Tag Archives: granite surfaces

Best Kitchen Countertop Colors

Are you thinking about installing kitchen countertops but aren’t sure what color to go for? There are plenty of color options you can go with, with the common ones being:

Rustic wood tone

Wooden countertops give your kitchen a homey and warm atmosphere, so if this is the atmosphere you are after, this is the best countertop color. This choice is also smart when you want to give your kitchen a transitional appeal.

To make your kitchen more interesting, install a wooden island, then pair it with a stone countertop on the sides adjacent to the kitchen wall.

Neutral gray tone

The neutral gray tone is friendly and highly versatile, especially with other accents and fancy colors. When properly installed, the gray tone gives a balance between stark white and dark tone, while lifting the aesthetics of the countertops.

The gray countertops work best when you want different vibrant colors for your kitchen cabinetry. The tone also comes in handy when looking to complement any chrome plated finish in the kitchen area.

White with fine veinings

If you want to install marble countertops in your kitchen, avoid being like everyone else. While the stark white beauty of the white marble is elegant to look out for, it gives a kitchen a cliché look.

To stand out, use a different color of marble. For example, use marble with white background with a grainy or fine veining.

If you have always wanted to have granite countertops instead, go for countertops with white or beige colors that perfectly match the color tone.

Besides a white kitchen countertop looking great, it also makes your small kitchen space look bigger. There is also the illusion of cleanliness and an airy feeling.

Regardless of the white countertop you choose, ensure that you get it from a reputable store. You also should have it professionally installed by an expert that knows what they are doing.

Rich black tone

The beauty of black countertops is that they work extremely well with dark and colorful cabinets.

If you want to draw attention to them, install them in such a way that everything else around them has a light color hue.

Install the countertops with a mirror or backsplash for an interesting look.

Are you a minimalist? Go with a black-and-white tone. Besides giving your house a simple look, it also gives an interesting traditional and contemporary atmosphere.

Stark white countertops

Stark white countertops are the perfect choice for those looking to give their kitchens a minimalist look.

Besides being simple, the countertops can fit with a variety of cabinets. For example, they can fit with wooden grainy cabinets, chrome plate surfaces, etc.

If you have a narrow kitchen, the stark white color cuts the cave-like feeling, making your kitchen more comfortable to live in, not to mention making your kitchen feel airy and look spotlessly clean.

Countertops with bold veinings

You choose these countertops when looking to give your kitchen a dramatic look. Due to the veinings, you make your countertops the center of attention.

To get the most from the veinings, ensure that you install them in a large kitchen. Don’t install them in a smaller kitchen, as they can be overwhelming and even make the kitchen look smaller than it already is.

Parting shot

These are some of the countertop color options you can choose for your countertops. To get the most from them, choose the right color. If you aren’t sure about the right one to go for, get the input of a professional.

Regardless of whether you are installing marble, granite, or quartz kitchen countertops NC, have them professionally installed. Take your time finding an experienced contractor that will properly install the surfaces.

You might argue that you will be late finding the right contractor but remember that you are better late than having a botched kitchen.

Besides the contractor you hire being experienced, they also should be insured. This way, you are sure that in the event an accident happens, you won’t be held liable. The company will also compensate you in the event it damages your surfaces.

Things to Do When Using Two Countertop Materials

kitchen countertops

If you visit many homes, you will find their kitchens with only one countertop material. While there is nothing wrong with this as it gives the kitchen a uniform look, did you know that you can combine two or more countertop materials to give your kitchen countertops a more interesting look?

Unfortunately, you can’t achieve ideal results out of the blue—you need to do a number of things. Which are these things? Here they are:

Pay attention to the countertop patterns

When shopping, pay attention to the countertop patterns and design. As much as you want to have different materials on your countertops, you don’t want them to clash, do you?

To ensure this doesn’t happen, choose countertops with an almost similar movement or pattern.

There is no way to tell you which is the best style and design to choose, as this depends on your preferences, but you need to ensure that the two countertops complement each other.

