Tag Archives: Quartz Kitchen Counters

Guide to Decorating Your Kitchen Countertops

Guide to decorating your counters while leaving them looking beautiful and functional.

Are you wondering how to decorate your kitchen countertops without compromising functionality? There are plenty of ways to go about it. These ways include: 

Avoid clutter

When decorating your kitchen, it’s easy to be carried away and have as many decorative elements as possible, but you should contain yourself. The last thing you want is to have too many things that you don’t have enough space to cook. 

To avoid clutter, you should only have what is necessary. This calls for you to purge any items that aren’t necessary. If there are decorative items you feel don’t belong there, consider donating or selling them if they are still in good shape. 

You also should remove duplicates and those that are broken or no longer serve a purpose.

Make use of flowers

Flowers are a fun and great way to bring natural beauty and freshness into your environment.

When choosing flowers, ensure that they have a pleasant smell. This calls for you to use fragrant flowers like lavender, roses, or lilies.

The size of your countertops should also inform your choice. Go for larger floral arrangements or potted plants if you have a large kitchen with plenty of counter space. 

Smaller bouquets or potted plants are ideal for smaller kitchens with limited counter space.

Try to match the flowers with your kitchen counters as much as possible. Choose flowers that complement or contrast the colors in your counters to create a harmonious or eye-catching effect. 

For example, if you have neutral-colored kitchen counters, add a splash of color with colorful flowers like daisies or tulips. Flowers like roses or hydrangeas may be a suitable complement for more classic or rustic kitchen counters. 

Finally, think about your lifestyle. If you are regularly away from home or have a hectic schedule, consider more durable flowers that can withstand occasional neglect, such as cacti or ZZ plants.

You should strategically place the flowers on your counters in such a way that they add beauty to your kitchen without getting in the way.

Add class with China.

Did you know you can use China to add elegance and charm to your countertops? 

One way to do it is to display your china on a plate stand: On your kitchen counters, use a plate stand to display your favorite china plates or saucers. 

The best pieces are plates with appealing patterns or motifs that complement your kitchen decor. Arrange the plates in a row or stack them to make a visually appealing presentation.

Another way to use China is to create a gorgeous vignette as the focal point. Arrange a few pieces of china, such as teacups, saucers, or bowls, besides other decor items, such as a flower vase, a candle, or a tiny figurine. 

Experiment with different heights, textures, and colors to make an eye-catching display.

You can also get creative and use China on your countertops as useful and ornamental items. Use a set of matching teacups or coffee mugs, such as a fashionable utensil holder or a pretty china bowl or platter to hold fruit or other kitchen necessities.

By doing this, you enjoy the beauty of your china while also using it for utilitarian purposes.

Be smart in your choice of storage containers.

Storage containers can help you stay organized while adding a fashionable and functional touch to your kitchen.

When buying the containers, go for those that are both functional and visually appealing. Choose containers with appealing patterns, colors, and materials that complement your kitchen decor. 

You can add a touch of elegance or contemporary to your counters using glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers.

While the containers help you kill two birds with one stone, take care that you don’t go overboard with them. When placing the storage containers on your countertops, be cautious not to crowd the space. 

Keep things simple and avoid clogging up your counters with too many containers. The best way to do it is to choose a few crucial storage containers and strategically place them on the counters. 

Choosing the best-looking containers isn’t enough. Remember to clean and organize your containers regularly to keep your countertops tidy and visually appealing.

Make the countertops appealing using your cooked food

Sometimes you don’t need to do much—you need to use what you already have. If you have already prepared your food, you can use it to decorate your counters. 

Choose appealing dishes or platters that suit your kitchen decor when serving your food. For a great look, choose dishes with unique forms, colors, or patterns. To provide visual interest, utilize varying sizes and heights.

If you have prepared a lot of food, use unique containers or bowls to store the cooked food on your counters. Look for containers or bowls that complement your kitchen decor while adding a unique touch to your countertops.

You also should arrange the cooked food on your countertops artistically. You can make a visually pleasing display by arranging a vibrant salad with fresh ingredients or a tastefully presented main entrée. Experiment with different materials, colors, and heights to make an eye-catching arrangement.

Remember to clean up after using cooked food to decorate your counters. The reason for this is that food spills or crumbs can easily ruin the appearance of your countertops. 

You should wipe up any spills or crumbs and swiftly store any remaining food in proper containers to keep your countertops clean and tidy.

Parting shot

These are some of the ways you can decorate your countertops. Whether you have marble, quartz, or granite countertops Durham doesn’t matter. The tips above will work on any countertops. 

Remember that decorating the countertops isn’t enough. You still need to take good care of the surfaces. As a rule of thumb, don’t place hot materials on the surfaces, as they will burn. You also should avoid letting spills stay on the counters for too long as they will form stains. 

If your countertops need sealing, seal them at least once a year. 

Ways to Avoid Damaging Your Kitchen Countertops

Countertops perk up the value of your home and make your kitchen more functional. Marble, quartz and granite countertop are durable, but they are not immune to damage. It’s therefore important to ensure that you take care of the countertop to retain their look and prevent irreparable damage. In this article we look at simple procedures you can follow to prevent damaging your countertops.

