Kitchen countertops play a big role in most homes today. It wasn’t that many years ago that the kitchen was a separate room in the house. Today, in most new builds or renovated homes you will find the kitchen as a part of a great room. Because of this, a counter top is more than just a counter top -It has become the center of entertaining. It is the site of all food preparation, it’s expected to be durable (stain-proof, scratch-proof, and heat-proof), beautiful, and preferably economical. With all options available today, choosing a countertop material can be overwhelming.

Where to start? There's no one countertop that's ideal for every home, so the best material for your kitchen will depend on several factors: color, overall appearance, durability, stain- and scratch-resistance, and of course, price.

Natural stone (marble, granite, soapstone, quartzite, travertine, onyx).

Engineerd Slabs (Quartz)

Porcelain

Sintered Material Neolith, Dekton (Sintering is the process of fusing particles together into one solid mass by using a combination of pressure and heat without melting the materials.)

Concrete is another popular option. These counters are precast and come in all kinds of colors and finishes.

Terrazzo How long will terrazzo continue to surf the trend? Only time will tell. However, the fact that it has made a new and improved comeback is a very telling sign that it is here to stay. Are you ready?

Butcher Block, which is warm and accommodating but needs periodic oiling (on the plus side, you can sand out any nicks and scratches).

Stainless Steel