I don't want to sound cranky so soon after my post o' disdain pointed at chalkboards in the kitchen, but another common(and surprisingly popular) project in the kitchen has recently had me wound up. Maybe it's wrong of me, but this is a design blog of sorts and I never expect everyone to have the same taste as I do. So if you think I'm being harsh, it's okay- change my mind down in the comments section.
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| *sigh* |
Where to begin(or in the back splashes case, where to end)?
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| Maybe that's Baltic Brown? |
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| "Could we just go ahead and tile the exterior of the house, too?" |
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| I've run out of witty anecdotes. |
I may have nightmares over some of those pictures...
There is no convincing me of the merits of putting a 12" floor tile on a kitchen counter. There's a big reason why the granite tile is in the flooring department of major home improvements stores, it's not a good counter top material.
Granite is a natural material. Movement in a slab is often desirable and color can vary from one side of a slab to another. Same with the tile- the color differences in the second picture up there would drive me absolutely bonkers.
I am a big fan of tile back splashes, bathrooms, floors, on and on... Tile counter tops in general are a fad that went away with the 90's, and if you've ever lived a house or known someone who did live in a house with tile tops, you know that the grout lines are magnets for any cooking, crafting or debauchery you're doing in your kitchen. If you thought that sealing standard granite was daunting(which it isn't), think about having to deal with all those grout lines!
The most common reason(excuse) for using 12" granite tile for a counter is cost- the theory behind "I can have a granite counter for less than having the actual slab granite" is just about always true, but sometimes cheap looks just that... cheap.
Not every customer that comes through our door can afford a solid surface counter top- not every customer we have wants a solid surface kitchen counter. However, the one thing you will NEVER hear me suggest at our showroom is that a granite tile counter is a good alternative to a traditional granite top.
Fortunately, there is a good alternative.
Blue Storm
Most homeowners first reaction: "I just got through telling you that we can't afford granite!"
Nick's reply: "You don't have to afford granite... Just promise me that you'll never say 'granite tile counters' again.
These are a few of the colors from the Formica 180fx Collection. If it's not completely obvious after looking at the pictures that Formica has re energized the laminate counter world, you might need more help than a designer can give you.
Calacatta Marble
Antique Mascarello
Slate Sequoia
Golden Mascarello
Blue Storm
So what do you think?
There's no reason to think about granite tile on your counters any more.