For example, if you are drawn to busy designs, ensure that the second countertop is solid colored or has a minimal pattern—this is to prevent one material from competing with the other, giving your kitchen an overwhelming look.

Coordinate your countertops with accent colors

Accent colors come from linens, furniture, plumbing fixtures, and even cabinet hardware. You can use the colors to guide you on the countertop colors to go with. If you have a shade in your house that you love, you can pick a countertop design that matches or incorporates the tone in its pattern.

While this is a great strategy, the downside is that the countertops might look out of place if you replace the cabinets or any other item you used to inform your color of choice.

Keep the accent colors the same to keep your countertops looking in place. This means that when you get sick of a piece of furniture, replace it with another of the same color and preferably the same design.

Have an accent piece of your island

If the rest of your kitchen has a neutral or muted color scheme, create a focal point that will stand out and give your kitchen an interesting appeal.

You might have the impression that you need premium over-the-top accent pieces, but this isn’t the case. You can go for simple styles that are appealing and still mesh with the rest of the house. If you aren’t sure about the right ones to go for, get the input of a professional.

Balance dark and light

Here you simply need to mix light with darker colored countertops. If the first countertop is on the lighter side, go for one on the darker side. There are plenty of options in the market you can choose from. Your choice will be influenced by your preferences and your desired final look.

As you are creating the light and dark dynamic, try to be creative in your approach. For example, if you have mixed cabinet colors, go with light countertops with light-colored cabinets. By doing this, you create a dramatic contrast between the two designs, which gives your countertops an interesting appeal.

You can also opt for balance by placing your darker selection of cabinets on lighter cabinetry.

If your cabinetry is the same color throughout, consider other factors when choosing the ideal cabinets. For example, consider how well each countertop design stacks up to your backsplash material.

Use both countertop materials on the same surface.

If you are unsure how to use two polar opposite materials, you can always use both. For example, you can use quartz and porcelain countertops on natural surfaces such as granite or soapstone.

If you are edgy, mix two different stone materials, such as mix granite countertops Durham and travertine.

While this will give your countertops an interesting look, the downside is that you often have difficulty cleaning the surfaces. This is because one cleaning material is often insufficient to clean both countertops properly. Sometimes you even damage the countertops when using one cleaning material.

For example, when you use Windex on engineered stone surfaces, you can’t use it on natural stone countertops as you will damage them.

How Do You Cover An Ugly Kitchen Countertop?

If you don’t like the current look of your kitchen countertops either because the countertops are old or stained, don’t worry as you don’t have to replace them. This is because there are a number of ways you can cover them. Which are these ways? Here they are:

Tile the countertops

Tiles are heavily used in covering walls, showers, and floors, but there is no reason you can’t use them to cover your old, unsightly countertops. When choosing tiles for your surfaces, go with porcelain or glazed ceramic, as they have been shown to be the most stain and heat-resistant.

Tiles come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, and it’s up to you to choose the most appealing. As a rule of thumb, avoid natural stone tiles, as they need regular sealing, which might be too much work, especially if you lead a busy life.

While tiles are durable and easy to maintain, you should note that the grout joints are prone to staining, so if you don’t take good care of them, they are bound to go back to their ugly look.

To minimize the staining, seal the surfaces immediately after you install them. You also should make it a habit to apply the sealer at least once every few years to maintain the protective barrier.

Cover the surfaces with countertop film

Countertop film is thicker than contact or shelf paper, and it’s often preferred by many as it’s a cross between shelf paper and vinyl flooring. The film also has an adhesive backing that sticks directly to the old countertop, making it extremely easy to install.

For ideal results, begin with laying out the film, trim it to a rough size then align it to the edges of the countertops. Once in place, use a squeegee tool to stick it down to remove air bubbles.

Cover the countertops with wood

If you love butcher block or have always been drawn to the beauty of real wood countertops, you can always cover your old, beaten countertops with wide planks of solid hardwood. If you don’t like the cliché hardwood look, get creative and use a blend of woods, such as a blend of bamboo plywood and hardwood.

