One of the biggest areas where people make costly mistakes when designing a custom home is also one of the costliest mistakes. High-end countertops are not cheap, and for many homes today, the kitchen is the focal point of the home and where they do most of their entertaining. Choosing the wrong countertop for your custom home can turn into a financial nightmare.
What is the Best Countertop?
In most custom-home designs today, we see only a handful of countertops being used:
- Marble
- Quartz
- Stainless Steel
- Copper or Brass
- Wood
Let’s take a quick look at these options so you can get a better idea of what will work best for your home.
Marble
This has long been a favorite because of how amazing it looks, but it is not for everyone, especially in a kitchen that will see a lot of use. Marble is very porous compared to other materials, so it must be sealed and maintained properly to prevent the countertop from being ruined. If you have children in the home, I would think twice before using marble for your countertops.
Quartz
Again, this is very popular and far more resilient than marble in terms of standing up to wear and tear and staining. You get the beauty of marble without all the care needed to maintain a marble countertop.
Stainless Steel
This is not ideal for everyone, but for those who prefer a professional look to their kitchen, stainless steel could be the perfect choice and save you a ton of money in the future in caring for the countertop. Stainless steel is heat and stain-resistant, impervious to water, and takes very little time to clean. If you have a more modern design for your home, this could be the answer in the kitchen.
Copper or Brass
This is not an overly popular option, but it does look incredible in the right setting. If a home has a more rustic look, this could be the ideal choice, but I would warn against going this route for a kitchen that is expected to get a lot of use. I would say this is more for “show” than being practical in a busy home kitchen. If, however, you are using the kitchen as a showpiece and the center of your entertaining, make no mistake about it, this will create an awe-inspiring look.
Wood
This is my favorite, but it requires a lot of care. I love the “butcher block” style of countertop, but the wood must be finished, sealed, and cared for regularly to maintain that amazing luster after it is installed. The best choices for this particular countertop are maple, acacia, white oak, black walnut, and cherry.
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