Historic Kitchen Tour Inspires Ideas

Historic Kitchen Tour Inspires Ideas

A guide to countertop materials

w/ Linda McAndrews

Each year the Nantucket PreservationTrust opens kitchens in an historic neighborhood in the downtown area to educate about the significance of Nantucket’s historic houses and to broaden knowledge about the possibilities that exist in designing new and retaining historic kitchens in old houses. One of Marine Home Center’s kitchen designers, Stephen Ryan, was stationed at 11 Hussey Street, a very old, historic home on the market at this year’s tour in July.  He was offering up suggestions as to how to remodel the kitchen.

I was especially interested in checking out the countertop materials used in the kitchens on the tour, since I’ve been planning my own kitchen update and wanted to replace the old laminate counters. I saw granite, marble, soapstone, Corian and even man-made stone that is just as hard as granite but doesn't stain.

Seeing so many choices really whet my appetite, but I needed to learn more before making a decision on which material would work best in my own kitchen. Luckily, I know where to find the experts. I paid a visit to Barry Cohen and Jeff Rosparka, Marine Home Center’s kitchen countertop installers.

They showed me the same types of countertop materials I had seen on the house tour, and they explained all the pros and cons of each one. This is what I learned:

Granite

Granite's beautiful mottling and the host of colors and patterns found in nature make each piece one of a kind. It stands up well to splashes, knife nicks, heat and other wear and tear. Like most stone, granite should be sealed but the newer sealers are good for the life of the counter. And because of its weight and lack of flexibility you'll need very sturdy cabinet boxes to support them. The cabinets also need to be flat and level so that that the seams will be a smooth transition from one slab to the next.

Soapstone

Soapstone has come into its own as a countertop material. It offers subtle, nuanced beauty yet feels humbler than granite or marble. Soapstone has a natural softness and depth that fits very well with older and cottage-style homes. Although it usually starts out light to medium gray, soapstone can be brought to a dark color and sheen by applying mineral oil. Some people prefer the light, natural color. Soapstone is the most naturally stain resistant of all the natural stones. It is nearly non-porous, although it is soft. It will scratch easily but is also repairable – more so than granite or marble.

Solid Surfacing

Made primarily from acrylic and polyester, solid surfacing first was sold under the brand name Corian, which is often used as a generic term for it. Today, it's made by a host of manufacturers and has enjoyed steady popularity over the years. Because solid surfacing is nonporous, it's virtually maintenance free — no sealing or special cleaning required. Although it can be susceptible to scratches and burns, those are easy to sand out. Color and pattern options are extensive, and because you're not trying for the look of a natural material, you can experiment with vibrant hues such as turquoise or tomato red. The seams on most Solid Surface colors are nearly invisible. This allows for the appearance of one seamless surface from end to end and. Solid Surface is a great product to use in many other applications such as shower walls with no grout to clean.

Quartz Surfacing

Crafted of resin and quartz chips tinted with color, quartz surfacing (also called engineered quartz or engineered stone) is a good compromise between the beauty of stone and the easy care of solid surfacing. Quartz surfacing has the same advantages as solid surfacing with regard to maintenance. As an engineered product, it's available in an ever-growing range of colors and patterns. Seams are done the same way as granite and are visible. The installer always attempts for a thin inconspicuous seam. Quartz seams tend to be less visible than natural stone. Some Quartz products are now being made with a high content of recycled material such as glass.

Marble

Is there anything that looks and feels more glamorous than a marble countertop? Peerless in terms of its luminescence and distinctive veining, it's an ultra-traditional choice. Nothing beats marble for sheer elegance. It stands up to heat well, and because it remains perennially cool, it's a traditional choice for pastry and baking stations. However, Marble is very susceptible to etching that is often mistaken for stains. Etching is damage to the surface caused by acidic liquids such as lemon juice and household cleaning products. If you are going to use it in a kitchen, a honed finish should be used. This helps but does not eliminate etching. Polished Marble is more suited to the bathroom where everyday wear and tear is less likely to damage the finish.

Tile
Modular and inexpensive, ceramic and porcelain tile offers nearly limitless options for colors and designs. Tile works with almost any kitchen style, from country to majestic Old World. It holds its own against heat and sharp blades, and resists stains. If one or two tiles chip or crack, they're fairly easy to replace. However, tile's uneven surface can make it difficult to balance a cutting board or roll out a pie crust. Unsealed grout is prone to staining; standing moisture can damage it and contribute to bacterial growth.

Laminate

Made of paper blended with resins and fused to particle board, laminate has been a kitchen mainstay for decades.
In the past, it hasn't always had a reputation as stylish, but that's changing: The latest designs on the market mimic stone, butcher block and other pricier surfaces. Laminate is one of the most affordable countertop materials, so it's a good choice if your budget is tight. It's low maintenance and easy to clean.

Laminate is prone to scratching, burns and, in some cases, staining. With wear and moisture exposure, the layers can peel. Because of the raw particle board core, you can't use laminate with under-mount sinks, and it's also difficult to repair if it gets damaged.

Butcher Block

Butcher block has a classic appeal and always looks fresh. It's especially fitting for traditional, country and cottage-style kitchens. Many homeowners like butcher block's warm, natural appearance and variegated wood tones. Although knives scratch it, many people like the shopworn look it develops — after all, it's what chopping blocks have been made of for years. But you can also sand scratches down with ease. Wood swells and contracts with moisture exposure, and butcher block is no exception. It harbors bacteria and needs frequent disinfecting.  Oiling is a must to fill in scratches and protect the surface.

I decided that I really liked the look and low maintenance of the Quartz and Corian, although I also liked the natural colors of the granite. I thanked Barry and Jeff for their help and told them I’d see them again soon to check out kitchen flooring…or maybe cabinets…and I really want a new fridge… and oh, wouldn’t a bay window be nice over the sink! I was just beginning my adventure of planning a kitchen update, so I took all the information and catalogs and started a file.

So many decisions to make! It was kind of overwhelming. So, the first thing I decided to do was to call Stephen Ryan and let him help me design my Nantucket kitchen.