How to Prevent Your Countertop from Damage

  • Use the right detergent and pad to clean the countertop

Acidic and abrasive cleaners will etch and damage your countertop. They will make your countertop appear dull. Make sure the cleaning material you use is meant for your kitchen countertop. Clean your granite or marble countertop with a soft cloth and a mild detergent. A microfibre is ideal when cleaning and removing food crumbs from your countertop. Avoid using harsh detergents and abrasive cleaning materials because that makes the countertop dull. The harsh detergents will also remove the sealant in granite and marble countertop. Removing the sealant will make your countertop porous, and  that will expose your family to a disease-causing virus

  • Don’t cut directly on the kitchen countertops

Avoid using your countertop as the cutting board. Invest in a cutting board to avoid leaving marks on the countertop. Cutting or pounding heavily on the countertop will damage your kitchen countertop. If you have to pound meat make sure you don’t do it on the countertop.

  • Avoid direct contact with the heat

Exposing your granite or quartz countertop to too much heat will damage your countertop. Too much exposure to heat will cause the kitchen countertop to change color, crack or become brittle. Make sure you have trivets or hot pads before you place a pan on the countertop. You can also keep hot pans on the stove instead of placing them on the countertop.

  • Control spills

Although granite and quartz will not stain easily its important to wipe away spills immediately. However, if spills are wiped for a long time, they will result in stains. It’s therefore important to ensure that spills are wiped off immediately. Use a soft cloth and detergent to clean the spills. Granite countertop is durable, but if it absorbs moisture and dirt, it will begin cracking.

  • Avoid dropping or placing heavy objects on the countertop

Cracks and chips will occur when you place a heavy object on the countertop. Don’t step on the countertop when reaching for something in the cabinets. Your countertop is durable, but it will crack or chip when too much weight is placed on it. Don’t lean on the countertop because that adds extra weight and that could cause cracking.

  • Seal natural stones

Granite and marble countertop require sealing. If not sealed the countertop will absorb moisture, and that could lead to cracking. The granite contractor will asses how busy your kitchen is and advise how often you should seal your countertop. Use high-quality sealant to ensure that the top is well sealed. Sealing the countertops will make them more durable, and they will look good for long. Make sure you countertops are sealed often to keep them nonporous.

  • Follow the care instructions

It’s imperative to follow the right cleaning and maintenance procedure. Follow the right cleaning procedure for your kitchen countertop. The granite countertop installers will advise you on the best cleaning detergent for your countertop.

  • Exposure to harsh UV rays

Most countertops will become discolored when exposed to the sun. It’s therefore important to choose the right countertop if you are thinking of an outdoor countertop. Granite is one of the best outdoor countertop material. Although granite can withstand the harsh environment its best to have your outdoor countertop enclosed. That will protect it from the harsh sun and prevent discoloration.

Countertops are an investment and should be kept in the best state. The above simple tips will guide you on how you should maintain your countertop. It’s important to understand the kind of kitchen countertop in your home. Whether its a marble, quartz or a granite countertop Durham follow the care instructions given by the expert at the granite company. Your countertop will last long if you follow the right maintenance procedure. A well-maintained countertop will give your house a good appearance and a high value.

Which Durable Countertop is the best for Your Kitchen?

granite countertop care

With continuous exposure to heat, water, knives, acids and more, countertops bear huge wear and tear in the kitchens. It is important to choose a kitchen countertop material that not only looks good but also hold up under the kitchen activities. You can find many kitchen countertop materials on the market. Every material has its own perks and limitations.

Best kitchen countertop materials

While purchasing kitchen countertop, you should pay heed over several factors such as, countertop maintenance, purchase and installation cost, finishing, durability, heat resistance, scratch resistance and sealing requirements. Selecting the countertop material is one of the most important decisions to be made while planning kitchen remodeling. It is always good to check out all available countertop options to choose the most apt countertop material for your kitchen.

To narrow down you ideal countertop material search, take sneak peek over the pros and cons of the best countertop materials:

Granite Kitchen Counters

Granite is the king of kitchen countertops. Granite has all the qualities of an ideal countertop material. It comes in variety of colors, textures and styles.

Pros

  • It is durable material.
  • It resists chips and cracks.
  • It stands up to stains

Cons

  • It requires annual sealing.
  • It is tough but not indestructible.

Quartz Kitchen Counters

Quartz is a highly durable manmade kitchen countertop material. You can easily find fully customized quartz countertop.

Pros

  • It is highly durable countertop material.
  • It can bear knife cuts and other scratches.
  • It is stain and bacteria resistant.

Cons

  • It is not heat resistant material.
  • Quartz countertops are expensive.
  • Quartz countertops get discolored over time.

Tile Kitchen Counters

Tile countertops look very beautiful and contemporary. It is very low maintenance countertop material.

Pros

  • It is very tough material.
  • Tile counters are easy to clean.
  • This material resist stains, cuts and heat.

Cons         

  • It is a porous material.
  • It cracks easily.
  • Annual sealing is required

There are many countertop materials. In order to choose the right countertop for your kitchen or bathroom, you should opt for the best kitchen countertop contractor. The countertop contractor can better guide you about the suitable countertop material according to your needs and requirements.