Objects can be embedded in concrete countertops, sealed, and finished with a smooth surface for a unique and highly personalized design. Photo Credit: Cheng Concrete Exchange Copyright Matthew Millman Customizing Countertops Homeowners personalize countertops in a variety of ways, from creative use of standard materials to designer-inspired plans with custom-order materials. Homeowners can customize their counters using one or more of the following elements: Color: A custom color or stain may be the easiest way to make a countertop your own. Fabricators and manufacturers can often create shades to match or complement a swatch of wallpaper or a stone product. Using tile, perhaps on a backsplash, homeowners can create a custom pattern using standard colored tiles. Embedded objects: Fossils, colored glass, metal flakes, semiprecious stones, and special mementoes are finding their way into custom-fabricated countertops, most often in counters that have even color tone throughout, like concrete, engineered stone, or solid surface. Once the objects are embedded, the surfaces are finely ground to reveal hints of the treasures within. Ready-made embedded countertops are also available. Caesarstone Concetto, for example, is an engineered stone featuring gemstones placed in the slab matrix during manufacture for a dramatic look. Special finishes: Nearly every surface material features basic and custom finishes. With stainless steel, for example, hand-applied custom finishes can create one-of-a-kind patterns. Embossed, patterned, or hammered finishes are available for copper or stainless steel. Concrete and solid surface can have a high polish or gloss, matte, or satin finishes. Edges: Edge treatments can be traditional or modern. Sculpting an edge with a minimalist round-over or square edges can create a sleek look. Intricate styling can be achieved with layered edges like concave, wave, or cove and bead. With wood, an unusual edge treatment can showcase the grain. Backsplashes: For solid surface, a fabricated beadboard-style full-height backsplash creates a watertight and visually appealing design that is highly unique. Setting a few handmade tiles in a backsplash makes a huge and personal statement.

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