As much as plywood comes in larger pieces and is more affordable, it’s not as durable and repairable as hardwood.

If you are confused about the right choice, the best to buy is bamboo plywood. It not only has a thicker tip layer, but it’s also extremely durable and easy to repair.

As much as wood seems like an easy material to work with, it isn’t—it requires the right woodworking skills and tools. If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can do the work yourself, but if you have never done it before, let an expert handle it.

Lay laminate over the countertops

Do your old countertops have square edges? You can cover them with laminate. All you need to do is buy laminate layers from your local store. The layers come in sheets up to 5 feet wide and 12 feet long.

Work with your contractor and know the right number of layers to get that will be enough to cover your counters.

For the best outcome, avoid covering your rounded edge countertops with laminate layers, as the material won’t conform to the edge contours.

Use a countertop refinishing kit.

You will find refinishing kits in most local stores, and they come with everything you need, including epoxy-like paint and decorative stop chips to help give your countertops a natural stone look.

To use the kit, carefully follow the instructions given on the kit. If this is the first time you use the kit, you should note that you must put in hard work, get messy, and pay close attention to the kit’s details.

Install modular granite

Also known as a stone overlay, modular granite is a system of small thin stone slabs specially designed to cover old countertops. The stones are often 16 by 18 inches wide, but there are special pieces meant for the problematic inside and outside corners.

Of course, let an expert install the granite countertops Raleigh for the best outcome.

How Can I Make My Kitchen Counters Better?

kitchen countertop replacement

If you don’t currently like the look of your countertops, you must be wondering, how can I make my kitchen countertops better, right? If you are asking this, you are in luck, as there are plenty of ways to do it. Some of these ways include:

Painting the countertops

When well done, paint can do wonders to your countertops. The cool thing is that painting is quick, affordable, and extremely easy.

If you don’t have money to hire a professional, you can always do the painting by yourself as all you need is sandpaper, painting supplies, your preferred paint, and sealer.

Although you can paint any countertop, paint works best on linoleum countertops. Use a heavy-duty polyurethane finish for the ultimate excellent results, and be generous in your application.

Refinish your butcher block countertops

The beauty of butcher block countertops is you can easily strip them down and refinish the wood, giving your kitchen an entirely new vibe. This gives the surfaces a new look, but you can easily get rid of any dings, scratches, and marks that might have accumulated over the years.

You need to sand the surfaces using sanding paper and wood finish to do this. Sand the countertop to remove the old finish, then apply a few coats of your preferred wood finish or stain.

You can do the work by yourself, but let a professional help you out for the best outcome.

Apply a concrete coating

Concrete is tough and durable, but pouring it on your countertops is no easy feat. The beauty is that you can easily fake the look. All you need is a bag of feather finish cement and food safe concrete sealer.

Begin with roughing up the old countertop surface with sandpaper for proper adhesion, then using a trowel or drywall knife, apply multiple coats of cement leveler. Complete the look with a food-grade sealer.

When installing faux concrete, remember that the cover is exceptionally durable and may be prone to scratches and stains. Installing it can also be back-breaking, so approach it with care. For the best outcome, let a professional help with the installation.

Tile over the countertops

Tile is excellent for covering all surfaces from walls, showers to floors, and there is no reason you can’t use it to cover your old countertops.

There are many types of tiles you can use on your surfaces, but for the best outcome, use grazed ceramic, and porcelain tiles as they are stain and heat resistant, and they come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors.

You can use natural stone tile, but you need to seal the stone frequently to prevent stains from coming about.

When installing tiles on your surfaces, ensure that the surfaces are flat and stable enough, so the tiles don’t crack.

Take advantage of a refinishing kit.

A refinishing kit is like paint on steroids as it comes with everything you need to cover a standard-sized countertop completely.

Using the kit is simple and straightforward, but it tends to be messy, back-breaking, and you need to pay close attention to detail.

