Countertops for Kitchen Islands and Peninsulas

When you prepare, cook, and serve meals, you’re heavily reliant on the countertops you have installed. But apart from functionality, the kitchen countertop can also affect the overall visual appeal of your space. This is why if you look at the best kitchen designs, you will notice how much emphasis this kitchen surface feature is given. 

In this article, we’re particularly tackling the best countertops for kitchen islands and peninsulas. 

Corian Solid Surface

Corian’s solid surface is a staple in many articles that discuss kitchen peninsula ideas. Made from a mixture of pure acrylic polymer and natural minerals, this easy-to-install countertop material is popular for its superior durability. 

Corian-made countertops also boast a seamless countertop design. As a result, you can avoid having visible seams that takes away from the aesthetic appeal of your island or peninsula. Also, since it is non-porous, no maintenance sealing is required. 

Corian is stain-, moisture-, and heat-resistant. It can withstand temperatures up to more than 212ºF temperature levels. Corion is extremely sanitary. Cook with confidence as you prepare meals. The material can be easily cleaned and sanitized without leaving behind any residue of perishable food particles. To keep this countertop material clean, you can simply use soapy water or a detergent solution that uses safe amounts of ammonia. 

You also would not have to worry about scratches because its very design can help minimize the appearance of scratches. If a scratch does appear, it can often be repaired with the use of an abrasive pad. 

Quartz

Quartz is also the go-to choice of many homeowners who want a highly functional kitchen island or peninsula. This material is known for its long lifespan. When maintained well, Quartz countertops can even last a lifetime. 

Like Corian, quartz countertops are also non-porous. Because Quartz is impermeable, it too is stain-resistant and less prone to harboring bacteria and germs. 

When comparing quartz vs corian the lower cost of Corion is often the differentiator. Quartz is one of the more expensive options of man-made countertop materials, and when you are covering a large countertop area on a low budget, choosing Quartz can be the more expensive option. 

Granite

When looking for the best kitchen designs in Hamilton NJ, granite countertops are also a popular choice. They are made from slabs of igneous stone, which give their enviable durability and natural appeal. But while they are hard and heat-resistant, they’re still non-porous. Unlike Corian and quartz, they’re more vulnerable to viral and bacterial growth. 

Their appearance is characterized by having graining patterns that add to this material’s unique look. Many homeowners assume that granite often is limited to darker grey color hues. The truth is that this natural material is available in a kaleidoscope of colors. Each vendor would have its own unique inventory of granite slabs and it is best to see the options in person before the stone is cut to your specifications. 

You also have to be careful when cleaning kitchen with granite countertops. You should use soapy water and avoid solutions or cleaners with acidic content. Consult with an eco-friendly kitchen designer for ideas on the proper cleansers to use with granite.

Smaller Galley Kitchens That Have Style

Older homes and smaller properties often have galley style kitchens. They usually consist of two parallel counter spaces that form a hallway of sorts down the center. Essentially, your kitchen is laid out in one straight line. It’s usually more efficient but often tighter than a rectangular configuration that has been so popular with cookie cutter style homes. Smaller kitchen designs often need to be more organized than larger kitchens. There’s less walking space to work with for sure. This also means less storage space and therefore the kitchen cabinetry designer needs to be well thought out.

A Typical Galley Layout

The most common galley style kitchen design is one in which the refrigerator is on one end, while the oven and range combination is on the other end across from a pantry. The sink and food prep area go in the middle on opposite sides. For smaller kitchens, you might want to stagger the sink and cooktop to give two people room to work. Ideally, the refrigerator is on the same side as the sink.

Splurge on Appliances

In a galley kitchen, you can put a bigger portion of your remodeling budget into smart appliances for kitchensto get the most use out of your smaller space. Perhaps you can invest in a smart refrigerator that offers a screen on the front for watching recipe videos and helps making a shopping list easier. Consider appliances that go under cabinets instead of on the counter to save space.

Open the Space Through Thoughtful Planning

You’ll want to avoid making your kitchen feel like a small space. Cabinetry should be efficient wall units and shelving instead of tall cabinets that go from floor to ceiling. You’ll want to choose lighter wood colors with a high-gloss finish that will reflect the light and make the kitchen feel more open. Doors and drawers without handles will make the space look cleaner. Plus, you won’t be bumping into them whenever you turn around. As with any kitchen, you’ll want to ensure that you’re getting plenty of light. Large windows that offer plenty of natural light can give the illusion of more space.

Purge Useless Gear and Appliances

Most people have kitchen cabinets filled with appliances they rarely use. In a galley kitchen, space is a precious commodity. Go through your tools and kitchen gear. Look at what you really use when you’re preparing the bulk of your meals. Storing a pasta machine when you only use it once a year is probably not a good use of space. When your cupboards are less full, you become much more efficient in your food preparation.

Smart Kitchen Design Makes Your Life More Comfortable

When your galley style kitchen design is well thought out, it makes cooking more fun. Smaller kitchen designsneed to be tackled by a kitchen designer that has some experience and can be a bit tougher than some of the larger kitchen designs we see. The younger crowd are really into smart appliances for kitchens but you would need to be considerate of the rule, less is more.

White Kitchen Cabinets Are Still Trendy

For homeowner’s looking to increase resale value, remodeling a kitchen makes sense. Still, swapping out old appliances, bad cabinets, and worn flooring requires a huge commitment. Unless you are planning to put your house on the market for sale immediately, you must live with the design choices you make. How are you to choose which cabinets to use? For virtually any space, white kitchen cabinets designed to fit your décor are still trendy. Here are a few reasons you can’t go wrong when you install white kitchen cabinetry.

Increase Visual Space

In many homes, kitchens seem dark and uninviting. When you look at most designer kitchen designs, by contrast, each room appears larger and brighter than they actually are. There is a reason designer kitchens look so great. In those rooms, white cabinets increase the perception of the visual space of the area. Since your eye doesn’t get caught up looking at dark wood or shadows, it focuses on other design elements in the room.

Promote Cleanliness

Whether you are a neat freak or not, you want your kitchen to look and feel clean. Since white is the color of cleanliness, white kitchen cabinets designed to fit help give your food preparation space a sanitary feel. Despite scrubbing, darker stained wood cabinets can often seem dull. Don’t let your guests think your kitchen is unclean. Instead, choose white cabinets to set a tidy tone for your home’s nerve center.

Complement Other Elements

If you’ve found the perfect slab of granite or the right refrigerator for your new kitchen, you may be concerned about cabinets clashing. That’s for good reason. If you choose too many bold elements for your new room, you risk getting a kitchen that looks busy and cluttered. When you opt for white cabinets, you can complement other design elements much better. Rather than having cabinets that contrast greatly with flooring, countertops, appliances, and other things, choose white and remove some of the clutter from your remodeled kitchen.

Invest in the Future

With a fresh coat of paint, white kitchen cabinets don’t show their age like other types of cabinets. Whether you plan to sell your house soon or own it forever, you can be certain your designer kitchen designs that include white cabinets will retain their designer, high-end look. Even better, if you decide to change design elements in the future, you will find that your white cabinets will be much more flexible with your new décor.

If you are considering remodeling your kitchen, you don’t have to be afraid of design commitments. By working with the right kitchen designer in Hamilton, NJ, invite the designer to suggest a few options of white kitchen cabinet designs. Two great minds work better than one.