The first things someone notices when they walk into your kitchen are your cabinets and the kitchen countertops you’ve chosen. They will evaluate them for their beauty and functionality. Hopefully those two things will have gone well together in your planning.

Marble and granite are two very popular stones to use for countertops, but are they practical for the way you live and work in the kitchen? You want your counter surfaces to be fully functional. Stone won’t have a problem with you putting a hot pot on it, nor will it complain when you put a pan from the oven on top. But surprisingly some stones do stain so be careful if you go that way. Some composite or wood shingle decks look great and are sealed against any stains. We chose 12×12-inch white tile for the countertops and 6×6-inch white tile for our kitchen walls. The floors in the rest of the house were marble, so the tile was a change that went well with the cabinets.

You want your kitchen to be outstanding and fully functional as both a kitchen and a family gathering place. Put up countertops that you won’t worry about or worry about if the kids are mixing up grape juice or you spill a glass of wine. This is the place where the family gathers after school and after work. Where you can kick off your shoes and lean against a counter and think, ‘this is my place, I designed it and I love it!’

Your kitchen countertops can be dark with light or dark cabinets, or the tops can be light or even white if you like. Remember that this is your kitchen. However, remember that the cabinets and countertops will last a long time. You can repaint, but if you choose wisely, you probably won’t be redoing cabinets and countertops for a long time (maybe the next generation or so…) so think about what you want for your countertops: plan it out, then enjoy the smart style you have chosen.