For the best results, follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.

Add a wooden overlay.

Have you always wanted a butcher block, or been drawn to the beauty of real wood? You can have the look by covering your old counters with wide planks of solid hardwood, plywood, or bamboo.

Regardless of the wooden covering, you apply, ensure that you thoroughly seal or oil it to get stain and moisture resistance.

Install modular granite

Also known as granite or stone overlay, modular granite is a system of small, thin slabs of stones designed to cover old countertops.

The beauty of modular granite is that it covers the countertop’s entire front and back distance. Since the countertops are 16-18 inches wide, you cover the old countertops with just a few joints.

You might argue that improving the countertops with modular granite isn’t different than using solid granite countertops Durham, but you can cut the costs by installing modular granite yourself.

Can You Cut On Granite?

It’s not uncommon to find homeowners chopping apples on the countertop surfaces when they are in a hurry. It’s also not unusual to find them slicing a lime when making a quick cocktail.

While many do this without causing any damage to the countertops, the solid question is, can you cut on granite countertops?

Yes, you can cut on the countertops, but you shouldn’t overdo it as you risk blunting your knife or scratching the surfaces. This means that you can get away with making a quick chop here and there but avoid cutting, chopping, and preparing your food every day directly on the countertops as you risk defacing the surfaces.

To be on the safe side, when you are doing extensive cutting and chopping, use a cutting board. Besides the board protecting the countertops against scratches and the knife from blunts, it also protects the sealer on the granite from acid erosion.

While the acid from the tomato or lemon won’t hurt your granite, it can break down the sealer, forcing you to seal the surfaces more often.

What else can’t you do on granite surfaces?

Besides not cutting directly on the countertops, there are plenty of other things you shouldn’t do to your countertops to keep them in top working condition. Some of these things include:

Sitting on the countertops

When you look at granite, they appear hard and tough, and they are. Unfortunately, they can’t take a lot of weight. This means that when you sit on them, there is the risk of them breaking. This is often because the countertops contain fissures and striations that can break.

To avoid breakage, avoid sitting on your countertops in the bathroom or kitchen. You also should avoid standing on them when replacing the bulb or reaching the top shelf.

Allowing water to stand on the counters

Water is life, but it can be dangerous, especially to countertops. Even if you have sealed the counters, don’t let water or any other liquids stay on the surfaces for a long time. This is because the liquids are bound to get into the inner countertop layers, making it hard to remove the stains.

To keep your surfaces clean and stain-free, make it a habit to clean the spills as soon as they happen.

Avoid placing liquids directly on the countertops to minimize the chances of spills happening. One of the best places to keep them is in the cabinets. You can also have a bottle tray and place the liquids there.

Placing hot pans on the countertops

The same way homeowners have the impression that their countertops are tough and they can sit on them is the same way they think they can put hot pots and pans on them and take the abuse.

While granite is heat resistant, it isn’t heatproof. This means that you can get away with placing hot pots and pans on the surfaces now and then, but when you regularly do it or make it a habit, you are bound to damage the surfaces.

To avoid this, avoid placing the hot pots and pans directly on the granite surfaces. The right way to go about it is to have hot pads and trivets in place where you place the hot pots to avoid damaging your surfaces.

If you don’t have a hot mat, never remove the pot from the oven while hot—let it cool and only place it on the countertop when it’s fully cold and can’t cause any damage to the countertop surfaces.

So, can you use granite as a chopping board?

As mentioned above, you shouldn’t cut directly on granite kitchen countertops Raleigh, so you can’t use granite as a chopping board. Unless you want to do minor chopping and cutting, always use a wooden cutting board.

The board will not only protect your countertops from scratches and other forms of damage, but also protect your knives from getting blunt and having to sharpen them regularly.

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Granite Countertops?

Have you ever wondered what happens if you don’t clean granite countertops? Well, plenty of things happen.

One of the things is that when you go for a long time without cleaning your countertops, oil spills, cut fruit, soap, cooking ingredients, and other materials leave stains on the surface.

