Combining Different Materials For The Kitchen

Every year the trend for kitchen countertops keeps changing. Some year's ceramics are in fashion and other years laminates are in fashion. But some kitchen countertop materials never go out of fashion and this includes granites and marbles.

Granite is probably the most popular stone used for kitchen countertops. Granite kitchen countertops are available in a wide variety of designs and styles. For those on a budget, pre fabricated granite countertops are also available.

Marble has increasingly become a popular choice for a kitchen countertop over the past few years. The natural elegance of the stone and the wide variety of designs and colors has made it more popular. Italian marble has also become increasingly popular.

However, as a lot of home owners cannot afford to have kitchen countertops made completely from granite or marble they are opting for combining different materials to give the kitchen a more modern look.

Laminates are the most popular choice of combination with granite kitchen countertops. Laminates are now being designed to resemble a lot of natural stones including granite and marble.

Plastic laminates for kitchen countertops are available in more than a hundred different colors and designs. They are relatively inexpensive material to use for a kitchen countertop. The price of plastic laminates is around $ 25 to $ 50 per linear foot.

A lot of homeowners are also combining marble countertops with ceramic and porcelain tiles. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are probably the most versatile material that can be used for kitchens. The advantage of combining ceramic or porcelain with marble for a kitchen countertop is that it can help to create a range of styles from contemporary to retro or traditional.

A disadvantage to using porcelain tiles for a kitchen countertop is that dirt could appear along the grout lines. When paired with marble for the countertop, this could take away from the beauty and elegance of the marble.

Some homeowners combine granite slabs with composite stone to create a unique look for a kitchen countertop. Composite stone is priced between $110 to $250 a linear foot.

There are a lot of materials that can be combined with granite or marble to create a unique look for the kitchen countertop. This also helps bring down the cost of the kitchen counter installation.