The post is written by our very own interior design contributor, Ania Trica. Here are the expert opinions on all things kitchen countertops.
Why hello there! my name is Ania Trica, I’m an interior designer, Trica Design Studio based in Toronto. I’m a new contributor to Onah’s fabulous blog. I’ll be contributing to the interior design category, and I’m happy to share little design tid-bits, stories and advice. Let me know if you have questions, comments, objections (hope not too many) on this blog, and I can respond to you.
Glam Design
I like sparkles in moderation, and shiny things are indeed pretty, but why is it that when someone says “glam” we associate this word with sparkles, shine and BRIGHT colours!….maybe it’s just me?
Glam design to me is when there is harmony in an interior; everything takes up the right amount of space, the shapes within the space are interesting, the materials chosen are of high quality and go very well together and lastly when the craftsmanship is perfect. Glam design makes me gasp… that’s glam to me.
Photo by Dwell
So about making your kitchen glam
A gorgeous kitchen countertop can truly elevate the look of your kitchen. In the past years quartz has been a favorite due to its low-maintenance and non-porous nature. Recently, however home owners are moving towards natural stone because, honestly… nothing beats the real thing and it looks amazing! There is a fear associated with natural stone as it is prone to stains and scratches, but if you take good care of your natural stone slab, like you would anyways and seal it well, your natural stone slab will last you years.
Photo by Mimi Design
Quartzite and Granite and my favorite – right now
My picks for kitchen countertops at the moment are quartzite and granite. Both of these are natural stones with a similar hardness, you will need to seal them once they are installed, and the best part is; they look like the real thing (natural stone) because they are the real thing!
Photo by folnalynch
Quartzite and granite come in a variety of colours and both of these materials perform well in a kitchen. Quartzite can look very similar Carrara marble and neat looking granite is also appearing on the market, the granite that I’m talking about does not look like the granite you saw installed everywhere in the 90s (speckled brown and tacky!)
photo by gardenweb
Yep this is quartzite, it looks like marble right?
Photo by milestone
OMG! And check out the veining in this granite slab!
Getting started
You don’t have to take my advice, but do your homework when selecting a natural stone countertop, or any other countertop. The best way to selecting your dream countertop starts with visiting your local suppliers to see and touch all the options. I start with going to Ciot or Crystal Tile Marble they have gorgeous stuff! Good luck!
Life Outside of Design Studio 
I totally agree stone counter tops looks absolutely stunning, they are long lasting, easy to clean and budget friendly. Here are some good options to consider in stone counter tops at https://architecturestones.com/stones-gallery/
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I’m totally overwhelmed about the kitchen counter top material. As there are myriad of options available in the market with different budgets, advantages, and disadvantages, it will make everyone confused whoever has plan to remodel their kitchen. In this case, I feel it’s always a better idea to hire a professional kitchen remodeling contractor who have years of experience and skills to handle any remodeling tasks. Also they can suggest which material or equipment to choose and what not to choose, so that the homeowners will take the right decision and save money in the long run.
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absolutely agree with you. Not only they can suggest different materials, but they will be asking all the right questions for YOUR particular needs so that YOU can make the right selection!
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Hi Amber, I feel you, choosing a countertop is overwhelming, the options are endless and so is the pricing for some of these materials. There is a lot of information online that can help you narrow down your options. If you still feel overwhelmed then do reach out to an architect or interior designer, they will not only design the countertop for you, but help you figure out what the best option is for your aesthetic, your use of the surface and most importantly your budget.
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