The stains are often not apparent initially, and when you notice them, it’s often too late to remove them. So you are forced to live with the stain or incur huge bills replacing the countertops.

The other thing that will happen when you don’t clean your countertops is the surfaces become dull. One of the primary reasons homeowners install granite is its shiny, elegant look. When you don’t clean your counters for a long time, they lose their shine and turn to a dull, boring color that isn’t appealing to look at.

The final thing that happens is that you tend to have plenty of bacteria growing on your surfaces. In most cases, the bacteria are harmful to the health, and they pose a significant danger to those suffering from allergies.

How do you clean granite countertops?

To avoid the repercussions of not cleaning the countertops, you should regularly clean the surfaces. And you shouldn’t simply clean them—you should clean them properly.

How do you clean the countertops properly? Here is how to go about it:

Step 1: Squirt dish soap into a soft sponge

You don’t have to be sophisticated for regular cleaning—simple old mild dish soap and water are enough. Wet a sponge with water and squirt some dish soap into its center. Since granite scratches easy, you should use a soft sponge that won’t cause any damage to the surfaces.

After applying soap to the sponge, massage it until you see suds. You should then wring it out to not compromise the absorbent stone. Remember that granite discolors when you expose it to a lot of standing water.

Step 2: Wipe the counters.

After applying the right amount of water and soap on a sponge, the next thing you should do is gently wipe across the entire countertop in small, circular motions.

If you have got dried food on the countertops, apply some elbow grease to remove it. Wipe the entire countertop surface and ensure that it’s spotless.

Step 3: Dry the granite countertop

Once you are done, thoroughly dry the countertop. Doing this not only protects the granite from water damage, but also eliminates streaks and leaves the surface with an eye-catching, irresistible shine.

Things you should know when cleaning granite.

To get the most for your efforts, use the right cleaning products. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t use harsh or abrasive cleaners and sponges. This calls for you to avoid acidic cleaners such as lemon, lime, vinegar, or any product with bleach or ammonia.

This is because these products are too harsh to the countertops and often dull the surfaces, so you don’t get the shine you are looking for at the end.

Use a gentle cloth

As we mentioned above, granite scratches easily, so when you use a tough cloth or sponge, you are bound to scratch the surfaces.

To avoid this, use a nubby washcloth or microfiber. If a piece of cloth or sponge feels rough on your hands, it probably is too tough for your countertops, so you should stay away from it.

Keep the countertops sealed.

You might be wondering how sealing the countertops will give you the best cleaning results, but you should know that when you don’t clean your counters, they easily soak up oils, spills, and stains. As you can tell, this makes your cleaning work easy, and when you are done with cleaning, you often don’t get the shiny countertops you were looking forward to.

To have an easy time, seal your granite kitchen countertops Raleigh. The best way to go about it is to seal the surfaces at installation then once a year thereafter. Use high-quality sealing products and let an experienced professional handle the project for the best outcome.

What Is The Best Way To Care For Granite Countertops?

If you recently installed granite countertops, you are aware that the countertops don’t come cheap, so as a responsible homeowner, you would want your countertops to last for as long as possible. And to do this, you need to take care of the countertops.

Are you wondering what is the best way to care for granite countertops? There are many of them, with the common ones being:

Have the countertops professionally installed

Everything begins here, as no amount of care will keep your improperly installed countertops in good shape.

Countertop installation begins from the countertop store. When you are in the store, take care when buying the granite slabs. As a rule of thumb, carefully inspect every slab and ensure it doesn’t have glaring flaws such as large fissures and cracks.

When hiring an installation contractor, ensure that the contractor is experienced and has handled similar before.

Seal the countertops

After the countertops have been professionally installed, the next move should be to seal the countertops. Most countertop installers will seal the countertops immediately after installation, which is vital as it prevents the liquids from getting into the deeper countertop layers and staining them.

To get the most from the sealer, ensure its high quality and specially designed for granite surfaces.

Protect the surfaces from heat

As much as granite is a tough stone, regularly exposing it to a lot of heat puts it at the risk of getting damaged, and you don’t want this, do you?

So, you should keep the hot cooking pots and pans off your countertop surfaces. After cooking, let the pots and pans stay on the stove. If you want to use the stove, hang the pots and pans on the shelves.

If you are eating or drinking on the countertops, make a habit of using coasters to protect the surfaces from the heat. Coasters also prevent juice and tea stains from getting on the countertops and staining them.

Clean the countertops regularly

Cleaning the countertops regularly is vital as it prevents dirt and debris from adhering to the countertop surfaces and staining them. Cleaning the surfaces also keeps your countertops looking great, which comes in handy at improving the countertops’ aesthetic appeal.

Due to the high-end nature of granite, many people feel they need to use special products to clean their countertops. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. All you need is a simple piece of cloth and water.

As a rule of thumb, don’t use any materials that can damage the countertops. For example, don’t use bleach, glass cleaners, and other degreasers that might be containing alkalis, acids, and other chemicals as they will degrade the granite sealer exposing your countertops to harmful liquids that can stain them.

Protect your countertops from scratches

As long as you are using the countertops in your day-to-day activities, they will develop scratches here and there, but they shouldn’t be too big that they deface your countertops.

The best way to avoid having large scratches is to protect the countertops from any items that can damage them. As a rule of thumb, protect the countertops from knives and other materials that can scratch them.

When you are cutting anything on the countertops, ensure that you do it on a cutting board. Never cut directly on the countertop as the stone will dull and damage the knives’ edges.

You also should avoid placing cooking pots and pans with dirty bottoms on the countertops as they will scratch the surfaces, and you don’t want this.

Protect the countertops from excessive pressure

Make no mistake about it. Granite is tough, and it can withstand a lot of abuse, but when you go overboard, you are bound to cause excessive damage to the countertops. As a rule of thumb, don’t put a lot of pressure on the countertops.

This calls for you to avoid placing heavy pots on the countertops. You also should avoid sitting or standing on the kitchen countertops Durham.

Some homeowners with large kitchens and sinks use them for bathing their kids. Don’t do it, as it’s a matter of time before the countertops get damaged.

If you have to reach the top shelf or change the kitchen bulb, don’t stand on the countertops. Instead, step on a ladder.

Does Painting Kitchen Countertops Work?

If your countertops are old or washed out and you don’t have the money to replace them, one way to improve their look is by painting them.

Most homeowners don’t paint their countertops so you will hear them asking, does painting kitchen countertops work?

The good news is that it works but you have to consider several tips to get ideal results. These tips include:

Prepare the surfaces properly

The paint won’t adhere properly to the surface so you need to ensure that you properly prepare it. How do you go about it?

After removing all the items from your countertop, get out the sanding block and sand your countertop surfaces. Avoid using the electric sander as it creates so much dust that you have a problem clearing it and getting the smooth finish you are looking for.

Although the hand sander takes a longer time to give you the results you are looking for, you are able to get the smooth finish you are looking for.

Remember that if you don’t properly sand your countertops, it’s a matter of time before the paint begins to peel.

Use the right painting tools

There is no way you are going to achieve ideal results if you use the wrong tools. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you use paint designed for countertops. This calls for you to avoid wall paints, as they aren’t made to withstand a lot of abuse, heat and spills.

When you are in the stores making the purchase, let the sellers know that you want countertop paint.

When it comes to painting, use a paint roller instead of a brush. The reason for this is because the brush will leave brush strokes on your counters regardless of how good of a painter you are. And you don’t want brush strokes on your surfaces, do you?

To avoid a bumpy counter., use smooth-textured rollers. You should only use a brush when you are applying paint on the edges or other delicate areas. When applying the paint, use the same brush to ensure that the brush strokes don’t show.

If your kitchen is large, you have a large countertop space and you will be too tired painting it with a roller. To save time, hire or buy a paint sprayer.

The cool thing is that besides the sprayer making it possible to complete your work fast, it also gives you a seamless finish and you can paint even the corners and edges even better than with a brush.

Take your time

Like any other project, there is no way you will achieve ideal results if you are in a hurry to get things done. When you are in a hurry painting the countertops, you won’t sand the surfaces properly so the paint will start peeling after a few weeks.

When you are in a hurry, you won’t give the paint enough time to dry which increases its chances of peeling off later on.

To avoid this, have enough time to dedicate as much time to the painting project as much as possible.

As mentioned above, you need to thoroughly sand the surfaces for the paint to properly adhere to the surfaces so you need to have enough time to do it in no hurry.

Each coat of paint requires at least 24-48 hours to dry before you apply another and for the best outcome, apply at least three coats. You need to have this time to see your project to fruition.

To ensure that you aren’t in a hurry, ensure that you have at least a week for painting and a week or two for the sealant to cure. This calls for you to do the project during your holidays or on your job leave.

To ensure that the paint doesn’t take too long to dry and the sealant to cure, do the project in the summer.

Seal the countertops

Once you are done with the painting, apply a sealant to prevent the paint from chipping. Granite countertop installers NC advise that the sealer can make or damage your countertops so splurge on the best sealer in the market.

As a rule of thumb, avoid a cheap sealer, as it will ruin your project.

What To Put On Kitchen Counters To Decorate?

Whether you have installed granite kitchen countertops or any other countertop material, you will agree that the countertops don’t reflect your personality, and they can be boring to look at.

Luckily, you can place several items on the countertops to give them your personal touch, express your taste, and improve their look.

Wondering what to put on kitchen counters to decorate? Here are some of the best ones:

Fresh fruits

Since fruits don’t need refrigeration and you can leave them at room temperature, you can definitely use them to decorate your counters. All you need to do is place the fruits in a beautiful bowl and place them strategically on your countertops.

To get the most from the fruits, go for fruits with bright colors such as bright yellow, green, or orange. Some of the excellent fruits to use for decoration include: lemon, lime, orange, and apples.

Fruits dry out with time so remember to replace them with fresh ones every few days.

Cookbooks

Cookbooks are an excellent way to polish your cooking skills and improve the look of the countertops. To decorate your counters, stack a couple of hardboard cookbooks on your counters. You can also lay them flat, vertically, or horizontally, depending on the look you want to achieve and the style of your countertops.

To amp up your presentation, display books with a bit of color and keep them color-coordinated with the rest of the kitchen theme.

You can use any cookbooks, but it’s best you use books of your favorite cuisines. For example, if you love Asian Cuisine, use books with an oriental touch.

Plants

Plants are easy to carry, and they give life to your kitchen. You can use a single plant if you have a small kitchen or several plants if your kitchen is large.

The beauty is there are many types of plants you can choose from, and you can display them in different ways. For example, you can display them in a stylish pot or planter.

As you choose the plants, choose low-maintenance plants, as they will survive even if you aren’t in the house for days or don’t expose them to sunlight.

If you aren’t sure about the right plants to go for, get the input of a professional.

Cutting boards

Many homeowners use cutting boards as places to chop their vegetables and meat, but did you know that you can also use them as decoration surfaces?

To decorate your countertops using the boards, you should collect a few boards of different shapes and types and stack them together on your counter. If you don’t like the look, lean them against your kitchen’s backsplash to transform the look of your kitchen.

To make the boards even more exciting, mix boards are made from different materials such as marble and wood as they will create a significant visual contrast with the rest of the kitchen surface.

The boards also come in handy at improving the kitchen texture and adding a warm touch to the countertops.

You should be cautious about the type of boards you go for as some might make your kitchen look tacky, and you don’t want this, do you? So, if you aren’t sure about the boards you should go for, get the input of a professional.

Fresh flowers

A colorful bouquet of fresh flowers can transform boring basic countertops into beautiful surfaces you can’t get your eyes from. The beauty of fresh flowers is they are soft and give your surfaces a subtle touch.

To decorate your surfaces, put the flowers in a vase and place them in strategic areas of the kitchen counters.

To make your counters even more interesting, place several flower bouquets in different areas of the kitchen, then switch them up every week to give your counters a brand new look. If you have the budget, granite contractors NC recommend that you get different vases and switch them regularly.

You should note that flowers tend to wither with time, so to prevent your kitchen from looking dead, get fresh flowers at least once every two to three days.

What Should You Avoid With Granite Countertops?

If you recently installed granite counters, you know the price they come at—they are not cheap, and you wouldn’t want to reinstall them after a few days or months, would you?

To ensure that the countertops last for as long as possible, avoid doing things that can harm them. Are you wondering what should you avoid with granite countertops? Well, there are plenty of things you should avoid, with the common ones being:

Sitting on the countertops.

The countertops appear tough and solid that when you are in the kitchen preparing the meals or having a friend over, you sit on the countertops. Others step on the countertops when reaching the top shelf or replacing the bulb. This is wrong.

While the countertops look strong, they have small fissures that can crack when you place a lot of weight on them, so you should avoid sitting or stepping on your countertops. You also should avoid placing heavy items such as large water bottles on the countertops as these too can lead to the countertops cracking.

To avoid sitting on the countertops, always have a chair in the kitchen to sit on. You also should have a stool or small ladder to step on when you are looking to replace the bulb or reach the top shelf.

Leaving spills on the surfaces

Since you regularly seal granite counters, you don’t have to worry about spills as the water can’t get into the deeper granite layers, right? Wrong!

Even with sealing, the water and other liquid spills can penetrate deeper granite layers when you allow them to sit on the countertops for too long.

So regardless of how often or the quality of sealer you use, ensure that you remove the spills as soon as they happen. Never leave them on the surface for too long.

Cutting materials directly on the surfaces

The same way people stand or sit on the countertops as they appear strong and tough, they cut materials directly on the surfaces, which, as you can tell, is wrong. Although, they are made from stone, chopping your meat or vegetables directly on the surfaces puts the surfaces at the risk of cuts, chips, and scratches that can dull them.

There is also the risk of dulling the knives, which increases the risk of lacerations.

To keep your countertops in top shape for a long time, avoid chopping directly on them.

Whether chopping meat or vegetables, ensure that you use a cutting board.

Remember that knives can cause damage even when you leave them laying on the surfaces, so don’t simply leave them on the countertop surface—keep them inside a protective knife block.

Cleaning the countertops using acidic cleaners

When you have stains, it’s only logical to clean them using vinegar and other tough solutions, right? Wrong.

While you might be having clean intentions, your execution is wrong, and it can lead to countertop damage.

Regardless of the stains on your surfaces, steer clear of acidic materials such as vinegar, citrus fruits, ammonia, and others.

The best way to clean the surfaces is to use basic dish soap. If the stains don’t come off, get in touch with an expert to clean the surfaces professionally. The professionals often use cleaners that are tough on the stains but kind on the countertops, so they don’t cause any damage to the countertops.

If the countertop experts attempt to eliminate the stains, but they won’t come off, consider removing the countertops and replacing them with new, stain-free counters.

Storing liquids and toiletries on the counters

In the kitchen, it’s common for homeowners to place cooking oils and other kitchen liquids on the granite kitchen countertops NC. You will find homeowners placing perfumes, lotions, creams, and other products on the bathroom surfaces in the bathroom.

While this might seem harmless, the creams, oils, and lotions can leak from their bottles and spill on the countertops. These products often contain ammonia, mercury, and other materials that can harm your surfaces, so they end up damaging the countertops when they spill.

The situation is even worse if you don’t use the spilling bottle and the harmful chemical stays on the countertops for weeks.

To protect your bathroom and kitchen countertops, don’t place the liquids and toiletries on the countertops. Instead, place them on shelves or decorative trays.